By Ed Birch, Special Writer
In more ways than can be expected, this looks like it will be a big year for the South Brunswick High School Vikings Varsity football team.
"I have waited my whole career for a turf field and I cannot wait to get on it," said Head Football Coach Joe Goerge. "Our facility will have three turf fields and it will be the state of the art facility in all of New Jersey. The Board of Education, school administration, and the vendor, LandTek, have done one tremendous job on this project," said an excited Coach Goerge.
Leading the way are 11 returning starters from last year’s campaign. Returning are quarterback Amir Johnson, Syracuse bound running back Dontae Strickland, linebacker Matt Golden, defensive back Mo Jabbie, linebacker Chrisjon Summers, free safety Phil Campbell, offensive tackle Richie Hoff, lineman Zaire Gibson, tackle Aidan Rogers, wide receiver Marcus Jackson, and tight end Skyler Sciandra.
The squad will also be carrying five seniors including Austin Cooper, Sam Bierstein, Asad Bokhari, Kyle Stankevitch, and Deandre Farr. The defensive unit will be led by seniors Hunter Delfa, Pablo Endara and Lord Agyei.The offense will be led by Strickland, who returns for his second year as the featured running back. Joining him in the backfield will be Golden, Summers and Campbell. The offensive line is expected "to bring size and speed to the varsity level," Coach Goerge said.
The team will be training at Lycoming College for five extensive days.
"I feel that this will help the team bond together as men," said Coach Goerge. "I think that we have a chance to be very competitive in the GMC competition. The challenge will be for the players to compete every day."
The first home game is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, Sept. 27, against Old Bridge High School. Game time has been moved to Saturday afternoon due to the ending of the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah. In addition, consideration needs to be afforded to the South Brunswick Viking Marching Band that has a competition also scheduled for that date at Piscataway High School.
"There is no way that we can open the new football complex without the high school marching band being present," said newly appointed Superintendent Gerard Jellig.
In addition, Coach Goerge has announced that assistant coaches Sean Clark (from TCNJ) and Will Miska will be joining his staff for the coming year.
The new field complex is almost complete. According to Board Secretary and Business Manager Anthony Tonzini, "the outer fields are almost done. We are waiting for the preparation on the main field to be complete and then LandTek will be delivering the turf for the field. Work is progressing ahead of schedule.
"We all just need to pray for good weather in the next few weeks," he said.

