A year ago, an injury-riddled offensive line cost the Jackson Memorial High School football team a berth in the state playoffs and a better finish in the Shore Conference A South Division when the Jaguars started 1-4. As those players returned to the field, the Jaguars won their next five games to finish 6-4.
This season is in stark contrast. The line is healthy. Brandon Winston is running strongly, which he attributes to his commitment to offseason work, and the Jaguars are off to a 5-1 start.
The team’s latest victory was a 20-7 win over Edison High School in a non-conference game on Oct. 14.
“This [5-1 start] is surprising because we had to replace the whole offensive line,” coach Walt Krystopik said. “Those guys stepped into it. Now it’s one of the strongest points of the team.”
Despite the rash of injuries last season, Winston ran well with more than 1,000 yards rushing, but he realizes that a good blocking line strengthens his role.
“I’m doing pretty well. I’ve got a lot of good blocking up front,” said Winston, who rushed for 91 yards against Edison, including a 10-yard run for his ninth touchdown of the season midway through the fourth quarter. “Our offensive line is pretty young, but they have done well. They’ve got good chemistry.”
Quarterback Jimmy Celidonio says the team’s chemistry is “maybe the best chemistry in the Shore Conference.”
It’s a good thing because Winston said before the Edison game that “the offense needs to get rolling early.”
But it got off to a very slow start, which had to concern some players and fans as the Jaguars were coming off their first loss of the season, 21-14, to Southern Regional.
Winston scored both touchdowns and rushed for 212 yards when the Jaguars took an ill-fated 14-0 lead in that game against the Rams.
But the Jaguars got untracked against Edison in the second half behind the blocking of tackles Nick Trent and John Gaboff, guards Mike Lopez and Max Mondello, and center Ben Collins. “It’s four juniors and a senior (Lopez), but they’ve really jelled as a unit,” Krystopik said.
The offensive line has paved the way for an offense that is averaging nearly 200 yards rushing a game and is at its best, said Krystopik, when it avoids mistakes.
Earlier in the season, Jackson Memorial scored a significant 19-14 victory over perennial state playoff contender
Brick Memorial as Winston rushed for 132 yards.
A victory on Oct. 21 against
Toms River South would help the Jaguars take a big step toward gaining a spot in the state playoffs.
After their meeting with the Indians, the Jaguars will play Freehold Township on Nov. 4 and crosstown rival Jackson Liberty on Thanksgiving. The team’s area of concern right now is at place-kicker, where, Krystopik said, “We are trying to find a kicker.”
Brandon Winston punts and kicks off.
While Winston is the lone running back in the spread offense, seniors Ian Leary and Chris Russo are wideouts and seniors Johntel Thomas and Dallas Winston are the slotbacks.
Jackson Memorial wrestler Dallas Winston (no relation to Brandon) came out for football for the first time this fall. He plays linebacker and also sees time at wide receiver.
“All of that wrestling stuff helps out,” Krystopik said. “He’s a very good blocker and has strong hands.”
James Cowan has been a mainstay on defense at end with Pat Moran, and Roscoe Rogers and Keith Comish are tackles.
Linebackers Ken Bradley and Dylan Harrington have finished a lot of plays for tackles and Dimitrie Christodoylakis is the other linebacker. Brandon Winston and Thomas are the cornerbacks, and Maurice Jackson and junior Chris Sims are the safeties.
Nick Petrizzo, a cornerback and receiver, is working his way back from an ankle injury.