East Brunswick High School’s Chris Ramos finds daylight against Colonia High School during the Aug. 22 preseason scrimmage played at Colonia. PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff If there were ever a high school football program that would like to put last season in the rear view mirror, it would be East Brunswick High School.
The Bears finished 1-9 in 2011, with the team’s lone victory coming in the state playoff consolation game against West Windsor- Plainsboro High School North. Against the rest of their Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Red Division foes (and a contest against Shore Conference’s Howell High School), the average point differential was 26.5. The losing season brought to a halt three consecutive seasons that East Brunswick qualified for the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs.
The question is what can veteran head coach Marcus Borden and his staff do to return the program back to its winning ways, which included sectional championships in 2004 and 2009?
East Brunswick High School’s John Gerharts tries to break free from the grasp of a Colonia High School defender. The Bears open the 2012 season on Sept. 7 at South Brunswick High School. An examination of the schedule suggests it won’t be easy. Four of the first five games — at home against South Brunswick High School on Sept. 7, at Sayreville War Memorial High School on Sept. 14, at North Brunswick Township High School on Sept. 21 and against Manalapan High School on Oct. 12 — will be against teams that qualified for the state playoffs last year. The “breather” is on Sept. 28 vs. Monroe Township High School, which will also be a difficult foe. The final four games on East Brunswick’s schedule are against J.P. Stevens High School on Oct. 19, Edison High School on Oct. 26, Piscataway Township High School on Nov. 2 and Old Bridge High School on Thanksgiving Day.
“We have about 20 [players] with varsity game experience,” said Borden, who enters his 29th season as head coach. “The key will be staying healthy.”
Borden is still deciding on his starting lineup on both sides of the ball. However, it is a positive that East Brunswick returns three to the backfield who gained valuable experience a year ago.
Junior Jon Gerhartz didn’t begin the 2011 season as starting quarterback, but an injury to Mike Cia enabled him to gain significant experience. Gerhartz responded with poise, often against teams that recognized his inexperience and designed different blitzing schemes trying to ruffle him. Now more seasoned, Gerhartz should be better prepared for the upcoming season.
That is important for East Brunswick’s multi-triple option to work effectively. Gerhartz hands off or throws to senior Chris Ramos, a gritty back who plays with heart and passion despite his small 5-foot-3-inch, 140-pound stature as evidenced by 390 yards rushing and four touchdowns in 2011. The Bears’ fullback is senior Jayson Parker, who scored twice a year ago.
The returning players on the offensive line include senior center Jared Tardiff, and senior guards Wes Lynch, Devrim Dereli, and Brian Kim. Senior Lee Urschel and Gerhartz are expected to see defensive action in the secondary, while junior Michael Quintin and Lunch will be on the line.
Borden also anticipates several newcomers will see action this season, including juniors Kyle Kelliher and Antonio Perez at defensive end, sophomore Joe Chetta at linebacker, sophomore Tom Berzok at offensive tackle, and sophomores Kevin Hemmings and Aaron McSweeney at both quarterback and defensive back.