The high school football season is right around the corner, and the first annual

New Jersey High School Football Preview magazine is about to hit

newsstands. We have teamed up with the publisher, Zone Coverage, to give you a taste of what you will see in the magazine. Advance copies can be ordered here

One of the magazine's features is a look at the top teams in each county. The

magazine previews over 90 teams, and here is a look at two of the top ones from

Monmouth County. 

 

2003 added another chapter to a proud football tradition.  12-0, central

Jersey Group III champs and ranked as high as No. 4 in NJ.  With 9 starters

returning from a stifling defense unit and explosive offensive firepower, the

Eagles may be a couple of line blockers away from being NJ's top pre-season

team.

It should be very difficult to score on a defense that gave up under 200 yards

and 9 points per game.  Five top-flight starters return to the 4 LB

positions.  All-Monmouth Chris Martino (170 sr) had 11 TFL and 7

sacks.  Junior Nick Macaluso (6'3", 215) was 2nd Team All-Monmouth

despite missing 3 games.  He is a major D-1 prospect.  Seniors Dan

Terrecino (185), Ryan Campbell (6'0", 205) and junior Keith Heaney

(6'2", 195) play at the same level. Senior defensive back Gerald Deckle

(170) is a speedy 3-year starter and college prospect. Hard hitting junior Eric

Daneman (170) and senior ball hawk Rob Kelly (175, 5 int) are nearly as

good.  Seniors Nick Rubino (205) and Tom Nicholes (215) are a pair of

relentless defensive tackles. Look for Heaney, a top pass rusher with a great

motor, to move to DE.

Junior RB Knowshon Moreno (6'1", 200) is a high

school offense by himself. A rare blend of balance, power and speed, he rushed

for 1,200 yards and 30 TDs in '03 following a 1,000 yard, 20 TD freshman

season.  He is one of the nation's best junior prospects.  Junior Tent

MacCray (5'9", 180) rushed for 420 yards, 6 YPC and 6 TDs.  He is also

a 3-year varsity performer and very explosive.  Senior QB Dan Stivala

(6'1", 210) was the starting TE who played well as the backup QB.  He

is strong with a big arm and could open up the passing game similar to the

undefeated 1992 and 1995 squads.  The explosive Deckle should be a big play

wideout with Macaluso a top TE prospect.  Martino, Terracino and Heaney are

all quality runners.  The key question is who will replace three 3-year and

two 2-year offensive line starters.  

Deckle with 2 TD kickoff

returns and Moreno with 2 TD punt returns provide an extra weapon that could put

this team on top.

 

A Thanksgiving game blowout of a talented Matawan team gave a hint of what

may happen throughout 2004.  Fourteen starters return from a 7-3 squad that

played mostly two platoons, Raritan has enjoyed state championship success in

basketball and baseball.  2nd Team All-Monmouth QB Andrew Mandeville

(5'10", 170 jr) was a contributor to those teams.  He is the

ringleader here having thrown for more than 2,400 yards and 20 TDs in two

starting seasons.  He is accurate, a good scrambler and clutch

performer.  Fellow junior RB Matt Fitzpatrick (5'11", 190), 3rd Team

All-Monmouth, rushed for over 900 yards and 8 TDs and rarely goes down on the

first or second hits. 6'2" senior wideouts Shane Meyer and Jeff Papcuin

return with over 40 combined catches.  Junior TE Ken Jaeger (6'1",

200), a solid place-kicker, is back.

The offensive and defensive lines have

size and ability led by senior returnees Tom Mahon (230) and Matt Dempsey (255)

along with junior wrestler Jeff King (265).  Seniors Mike Piagianokos, Tony

DePompa and Chris Carroll are small but tough linebackers.  The secondary

is young but talented.