By Jimmy Allinder
J.P. Stevens
It’s been exactly one decade since the John P. Stevens High School football team has appeared in the NJSIAA playoffs.
The postseason competition was instituted in 1974, and the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Red Division team qualified 12 times, appeared in eight championship games and won six titles. In the last nine years, however, the Hawks are a combined 21-69 without a winning campaign. For these and other reasons, the conference has relegated the Hawks (1-9 last year) to the smaller-school White Division.
The hope is the move to the White Division will produce better results, although J.P. Stevens opened this season Sept. 9 with a 40-12 loss to Carteret High School — one of the White Division’s perennial top teams.
Joe Riggi, who is back for his second round as head coach (his first tenure was 2007-09), brings stability to the position since the two coaches before him lasted one year.
“One thing I’ve learned, is you’re never too old to listen to others,” said Riggi, who captained the 1982 state championship team and has 21 years of coaching experience. “Fortunately, I’m surrounded by an excellent staff, which reminds me of that.”
Riggi says strong leadership and the return of key starters bring added optimism to the 2016 season. Luke Jacobi, senior quarterback and defensive back, is an indispensable player who is mobile, throws a strong and accurate ball and is the player who can kick start the offense.
Jacobi is complemented by seniors Javon Scott (wide receiver/linebacker), Nick Castro (running back/linebacker), Dante Negron (offensive/defensive lineman) and Jared Martinez (offensive lineman/linebacker); and juniors Junior Mersola (wide receiver/linebacker), Suhav Toteja (offensive/defensive lineman) and Chad Opoku (offensive/defensive lineman).
The newcomers are seniors Kyle Fredricks (running back/linebacker), Jalon Wright (running back/defensive back) and Tavone Kimbrough (wide receiver/defensive back); juniors Dan Ricigliano (wide receiver/defensive back), Jesse Shiluli (wide receiver/defensive back), Frank DeSerio (running back/linebacker) and Quian Muse (running back/defensive back); and sophomore Devon Fowlkes (wide receiver/defensive back).
J.P. Stevens returns to action Sept. 16 when it hosts South Plainfield High School in the home opener.
Bishop Ahr
Another area team that hopes to benefit by the switch to a smaller-school division is Bishop George Ahr High School (4-6). The Trojans were former White Division members but have moved down to the Blue Division.
In the season opener, Bishop Ahr defeated Highland Park High School, 34-13, which represents the first time since 2007 the Trojans began the campaign with a victory.
Bishop Ahr returns 16 starters, including the entire offensive line, the top four receivers and 1,000-yard rusher Andrew Brazicki. The senior has been equally valuable as a linebacker and is joined by senior Marcus Adeniyi on the defensive line, juniors Reminiss Funderburk and Jordan Wells in the secondary and Christian Cardona at linebacker.
The quarterback is junior Ryan O’Leary, who coach Joe Vigilante says has played well in the preseason.
Other letter winners are wide receiver/defensive back Guiseppe Capasso; offensive and defensive linemen Anthony Villavicencio, Ricky Perguero, Michael DeSantis, Justin Martinez, Zachary Pandorff, Miguel Acevedo; and Matt Smith; and wide receiver/defensive back Jonathan Edwards. They are seniors.
Newcomers include seniors Isiah DaCosta (wide receiver/linebacker), Ahmad Brown (tight end/linebacker), Shawn Whitlock (fullback/linebacker), Christian Favale (fullback/linebacker), Drew English (offensive line/linebacker), Alex Guketlov (wide receiver/defensive back), Robert Amianno (offensive/defensive lineman), Paul Mbiad (offensive/defensive lineman) and Corinthian Burton (offensive/defensive lineman).
Juniors expected to contribute are Jack Roarty (tight end/linebacker), Luke Vizzoni (tight end/linebacker), Josh Minnick (running back/defensive back), Toure’ Simon (wide receiver/defensive back), Sam Manu (wide receiver/defensive back) and Barchue Guar (wide receiver/defensive back). There’s also sophomores Deriq Thomas (running back/linebacker), Kyle Orta (running back/linebacker) and Freddie Ramirez (offensive/defensive line), as well as freshman Alejandro Santiago (running back/linebacker).
Besides coaching a winning team, Vigilante says his primary job is to preach the value of family and hard work.
“Learning those values will help our young men become good fathers and providers for their families,” he said. “Winning is important, but the goal is to help them become outstanding and responsible adults.”
The first of three contests with Shore Conference opponents takes place Sept. 16 when the Trojans host Point Pleasant Beach High School. Bishop Ahr will then host South River High School Sept. 23.
Besides its Blue Division schedule, Bishop Ahr visits Shore Regional High School Sept. 30 and is home to Asbury Park High School Oct. 29.