By Mike Mack, Special Writer
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Football season is back. And while for many that means stocking up on snacks and picking a spot on the couch, for the local high school football teams it means it’s time to get back to work.
For Bordentown football, that means improving on last season. Head Coach Stephen Perry’s Scotties are a team on the rise.
”This year’s team has less players than last year’s team,” Coach Perry said. “But they are a very close group and work very well together.”
Last season was a pleasant surprise for Bordentown, as the team doubled its win total from the previous year and reached the post- season for the first time in more than a decade. Those accomplishments were nice last year, but Perry is not willing to let his team get complacent.
”Our goal for this year’s team is to be more successful that last year’s team,” Coach Perry said. “Whether that’s more wins or getting a playoff victory this year.”
The Scotties will look for leadership from returning players like Brady Hudik, James Buggs, Tommy Walters, Jahmiere Van Kline and Cody Lavasseur. Coach Perry knows what parts of his team he can rely on.
”Our offensive line and running backs are veteran groups and should be the strength of our team,” Coach Perry said.
Bordentown will open up its season on Thursday, Sept. 12 at home against Robbinsville.
Florence football has a very different story going into this 2013 season. The Flashes are coming off of a very successful season that ended in a Central Jersey Group 1 championship. But for Coach Joe Frappolli’s team the issue will be inexperience.
It is rare for a team to come off of a championship year and have to worry about a lack of experience in the final year, but according to Coach Frappoli, more than half of his team is composed of freshmen and new players.
”For some this is the first time ever playing football,” Coach Frappolli said. “We have no depth whatsoever.”
Mix in a tough schedule and the possibility of a starting quarterback who played tight end last year and this could look like a rebuilding year for Florence. Coach Frappolli remains confident though.
”We always like to believe we will compete and our expectations are always high,” Coach Frappolli said.
Florence does have three returning players on its defensive line, a position that will likely be a strength for this team.
Coach Frappolli is ready to get to work on making this a successful season.
”We have our work cut out for us if we’re going to be there in December where we want to be,” he said.
The Flashes open their season Friday, Sept. 13 at home against New Egypt.
Northern Burlington football has perhaps the most motivation for this season of all three teams. Having lost in the finals of its group tournament last year, Coach Jonathan Reising’s team knows just how close it was to being considered a champion.
The positive side of that is the passion that the returning players will come back with. The Greyhounds are returning 17 lettermen from last year’s team. That’s 17 players who remember how close they were.
”I believe we have a solid opportunity to compete for the conference title,” Coach Reising said.
Coach Reising’s goals for this season are simple: win the league, make the playoffs and play great defense. But none of those secondary goals are possible, without first achieving his primary goal.
”We hope to bond quickly as a team and to continue to grow as football players, a team and as members of the community,” Reising said. “The key to success is to develop as a team, we must learn to trust and believe in one another.”
Northern Burlington will open up its season on Friday, Sept. 12 at home against Princeton High.
