A victory in the final game of 2016 was all that was needed in Manalapan High School’s quest for an undefeated season and a state sectional playoff championship.
However, Manalapan was thwarted in its bids when Piscataway Township High School scored a 34-13 victory in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Central Jersey, Group 5 championship game at Rutgers University’s High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway in early December.
The defeat left Manalapan with a final record of 11-1.
That was 2016.
As the 2017 season approaches, Manalapan and its coach, Ed Gurrieri, are gearing up for what is expected to be a successful autumn.
“We think we have a really good team,” Gurrieri said. “We obviously went to the championship game last year. We hope to have a great year and hopefully get back there, but we have to win the games first before we can think that far ahead.”
Piscataway is no longer Manalapan’s roadblock to a title in Central Jersey, Group 5. The Chiefs have been shifted this season to the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 5 field.
Manalapan will get a shot at avenging that playoff loss when the Braves meet Piscataway in a regular-season contest on Oct. 27 at the same High Point Solutions Stadium field.
The two teams also met last October in the Rutgers Challenge at High Point Solutions Stadium, during which Manalapan defeated Piscataway, 21-10.
“I’m not worried about Piscataway yet,” Gurrieri said. “There’s still a lot of great teams that we’re going to need to beat this year before even worrying about that.”
Gurrieri also has a lot to look forward to this season since he will guide plenty of returning veterans. Talented senior quarterback Luke Corcione will once again steer Manalapan’s attack.
“We expect him to be even better this year,” Gurrieri said about his quarterback, who earned Shore Conference Second-Team honors last fall. “We think he’ll be even better this season. He’s a third-year starter now. He doesn’t turn the ball over, and we expect him to take care of the ball again this year. He’s our leader, and we trust him to be great.”
Corcione threw for around 1,700 yards and connected on 26 touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions during his junior year. For his career, Corcione has thrown for 2,288 yards and 30 touchdowns and has been picked off a total of just four times.
According to Gurrieri, Corcione is being considered by Ivy League and Patriot League schools. The University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University are among the leaders in recruiting Corcione.
Corcione will be joined by fellow seniors Chris Maksimik, a fullback and middle linebacker; Naim Mayfield, a running back and cornerback; Scott Scherzer, a wide receiver and free safety; Trevor Radosevich, a two-way tackle; Jack McLaughlin, an offensive guard; and Symir Blacknall, a wide receiver and cornerback.
Gurrieri will also call on other key players, such as senior Antonio Deieso, a defensive end and long snapper; senior Joe Ciraola, a nose guard; junior De’Shon Taylor, a defensive end and tight end; junior Tommy Pearce, an outside linebacker and tight end; senior Sal Tardogna, a middle linebacker and running back; and senior Eli Avivi, a free safety and wide receiver.
The Braves open their season at home against Marlboro High School on Sept. 8.