2013 Middletown South Football Preview

MIDDLETOWN SOUTH LOOKS FOR A RETURN TO THE GLORY DAYS

 By Mike Ready

 MIDDLETOWN – It has been six years since Middletown South has brought home a NJSIAA sectional championship. During that period, the Eagles have been to four finals including last season’s 35-28 defeat to Sayreville in the CJ Group III final. Overall, the Eagles have reached NJSIAA sectional finals 10 of the last 12 seasons, including four straight championships from 2003-2006 and five in six years.

 That in itself is an incredible accomplishment for any school to achieve. However, for a football program with the long winning tradition such as the one South has, it’s more of a, “What have you done for me lately” scenario.

 “The goal here is always to win championships,” head coach Steve Antonucci said. “We don’t go into any season thinking we can’t. We’ve been as competitive as we can possible be year in and year out and we’ve had a great deal of success.

 “We’ve had the opportunities to win championships recently,” Antonucci added. “ But we just haven’t been able to pull it off. I feel our program is on the right track to get back to that. I’m really pleased with our young kids and this team in particular has the right mix of young and old. I feel the formula is there to get us back to winning championships.”

 On offense, the Eagles must replace its two most dynamic weapons from a year ago in 1000-yard rusher Jake Ripnick and running back/defensive back Eli Smith; both were first team All-Shore selections.

 “That’s a tough one replacing those two guys,”Antonucci said. “I was just thinking about that. If you look at our offense from the skill standpoint, we’re very good. But we’re missing that one guy that on any one snap can go; that’s what those guys gave us. We’re going to be a more churn it out, possession, eat up yardage and clock team. We’ll hit a big play from time-to-time but we won’t be relying on it.”

 Hoping to replace their production will be senior running back Jeremy Concepcion, who ran for 337 yards and four touchdowns last season. Backing up Concepcion will be sophomore Cole Rogers and junior AJ Leandro. In fullback formations, it will be sophomore Dylan Roger, Cole’s twin brother.

 “I think Jeremy is ready, he’s a nice fit,” Antonucci said. “He’s hard nose runner and a very strong kid. Between him and Cole Rogers I think we have a nice combination at running back.”

 “I realize I have some big shoes to fill,” Concepcion said. “I look forward to showing people what I can do and to play up to my potential. This is why you play football, It’s my time to step in and step up. We have two great backups in Cole Rogers and AJ Leandro and Kyle is a great quarterback and leader.”

 Back at quarterback is senior Kyle Brey, who had a breakout year with 1838-yards passing, 18 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Senior wideout Andrew Wisialko will again be his main target after catching a team high 33 passes for 493 yards and four touchdowns. Joining Wisialko as receivers in the Eagles spread offense will be Junior’s Drew O’Connell, 6’4” 220 pound Patrick Crowe and Nolan Pereless. Nolan’s brother, Spencer, a sophomore, should see action at wideout as well.

 “Kyle is playing well,” Antonucci said. “Everything we expect of Kyle is what you’re seeing right now. He’s a leader, he has a understanding of the offense and is only going to get better. Andrew plays an important role on the offensive side of the ball. He’s the one returning wideout with game experience so he’s the guy we’ll be relying on to come up with some big plays. He’s a three-year starter that has been extremely helpful teaching the new kids the routes and all the intricacies of the offensive. He’s a leader and a key cog to this thing too.”

 “Our offensive is really coming around,” Wisialko said. “I’ve been playing with Kyle since freshman year, so we have an automatic connection. It’s his second season in the pistol and he’s very comfortable running it.”

 Another key target for Brey will be Tayler Hendrickson (4TD), who returns as the starter at tight end. Crowe and senior Corey Casini will also spell Hendrickson at the position.

 Defensively, the Eagles will be counting heavily on returning senior tackles Connor Spreen and Hendrickson who have the potential to be the best defensive tackle tandem in the Shore Conference. Spreen was an All-Class A North selection and knows how to take advantage when teams attempt to double team Hendrickson. Don’t be surprised if teams are forced to double up on Spreen this year as well. Hendrickson claimed first team All-Shore honors after posting 52 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He’s a potential FBS recruit with offers already on the table from numerous FCS schools. Junior Dan Servidio will back up at tackle.

 “Connor and Taylor are the nucleus to what’s going to be happening defensively,” Antonucci said. Both are All-Conference guys with scholarship offers. They play hard, are extremely physical and get off the ball as quick as anyone in the Shore. The whole idea is for them to occupy lineman so the other guys can run; they do that and much more.”

 “We’ve been working really hard,” Spreen said. “It’s been hot day’s and long practices, but it’s going to pay off in the end. As a senior, I’m ready to take on a leadership role, especially with the number of young guy’s in big spots for us. Our defense is ferocious, we’re animals out there. As a defensive unit we plan on leading the way to a championship. That’s the way I want to go out.”

 Crowe and senior Martin Berke, a pair of newcomers, will start at defensive end and should reap the benefits of playing alongside Spreen and Hendrickson. Sophomore Sean Kileen also should see time at end.

 Sophomore backup quarterback Matt Mosquera, who will handle both the kicking and punting duties replacing All-Shore kicker Connor Ryan has looked good kicking in scrimmages.

 “Here’s another kid (Crowe) who’s a junior playing for the first time,” Antonucci said. “He’s an every down player, possible on both sides of the ball. He’s a big body that can cause some issues for the opponent. He’s got such an upside, we talk about him being another scholarship kid; he’s got the body for it, now he needs to develop the mentality. He’s got a very bright future if he continues on the track he’s on.”

 The Linebacker corps are young, but an extremely talented group. Three out of the four starters come from this year’s standout sophomore class. Dylan Rogers and Trent Giglio will start at the inside linebacker spots. Both started five games as freshman, including the state championship game. Junior Sergio Gonzalez will also see action on the inside. Another sophomore, Tom Coffey will start on the outside with Casini starting opposite of him. Spencer Pereless will back up on the outside.

 “Our young linebackers have a lot of experience including the championship game,” Hendrickson said. “We have faith in them. Connor and I will get the offensive lineman out of the way so they can make plays. One or both of us will be double-teamed at all times so that will open things up for them.”

 “I’ve never been afraid to play young kids,” Antonucci said. “They’ll grow as the season progresses and the two guys inside (Rogers and Giglio) are as good as anybody. We feel they can be a great tandem; they remind me of some of the dominate tandems we had years back. By the time these two are seniors they’ll be the best in the Shore. The outside guy (Coffey) is very athletic and gives us a presence off the edge. Casini is the only upperclassman, but he’s really playing in his first season. He’s shown us he’s very capable of doing what we want on the outside and we have a reliable backup there in Spencer Pereless.”

 Wisialko, who is a returning starter at cornerback and should provide stability in the backfield with either the experienced Jeremy Concepcion or Cole Rogers at the other corner position. O’Connell or Nolan Pereless gets the start at safety.

 “We’re going to have to play defense,” Antonucci said. “Defense is the key to any championship. The years that we’ve gotten there, we’ve gotten there with defense. Don’t get me wrong, you need a good offense, but if you’re going to win a championship you’ve got to play good defense.”

 “Can we go all the way this year? I think we can. We’re much better on defense than we were a year ago and offensively I think we have enough firepower to allow our defense to play the way it can play. If we can be solid on defense and do just enough on offense, we’re going to be in the mix at the end of the year.”

 “Our goal is to get back to Rutgers and win,” Hendrickson said. “This team is as good or better than last year, so we’re expecting a better finish; Last year was tough losing to Sayreville, I don’t want to feel that way again.”

 “The standard at South is to win championships,” Wisialko said. “Right now I have a chip on my shoulder not winning a title at South. We’re going to change that this season; we all feel a championship is ours for the taking.”

 The Eagles open at home this Friday, September 20, against Brick Township. Kickoff is set for 7:00 P.M.