Torch Passing: Eagles Football Preview

No senior class in the Shore Conference has as daunting of a legacy to uphold as .

have reached an NJSIAA sectional final in nine of the past 10 seasons, an incredible run that has included three straight Central Jersey Group III championship berths.

Even though they have lost three straight finals and graduated a large chunk of the starting lineup, the expectation is to still be playing on that first weekend in December this year.

"There is a lot of pressure," said senior quarterback Howie Brey. "If we don’t make it (to the state final), it’s very disappointing. If we lose it, it’s very disappointing. As a program, South has been there so many years, and we just want to come back again and hopefully win one."

This may be one of the Eagles’ biggest challenges yet, as the team graduated nearly all of its skill position players and several standout defensive players, including defensive tackle Tom Masi, last year’s Class A North Defensive Player of the Year. This is one of the high school's more nondescript teams, compared to some of the star-studded units of the past. But Eagles feel that the results can still be the same.

"We could be really good, or we may be really bad," said Steve Antonucci, head coach now in his 13th season. "I’m not sure yet. I like this group because they’ve worked hard, and there’s a little different chemistry in the past that we haven’t had, which I like."

The good news is that the Eagles return a quarterback with experience on the heels of a 9-3 season in which they lost 14-12 to Freehold in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III championship game. Brey, a lefty who is also a baseball standout, saw time in place of injured starter Scott Meeker and then rotated with him when Meeker returned.

Antonucci has modified Middletown South’s flexbone option offense around Brey’s talents, as the Eagles will employ more pistol sets rather than the usual snaps under center. In the pistol, Brey, who is 5-foot-11, will catch the ball about four yards off the line of scrimmage before making his read. A threat as a runner and passer, the lefty will have the ability to use his multiple talents in an offense that has usually been heavy on the run.

"We have a quarterback that can wing it, and he’s not real big in terms of seeing over the line of scrimmage," Antonucci said about making the move to the pistol. "I like the picture, the pre-snap read, and I like the fact that he can get the ball out there."

"It’s all about timing when it comes down to the pistol stuff, and our center is getting used to the snapping," Brey said. "There are different mesh points between me and my running backs, but we’re getting it down. I get a better visual of the secondary, I have more time to read the end and if he’s coming up field and whether to give it to (fullback Joe) Simone or not."

As for the other weapons in the backfield, senior Tim McArdle is a returning starter at slotback, and senior Mike Pignataro and sophomore Jeremy Concepcion are newcomers at the other slotback spot. Simone, a three-year starter at linebacker, will also play offense this season and serve as the primary fullback. Junior Jake Ripnick also should see some carries at fullback.

"I actually think (the move to the pistol formation) makes it easier for me to see the holes and make my cuts because I’m seeing the defense standing up instead of being in a three-point stance," Simone said.

At wide receiver, Middletown South has to replace standout Taylor Rogers, who led the team with 47 catches for 838 yards and eight touchdowns last season and is now at Bentley University. Senior Matt Lamattina is a returning starter at wideout, and senior Rob Dickerson, who also will play some tight end, is another experienced target for Brey in the passing game. Sophomore Andrew Wisialko also should see time at wideout, and junior Brandon Joseph is the team’s other tight end.

"We do have some skill kids who can catch the football," Antonucci said. "It’s going to be tough to replace Taylor, but I think we can spread it around a little bit differently instead of strictly just having one guy."

The season may hinge on the performance of the offensive line, which returns three starters.

"I hate to pinpoint anything, but it’s been an offensive line thing," Antonucci said about the Eagles’ inability to win in the state finals. "We haven’t been as aggressive on the offensive line as we’ve been in the past. We just don’t have that nasty streak that we’ve had in the past, and I think that’s part of it."

Senior Jon Valentine started at guard last year but has been working in at center along with junior Dylan McCabe. Either McCabe or Valentine will play at one guard spot depending on which one ends up as the center, and senior Brian Schroeder, who started at tackle last year, will be at the other guard position.

Senior Rob Bartos will be at one tackle spot, while returning starter Chris Grippo, a senior, Taylor Hendrickson and junior Keith Wiley will battle for the other tackle spot.

Middletown South also has another offensive weapon in junior placekicker Connor Ryan, a three-year starter who booted a school-record 45-yard field goal during the regular season last year. He also won’t have to worry about the punting duties, as Joseph looks like he will be handling that area.

Ryan has been working on consistently getting his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks and is gunning for a 50-yard field goal this season. "If we’re ever stuck in the red zone and we need help, I’ll be there," he said.

Defensively, the Eagles have traditionally been a 4-4 base defense but may mix it up with more five-man fronts and other exotic looks this season under veteran defensive coordinator Al Bigos. Up front, they will be breaking in almost an entirely new group of defensive lineman. Wiley, who saw time at defensive end last season, is one of the most experienced returners in that area.

Bartos, Hendrickson and Grippo will be in the defensive end rotation, while junior Derek Noah will start at defensive tackle. At the other tackle spot, juniors Mohammed Jarad, Rob Martini and Trevor Finn also should be in the rotation.

"We’re not real big, but we’re very active, and we’re very athletic," Antonucci said. “I think we’re going to be able to cause havoc."

The linebackers look to be the primary strength of the defense, led by Simone, who should be among the Shore’s best. Next to Simone at inside linebacker will be McArdle, another returning starter.

Joseph also could see time at inside linebacker. Dickerson is a returning starter at outside linebacker, and in the hunt for the starting position at the other outside spot are Ripnick, and juniors Brian Patterson and Anthony Citarella.

"We’re still a powerful, aggressive defense with plenty of guys who know how to play the game," Simone said.

LaMattina, who saw time at linebacker last season, will start at safety in a relatively inexperienced secondary. Junior Will Mahoney also should see time at safety. Pignataro will start at one cornerback spot, while Concepcion and Wisialko are battling for the other cornerback position.

The hope is that it all adds up to a Shore Conference Class A North title and another trip to the state sectional finals. The division race appears fairly wide open considering defending champion Manalapan graduated 18 starters, while Howell lost some talented skill players but does return record-setting quarterback Ryan Davies.

As for the state playoffs, the Eagles have now seen both sides of the equation, as they won four straight championships from 2003-06, and now have lost three straight. Wall returns a senior-laden team that could be an obstacle in Central Jersey Group III this year, along with old rival Neptune.

Meanwhile, defending champion Freehold graduated the majority of its starting lineup and lost its head coach, former Middletown South assistant Mark Ciccotelli, who took the head job at Neptune.

"There are a lot of people who think we may not get back there, but in our mind, that’s always been the goal," Antonucci said. "We plan on playing in December."

"I’ve heard about how a lot of other teams are saying that this is the year that Middletown South is not going to do well, but we’ll show them," Brey said. "We’ll be back again."