BY RICHARD JEROME
Staff Writer
Above, Spotswood’s Ray Reyes finds some running room during a recent scrimmage against St. John Vianney in Spotswood. Below, Brian Hammel puts a hit on SJV quarterback Anthony Zambito. Coach Ron Raymond is hoping his third year at the helm of the Spotswood High School football team will see the pendulum swing back in a winning direction.
After a very competitive 5-5 record in his debut, the Chargers fielded a very young, inexperienced squad last season, one that learned some tough life lessons en route to an 0-10 campaign that was every bit as lopsided as it looks: Spotswood was outscored by an aggregate total of 354-54 and suffered seven shutouts.
But as Raymond points out, that’s all part of the ebb and flow of high school sports, as one experienced team graduates and a new group of raw recruits steps up to the varsity.
“We took our lumps last year, but we have about 23 senior kids returning, and they’ve got that valuable experience now,” said Raymond, whose squad opens up the 2006 season with a game against Dunellen’s Destroyers tomorrow. “The kids have put in a lot of hard work over the summer, including seven hours a week with a trainer, above and beyond our usual practices, scrimmages and drills. They’re very dedicated, and we’re all looking to turn the corner.”
PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff As for his team’s playing style, Raymond, without giving away too much, predicts a mix of the passing and running games.
“We’re going to come right at you,” said the coach.
Looking over the Chargers’ offense, sophomore tailback Joe Petosa (5-8, 180) is expected to make a significant contribution, while, calling the signals, senior quarterback Zack Becker, who stands 6 feet tall and weighs in at 165 pounds, benefits from some limited varsity experience last year. He’ll be passing to a corps of receivers including senior John Berner (6-1, 170) and another senior, flanker Anthony Addone, a 5-7, 160-pounder. There are two experienced fullbacks on the varsity roster, senior Rey Reyes ( 6-0, 190) and 5-10, 210-pound T. J. Snook, who is an 11th-grader.
On the offensive line, 5-10, 180-pound senior Brian Hamill is manning the tight end slot, while at the guards are seniors Zack Eisenbrey (6-3, 240) and 6-1 Sam Corrazzo, who brings 255 pounds to the table.
The rest of the starting offensive line is also composed of 12th-graders, including 5-9, 235-pounder Lou Emmons and Rich Manella (6-1, 190), who play tackle and the center, Matty McSherry, a 6-footer who tips the scales at 210 pounds.
As always with a small school, many of the players on the offensive unit will perform double-duty on defense. The tackles will be Eisenbrey and Corrazzo, while at defensive end, Snook will be complemented by senior Cody Josher, a 5-10, 180-pounder. Manella will see action at linebacker, along with Petosa, Addone and Hamill, as well as two other exclusively defensive players, senior Andy Schwartzer (5-8, 190) and a junior, C.J. Mooney, who measures 5-11 and weighs in at 205 pounds.
Looking at the defensive backfield, right now Becker will fill one of the cornerback slots, while the other will be manned by senior Nick Muscio (5-9, 170). Berner is Raymond’s nod at free safety.
Raymond, who served at Cardinal McCarrick before coming to SHS, has an experienced team of assistants, including Tony Toto, Lou Brunelli, Nick Costa, Bob Casey, Gary Yetsko, Jeff Hill and Larry Fry. With classic coachly caution, he adopts the “one game at a time” philosophy.
“Our goal is to compete in every game and have the chance to win,” he said. “The players are working hard, and after having suffered through last year, they’re dedicated to improve.”