Football
By: Steve Feitl
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‘The guys have really taken to the idea that you have to work hard and earn everything.’ Rob Radice LHS football coach |
When Rob Radice ascended to the role of head coach of the Lawrence High School football team, he knew one of the keys to his team’s success would be whether the players believed in his system and his philosophies.
Thus far, he has little to worry about.
Even before the Cardinals took to the practice fields behind LHS last week, Radice saw a dedication to the program that he hopes will carry over to the season.
"The guys have really taken to the idea that you have to work hard and earn everything," Radice said.
And to fulfill that goal, Cardinal players took to the weight room this summer for voluntary lifting and conditioning. Radice estimates his team would turn out 30 players a night, four times a week. That type of commitment impressed the first-year head coach.
Another thing which caught his eye was the overall turn-out for practice, which began last week.
Last year, the Cardinals finished the season with only 28 players on the roster. Right now, the team has over 45 kids on board – a number that is growing as high school students transfer into LHS and return from summer vacations.
Radice has a very specific goal of keeping those kind of numbers. In fact, the team has even adopted "Be a survivor," as an unofficial theme for the season. Radice hopes each of those players will make it through the season.
And aiding Radice and his coaching staff in that cause has been the leadership of several returning players.
Leading the pack has been senior tight end/linebacker Matt DeChristofano. Radice credits the second-year captain with being a work horse in the weight room. And while he has led by example, senior lineman Jeff Dunn had been the vocal catalyst for the Cardinals thus far, barking out encouragement steadily through each practice session.
The Cardinals also return their starting quarterback, senior Armando Rosario. His poise has been a definite plus for Lawrence, Radice said.
"You can’t rattle him," the coach said. "That’s the kind of stuff we’re looking for."
Also helping out with leadership roles have been senior split end/defensive back Isaac Johnson and senior lineman Todd Skorupa.
They played key roles in keeping the team motivated as they battled through grueling conditioning sessionsover the past two weeks.
The Cardinal coaching staff has keyed on conditioning, while keeping the contact drills to minimum. Radice said he wants to ensure his team is not dragging in fourth quarters or at the end of the season.
"The athlete tends to recover quicker if he’s in good condition," Radice said. "We looking to keep most of the strength they built up over the summer. The hitting is done on Saturdays."
Thus far, the focus on conditioning appears to be working. Aside from a few bumps and bruises, the Cardinals have suffered just one serious injury – an arm injury to junior lineman Josh Mironov that will force him to miss the season.
But as well-conditioned and focused as the Lawrence squad may be, the team knows the only way to succeed is to go out and perform on gameday.
Radice believes the team’s mindset is right for that task.
"Let’s earn respect," he said. "We’re optimistic going into the season, but we also know that no one is going to give us anything."
The Cardinals will get a chance to see just what they have prior to the Sep. 9 season opener against West Windsor-Plainsboro North when they scrimmage against South Hunterdon Saturday. The preseason contest will be held at 10 a.m. at LHS.
Radice knows his squad is in for quite a challenge. South Hunterdon utilizes a no-huddle offense that will undoubtedly test that conditioning the Cardinals have worked so hard to achieve.
On top of that, Lawrence’s toughness will be challenged by the rough South Hunterdon team.
"They are tough kids who just want to smack you in your teeth," Radice said. "I expect nothing less than a knock-down, drag-out, put your fists up scrimmage."