By Jimmy Allinder
The Spotswood High School football team (7-3) is a two-time defending Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Blue Division champion and hopes to extend that streak in 2016.
The Chargers will have no trouble getting up for their season opener, which is Sept. 10 at South River High School. The teams have been rivals since 1976, when Spotswood opened the doors to its own high school. Spotswood’s students previously attended high school at South River.
The long time association between the communities may be a distant memory for athletes at both schools, but the rivalry remains alive and well — the results of the last two games notwithstanding. The Chargers defeated the Rams, 44-7 and 39-7, in 2015 and 2014, respectively, with 2013 being the last time South River prevailed, 14-3. Still, Spotswood head coach Andy Cammarano dismisses any notion his team will take South River lightly, especially since it’s the first game of the season and because the game is on the road.
“We have always enjoyed a great rivalry with [them],” said Cammarano, who has steered the program’s reins since 2007.
While the Chargers’ strength is depth, there is a lack of experience on the offensive and defensive lines, where only two-way player Sal Mistretta, a senior, returns. The rest of the line on both sides of the ball is stocked with newcomers, including junior Yousef Elhalaka (defensive tackle), junior Jesse Sowell (defensive tackle), senior Chris Robel (offensive tackle), senior Austin Taylor (offensive guard), senior Paul Toth (tight end) and junior Mike Izzo (offensive tackle).
The backfield is more experienced, although senior quarterback Nick Mohr is new to the position. Senior Jack Keenan is at running back, and junior Nick Vincelli is at fullback. Senior Ryan Szatkowski returns to wide receiver and plays safety on defense. Senior newcomer Chase Esser is at running back, while junior Chance Fee and sophomore Eddie Rodgers are in the defensive backfield.
“We had a great commitment from our team during the offseason with respect to conditioning and weightlifting,” Cammarano said. “But the issue remains we are still inexperienced. That aside, I’ve learned that sticking to the basics and stressing fundamentals will always guide our team through the tough games.
“The fact is all my players are still kids and need to be treated with care and guidance. We won 20 games over the last three seasons, and our guys have high expectations coming into this year.”
South River (3-7) is also looking to improve its record, and nothing would suit the Rams better than opening the season with a win over the Chargers.
South River took its lumps a year ago, often being out-manned by bigger opponents. But the upside this season is more players understand what it takes to win. The downside is an alarming number of underclassmen, including no fewer than four sophomores, are being counted on as regulars. Overall, 36 players, including freshmen, are listed on the roster.
Mike Desantis is one of those sophomores, and his responsibility as quarterback cannot be underestimated. Head coach Rich Marchesi says of all his regulars, the one the Rams can least afford to lose is Desantis, who also plays defensive safety.
Other experienced players include junior split end and linebacker Kyle Baczack, sophomore tackle and nose guard Ken Cross, senior guard and defensive tackle Louis Sasso, junior halfback Mark Pacheko, senior defensive back Joe Kowalski, junior split end and defensive back Terry Outlaw, sophomore halfback Billy Drum and sophomore halfback and linebacker Jimmy Stewart.
Newcomers are sophomore fullback and linebacker Ishmael Abass-Shereef, freshman halfback and safety Trenton Balitsky, senior split end and linebacker Jaryn Bullock, junior tight end and fullback Sejou Camara and sophomore center and nose tackle Grayson Ciecielski.
Other contributors will be sophomore guard and linebacker Steve Lacatos, sophomore tight end and defensive tackle Davine Mayer, junior center and nose tackle Chris Zyskowski, junior split end and defensive back Travis Thomas and sophomore halfback Leandro Santos.
This is Marchesi’s 30th season as head coach, and he is three wins away from becoming the winningest coach in school history, which would be a major achievement considering the storied history of the program.