By Wayne Witkowski
When New Egypt High School senior two-way lineman and team captain Julian Viera sat in a June meeting with new football coach Steve Fence, the “12 Mentality” stuck in his mind.
“I remember how energized [Fence] was, so fired up and how he talked about the ’12 Mentality,’ how we should want to play in the state championship game at Rutgers,” Viera said.
That would be the 12th game of the season, something the Warriors came close to but never reached in the past in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group I playoffs.
But the seniors, playing for their third head coach in four years, are thinking of ending their high school careers in a big way as they adapt to the “personnel offense,” a spread offense variation, and the 3-4/cover 2 defense implemented by Fence. Viera has had an added impetus playing center and defensive tackle because his older brother, Noah, is a senior playing at the other defensive tackle spot.
“It’s great. I’m so excited,” said Julian Viera, who skipped a grade back in second grade to wind up in the same grade as his brother. “He brings so much fire.”
Although he is younger, Julian Viera handles the defensive signals for alignments up front.
“The defense is coming along pretty good,” he said.
The offense, also coming along as the team prepares for playing in the West Jersey Football League Freedom Division and for its Sept. 9 season opener at Maple Shade High School, has had to make a big adjustment from the Delaware wing T it ran last season to the spread offense that sometimes shifts to an I set. Not only has junior quarterback Kyle Frimel had to adapt to the playbook that calls for three receivers, a tight end and a single running back in the spread, but also to his move on defense from a roving linebacker to safety.
“He’s a football guy, a student of the game who is like an extension of the coaches on the field,” Fence said of Frimel, whose older brother, Kurt, plays at Cornell University. “He allows us to do different things. He’s good throwing the ball and is a quiet leader.”
With 37 players on the roster, Fence said many are playing both ways, which is why Fence will alternate the ballcarrying duties between seniors Mario Reed and Jordan Bendick. Reed also plays on defense at middle linebacker with Jake Kear, and Bendick will also play cornerback. Reed also handles the kicking the punting again this season.
“I’m comfortable and confident with both of them running the ball,” Fence said.
Bendick is the other captain and a third captain will be appointed for each game.
As far as throwing the ball, junior Neal Flogel as a wideout and sophomore Bryce Cristman in the slot have emerged as leading receivers.
Fence pointed out that Matt Soles has come along at tackle as a 6-foot-2, 225-pound sophomore. Julian Viera, who is the center, said he sees chemistry developing on the offensive line.
“Definitely communication is one of the biggest things. We’re definitely doing that,” he said. “Our offensive line makes a difference with a lot of returning players, left to right, with Matt Soles and Dominick Eosso on the left and Andre Pugliese going from guard to tackle is definitely doing good on the right with Ryan Exner. Our offense can find weaknesses and attack defenses, and we can pass it deep or short.”
“The offense can go from the spread to a multiple set to get people out of the box and keep the defense honest by passing the ball,” Fence said. “The offense still has a lot to do. It’s about polish now. You try to get them to do what they need to do in the beginning and now it’s getting the timing down.”
Fence is the offensive coordinator, while Larry Peslack is offensive line coach with volunteer coach Bob Pomykala helping with the line. Paul Carrezola coaches wide receivers and defensive backs. Barry Sullivan is defensive coordinator, with Dan O’Reilly coaching linebackers and volunteers Ty Kazio coaching the defensive line and Adam Reinche coaching the secondary.
Fence commended the dedication of his players in well-attended workouts over the summer, with offensive drills on Mondays, 7v7 games at Southern Regional High School on Tuesdays, defensive drills on Wednesdays and conditioning and special teams on Thursdays. That’s important for a team faulted in recent years with strong starts and slumping finishes.
New Egypt started 4-1 last season and didn’t win again. In the season finale, Bordentown Regional High School scored seven touchdowns before New Egypt put up a pair of late scores in Bordentown’s 48-14 win.
In 2014, New Egypt went 6-4, losing its last three games that included a convincing defeat to Middlesex High School in its state playoff opener.
“It’s a big challenge keeping players on the field and finding depth in a Group I school,” Fence said. “We were keeping in shape with the hot weather that at times had 102-degree index.”
The Warriors will be tested well this week with a scrimmage that was scheduled for Aug. 29 at Pinelands Regional High School and another slated for Sept. 2 against Point Pleasant Beach High School. A scrimmage against Manchester Regional High School already took place.
New Egypt’s regular-season home opener is Sept. 16 against Gloucester Catholic High School.