By Wayne Witkowski
A veteran offensive line blocking for star running back Mike Gawlik and veteran quarterback Dan Barker makes for a promising season for two-time state champion Jackson Memorial High School.
The Jaguars’ football team opens its season at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at crosstown rival Jackson Liberty High School.
“We have to eliminate mistakes and get off the field on third down,” said Jackson Memorial coach Walt Krystopik, whose team welcomes back seven offensive starters and four starters on defense.
Despite rebuilding on defense, Krystopik said his team has improved on pursuing the football during preseason workouts and a challenging scrimmage schedule that has included Middletown High School South, the No. 1-ranked team in the state last season; NJSIAA South Jersey, Group IV finalist Williamstown High School; and Point Pleasant Borough High School.
Jackson Memorial finished 8-4 last season, overcoming a mid-season slump and routing Brick Memorial High School, 42-14, in the Central Jersey, Group IV championship game. Although it did not have the explosive offense of two seasons ago, Jackson Memorial consistently put points on the board and in the playoffs, as it avenged a costly 2-0 Shore Conference A South Division loss to division champion Brick Township High School with a 21-7 victory. The Jaguars blew out Steinert High School, 56-10, in the semifinals.
Jackson Memorial and Brick Township renew their rivalry with a 7 p.m. kickoff Sept. 16 at Brick. The Jaguars play their home opener Sept. 23 against Central Regional High School.
Jackson Liberty had never beaten Jackson Memorial, which scored a lopsided victory in last year’s opener. The Lions come off a 4-6 season that included a 38-6 state playoff loss to Brick Memorial.
“The key on offense is limiting our own mistakes and penalties,” Krystopik said of the season-opening matchup.
That starts with Barker, who plays under a new offensive coordinator in Anthony Compitello, who has stepped in after Corey Lavin left for another career opportunity. Barker shared time at quarterback last season with junior A.J. Tolmachewich and graduated standout Kyle Johnson. He completed 40 of 67 passes for 395 yards and nine touchdowns. Barker was intercepted only once.
But he’ll hand the ball off a lot to Gawlik, who is starting his third season. Gawlik rushed for 1,503 yards on 202 carries and scored 16 touchdowns last season. His backfield partner, Vin Lee, was among the 18 graduates off last fall’s team.
Tolmachewich, meanwhile, is among the four players rotating in the two-wideout formation, including senior Trevor Louro and juniors Devyn Lee and Matt D’Amore.
They’ll have a lot of proven blocking in front of them, which is the foundation of Krystopik’s offensive philosophy. They include returning starters at all but one position. Back at tackle are senior Mitch Mill on the left side and Joe Hurle on the right. The guards again will be seniors Larry Richarson on the left side and Sean Martin on the right. Senior Magnus McCaleb is breaking in at center, where junior Devin Martinez also will see action.
Also in the blocking schemes, senior Brandon Hirsch will start at tight end, where promising sophomore Charlie Benjamin also will play. Tom Pellone is back in the starting backfield at fullback but has been injured in preseason and Justin Martin-Culet will rotate in there.
Krystopik said a successor to reliable graduated kicker and punter Jared Calhoun still is up in the air.
Many will double on defense in the 4-3 formation, including returning starters Richardson at end, with Martin as his backup, and Gawlik at safety. Benjamin plays at the other end spot, with senior Nick Tremmel ready to rotate into the lineup.
Senior Jim Zapata is starting again this season at nose tackle, with Mill as his backup. Senior Phil Jenkins is the defensive tackle, with Hurle rotating in.
Zach Lubertazzi, a senior who was one of the team leaders in tackles last season, returns at linebacker but has been injured during the preseason. Sophomore Leo Shimonovich shares that spot. Pellone and Martin-Culet are the other linebackers, with junior Brandon Hirsch available as a backup.
The defensive backfield has new starters in free safety Dan Kellett — a senior who is backed up by senior Louro — and cornerbacks Lee and Tolmachewich.