South Brunswick High School receiver Mo Jabbie looks to run up field after catching a pass against Brick Township High School during the preseason game played at the Drum Point Sports Complex in Brick. MATT DENTON With a strong lineup returning, the South Brunswick High School football team looks to once again capture the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Red Division title and make its way back to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group V championship game.
Coach Joe Goerge’s team won the division and reached the sectional finals for the second time in three years, falling to Manalapan High School, 21-7. The two teams met in the 2012 finals, with the Vikings prevailing by a score of 33-22.
“The guys have looked pretty good so far in our scrimmages, but as a coach you always want them to look even better,” said Goerge, whose team will open the season on Sept. 11 with a non-divisional game at home against Middletown High School South. “When I think about it, though, the main thing is that we’re healthy right now.”
The Vikings return a pair of solid runners in fullback Phil Campbell and slotback Wendell Allen. Last fall, Campbell ran for 734 yards and scored 10 touchdowns, while Allen picked up nearly 300 yards and scored three touchdowns. Seniors Chris-Jon Summers and Nyair Hill will also see time in the backfield, the coach said. Mo Jabbe and sophomore Justin Shorter are the wideouts.
With the graduation of Amir Johnson, junior Josh Liao takes over at quarterback. When Johnson missed three games with an injury last fall, Liao stepped in, and South Brunswick did not miss a beat on its way to an 11-1 record overall. In six games, Liao completed 9 of 18 passing attempts for 104 yards. But more important, he showed poise and leadership behind center, Goerge said.
Liao and company will play behind a sizable, senior dominated line that includes tackles Richie Hoff and Josh Hypolite, guards Tom Leavy and Dillon Donaldson and centers Darius Tisdale and Christian Napolitano. Drew Fehte will handle the placekicking duties.
“We have some new guys on both sides of the line, but a lot of them are seniors, and I like the group of seniors we have,” Goerge said. “They set the stage.”
On the other side of scrimmage, junior Andre Eldridge will line up at nose tackle with Donaldson, Leavy and Tisdale splitting time at the tackles. Summers, Hoff, Shorter, junior Marcus Carminaro and sophomore Xavier Cargile comprise the linebacking corps. Allen, Campbell, Hill, Jabbe, Anthony Blakely and Jaier Garrett will be in the defensive secondary. Garrett doubles as the Vikings’ punter.
“Winning the division is always our goal,” Goerge said. “We’re in one of the toughest divisions in the state with teams like Old Bridge, Sayreville, Piscataway and Monroe. So we’re setting the bar very high.”
The coach acknowledged that Middletown High School South, a Shore Conference A North Division power, will give his team a stern test Sept. 11 before its first divisional matchup Sept. 18 when J.P. Stevens High School comes to Ridge Road for a visit.
“We’re going to have to get out and perform at a high level right from the start,” Goerge said. “That’s a good thing because we’ll need to maintain that throughout the season.”