Jackson Memorial High School’s Joe DeMaio gets set to throw a pass during a football tri-scrimmage the Jaguars participated in with Manasquan and Point Pleasant Borough on Aug. 27 in Point Pleasant. Nick Trent (61) does the blocking for his quarterback. PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff The 2012 Jackson Memorial High School football team faces a challenge as it seeks to replace many key players from a 2011 squad that went 8-2 and qualified for the Central Jersey Group IV state playoffs for the first time in six years.
The Jaguars will open the season on Sept. 7 at home in Jackson against Manalapan High School.
“We’ve got a lot of young kids and we graduated 15 players who started, but it’s going well,” coach Walt Krystopik said.
The Jaguars have plenty of proven experience on the offensive line and Krystopik believes that experience will smooth the rebuilding task.
“We’ll go with our offensive line, that’s the most important thing in football,” Krystopik said. “As long as we can block, we’ll be OK.”
Jackson Memorial High School’s Khani Glover takes off on a run during a tri-scrimmage the Jaguars participated in with Manasquan and Point Pleasant Borough high schools on Aug. 27 in Point Pleasant. Returning on the right side of the Jaguars’ offensive line are seniors John Gaboff (6-1, 220) at tackle and Max Mondello (6-2, 275) at guard and both will double on defense at end and tackle, respectively.
Also back on the offensive line are seniors Ben Collins (5-11, 240) at center and Nick Trent (5-11, 210) at tackle.
New at left guard are either senior Nick Patterson or junior Sam Mistretta, who both measure about 5-10, 210.
Chemistry among linemen comes with experience and this group has shown that in the Jaguars’ spread offense. Krystopik said the Shore Conference A South Division has no breathers and has gotten tougher with the addition of Brick Township and Lacey. Still on the schedule are Brick Memorial, Southern Regional, Toms River North, Toms River South and Toms River East, and non-division foes Jackson Liberty and Manalapan.
A three-way competition for the starting quarterback spot includes senior Pat Duggan, and sophomores Charlie Lombana and Joe DeMaio.
“Whoever starts just has to manage the game and avoid making big mistakes,” Krystopik said.
Jackson Memorial has had a 1,000-yard rusher every year since the 1997 season and Krystopik believes juniors Justin Gullo and Khani Glover can measure up to that challenge.
The Specht brothers, seniors Nick and Mike, have set themselves apart from others at wide receiver, and Marcus Ademilola, a 6-2, 205-pound junior, has been the top performer at tight end.
Ademilola also starts at defensive end along with senior Anthony Lovacco.
Two leading defensive players return in seniors Ken Bradley at middle linebacker and Chris Sims, who will be starting at safety for the third season. Bradley will also play fullback. Krystopik said last season’s success inspired the Jaguars’ players in the offseason and preseason.
“They have been pretty consistent,” the coach said of his players’ commitment. “They want to take it to the next step to not only get back to the state playoffs, but to win in the playoffs.”
Krystopik singled out Bradley as an example.
“He had a real good offseason,”
Krystopik said of the 5-11, 210- pounder.
Junior Vin Celidonio and senior Nick Quattrock and junior
Mike Petrizzo are competing for the two outside linebacker spots in the 4-3 scheme, and the third player is expected to be rotated into the lineup for an ample amount of playing time.
Celidonio will handle the placekicking duties and Gullo is the punter.
In the defensive backfield, DeMaio looks good at cornerback with the Specht brothers. Glover and senior Corey Chadwick are the safeties with Sims.