By Scott Stump - Senior Editor
E-mail: stump@digitalsports.com
Posted on 8/18/08 at 4:30 p.m.
Updated 10:10 p.m.

     Yes, it's that time of year when you drive down the street near your local high school, glance at the football field and smile.
      You hear the hollering and the pads cracking. You hear the coaches trying to find out who is willing to endure the heat and exhaustion for the privilege of stepping on the field in their teams' uniforms amidst the roar of the crowd in a few weeks. You hear the whoops from the veteran players as some sophomore just got rudely introduced to the varsity level.
      You hear the sportswriters grunting as they do wrist and finger exercises to get ready for...all right, I made that part up. But you get the idea.
     The 2008 Shore Conference football preseason is upon us, the time of eternal hope. Just ask Asbury Park, which was coming off a 1-9 season heading into last year's preseason, only to end 2007 by raising the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I championship trophy. You never know what can happen in the course of an off-season. Brett Favre could be wearing a Jets uniform for crying out loud (doubling the price of my tickets, thank you very much).
      With that said, let's get to some of the burning questions surrounding the Shore Conference scene during the preseason.

      1. Will Toms River North and Asbury Park repeat as state sectional champs?

       I'll start with Toms River North. The Mariners look like they have the firepower to do it, although Mainland, which it vanquished in last year's South Jersey Group IV final, is also geared up for a run. Despite losing DigitalSports Defensive Player of the Year Zach Kane, DigitalSports first-teamers Nick Foukarakis at linebacker and Austin Kugler at defensive tackle along with Xavier Crippen at cornerback, the Mariners return the rest of their entire unit from the No. 1 defense in the Shore last season. Filled with playmakers, particularly in the secondary, this should still be a strong defensive team.
         Offensively, senior Nick Zaza steps in at quarterback for graduated DigitalSports first-teamer Anthony Penna and should have plenty of standout playmakers in running back Jon Daniels, wideout Pat Szukics and some newcomers who should open some eyes with their open-field ability. In other words, yes, Toms River North has the ability to repeat as state champs and as No. 1 in the DigitalSports Top 10, although it won't sneak up on anyone this year like it did last year before vanquishing Middletown South to really assert its right to the No. 1 spot. One of their biggest question marks is on the offensive line, where they will have four new starters alongside Temple recruit Evan Regas.
         Asbury Park is in a similar spot to Toms River North. It has some big-time players returning in senior Will Johnson, a rare four-year starter at quarterback, junior running back George Stephens and senior wideout Derrell Bell. At the Group I level, that is a ton of offensive firepower for opponents to deal with. The Blue Bishops did lose two stalwart linemen in Knowryl Hammary and Paul Zarella as well as underrated two-way player Kaeshon McMillan, but also have experience back on the line. With numerous two-way players, their defense also should be solid, although the loss of rugged linebacker/running back Rashawn Roberts isn't an easy one to fill.
         The Blue Bishops also won't have anyone taking them lightly, as they will be the preseason favorite to win the Patriot Division rather than the team that is limping off a 1-9 season like last year. They do have the capacity to repeat, although particularly in Asbury Park's case, staying healthy is huge because there is not much depth in its small program. This also can't be a completely star-driven team with big egos from last year because the play along the line and the togetherness of the team was a huge factor in last season's success. Teams have studied and scouted them, so Bell may not be beating everyone on jumpballs down the field this time or Johnson may not always get to the corner for a big play, so they have to stick together and stay with the plan if things don't work as easily as they did last year.
        Both Toms River North and Asbury Park need to fight complacency and the thought that if they just show up and roll the balls out, they will win. They will get everyone's best effort, even from teams that on paper they should roll over.

     2. How will the top teams from last year that were walloped by graduation end up doing this season?

     This is a large group of schools - Howell, Long Branch, Toms River East, Keansburg, Rumson-Fair Haven, Holmdel, Freehold, Manalapan, and Barnegat.
     Let's go with the big ones first, starting with Howell, the defending Central Jersey Group IV champs. The Rebels still have a competition between several players at quarterback in their spread offense after graduating the DigitalSports Offensive Player of the Year, Tim Lamirande, and every top skill player at wideout, as well as underrated running back David Hayes. Not having a set quarterback just yet in an offense that revolves around the quarterback and helped make stars of Lamirande and his predecessor, Sean O'Reilly, sounds like there will be some growing pains. 
     Those players, like Jason Amato, Chance Carrick and Brian Battaglia, also were huge contributors on defense as well. It should take this team a few games just to get its legs because so many players have little varsity experience. When you graduate the best senior class in school history, you're usually going to take a step back. A five- or six-win season would be a job well done.
      As for Long Branch, the Green Wave graduated six first-team DigitalSports Legends of the Fall players, which is a bushel of talent to replace. They still have linebacker Bill George, lineman Ameer Washington and wideout Larry Morris, but the experience factor will also be the biggest. During practice for this summer's Shore Gridiron Classic, I asked last year's quarterback, Isaiah Hall, how this year's team would be, and he likened it to two years ago when Long Branch took a few lumps while learning only to come back with a vengeance the following year.
     There is always talent in Long Branch, so the question is how quickly it can be brought up to speed on the varsity level. On the bright side, there is expected to be home games in Long Branch for the first time since 2003. So they got that going for them as they try to make another run at the sectional title game, this time in Central Jersey Group II as they dropped down from CJ III.
      Toms River East always seems to have talent, but the Raiders lost some stalwart players, particularly on defense. They always have athletes, but it will have to be a new generation of playmakers, as just about everyone who made an impact offensively and defensively walked the aisle in June. However, this team is built on speed and defense and has been able to sustain those two attributes despite graduation losses the past few years. They are a wildcard right now.
      In the Patriot Division, Central Jersey Group I finalist Keansburg and Central Jersey Group II finalist Rumson-Fair Haven just watched two of the most successful senior classes in their school history walk out the door. I think the Bulldogs are better equipped to handle it right now because they do return top defensive tackle Taylor Brown as well as some others who saw action last year. They play a two-platoon system, so more players see the field, and they are a bigger school than Keansburg, which is in a town that is all of one square mile. Rumson is a darkhorse to win a third straight division title and has had the number of Shore and Asbury Park the past few years. Don't be shocked if the Bulldogs pull it off. 
      As for "Da Burg,'' I think the Titans will keep their heads above water because they are well-coached and seem to have built a solid foundation. This is a big program year because they can't let the bottom fall out (i.e., 1-9, 2-8) after all the momentum they have generated the past few years. That's easier said than done when you lose some of the best players in school history in the Laguna brothers and quarterback Anthony Valle as well as wideouts Scott Pillar and Josh Bakala, and underrated guys like Joe Mickle. Just about all of those guys played both sides of the ball as well, so the Titans have their work cut out for them to get to the likes of say, six wins.
     I think Holmdel is in a similar position to Keansburg. While junior fullback Kenny Laplante is back, the Hornets just graduated the best senior class in school history. They are almost starting from scratch, so this will be a big year to show the depth of the program and at least get guys experience in order to come back strong for next year.
     Freehold is an interesting case because it still has explosive returner/wideout Brandon Brown and some other potentially dangerous skill players. I think the real area the Colonials need to replace some tough players is on the offensive and defensive line. It won't matter how many people Brown can run by if the quarterback has no time to throw or if the running game doesn't force defenses to respect the line of scrimmage. If Freehold's line comes together, the Colonials could sneak up on everyone (except Middletown South) just like they did last year.
     As for Manalapan, the Braves lost quarterback Craig Peterson, running back David Presby and top lineman Tom Sozzi, so it's more in replacing the star power. However, this school is the definition of a program. It just keeps churning out wins and playoff appearances, although the Braves came up just short of the postseason last year. I think they will be competitive as always.
     Finally, Barnegat graduated the first senior class in its history, consisting of nearly its entire starting lineup. However, injuries during the season gave the Bengals a chance to throw some young players into the fire, which should certainly help. Plus, they have a player who is capable of giving opposing fans heart failure when the ball is in the air - senior wideout Dan Cintron. He is one of the fastest players in the Shore and should be fun to watch this season.

    3. Will Middletown South reclaim its spot atop the Shore Conference?

     It goes to show how inflated the expectations are for the Eagles that they went 8-3 and it was almost considered a disaster. Most programs would kill for that type of season, but when you win four straight state sectional titles, people always want more. The Eagles return almost their whole team from last year, although they could have a big loss in junior Craig Sweeney, a good all-around athlete who might be concentrating fully on baseball.
     The key for me for this team is that the offensive line returns almost totally intact, with the exception of graduated standout Steve Lang. When this team has cohesiveness on the line, it usually is very tough, and its backfield is filled with good athletes in the flexbone attack. Its defense also was uncharacteristically roughed up at times last season, but should be better this year with another season of experience under its belt.
      The Eagles are not the juggernaut of the Knowshon Moreno days, but few, if any, teams in the history of the Shore Conference have even sniffed that level. Still, this team has the goods to run the table and take back its state title, especially with defending Central Jersey Group III champion Moorestown having lost a lot to graduation. That is shaping up to be a nice little rivalry with the Quakers as well, as Middletown South blew them out in the 2006 CJ III final only for Moorestown to return the favor in the semifinals last year.
      Middletown South's coaching staff and players love nothing more than a challenge, and people kicking dirt on them last year is more than enough fuel to make them want to return to prominence.

     4. How will Red Bank Catholic and Central perform after some abrupt coaching changes this summer?
 
      For Central, the only place to go is up after an 0-10 season. With athletic director Vinnie Casale serving as interim coach after Dennis Tobin's resignation in July, the big thing will be getting players to buy into the system. They know that Casale most likely will only be the coach for this season, so they may be hesitant to buy into everything when they will most likely have a whole new set-up next year. However, Casale has a track record to back up what he says, as he led Pinelands to its only division title in school histoyr in 1987 and was the defensive coordinator on successful Central teams in the 1990s under current Monsignor Donovan coach Dan Duddy.  
      Most coaches have remarked about how much size Central has had the past few years, so I think it's up to Casale and his staff to translate that into wins. Still, there is not a lot of pressure because of Central's struggles over the past few years.
      As for new Red Bank Catholic coach Jim Portela and his staff, there will be much more pressure than at Central. The Caseys became accustomed to challenging for division titles and reaching the state playoffs every season under former coach Frank Edgerly, who is now the director of recruiting operations at Rutgers. The team they have coming back this year could be one of their best in a long time, so it is up to Portela, his staff and the players to make that a reality.
      I think the biggest challenge is keeping the offense humming along as one of the Shore's best. Portela was the defensive coordinator under Edgerly and one of the other top assistants, Biff Wilbur, is also more of a defensive coach. Edgerly dominated the play-calling and offensive gameplans, so that is now in Portela's hands. I guess much of it comes down to how much of the success was a solid program and coaching staff and how much was Edgerly's forceful personality and play-calling. 
      Portela is no stranger to pressure, however, as he was the defensive coordinator at national powerhouse Don Bosco Prep in the 1990s, where the expectations are on a whole other level than those at RBC.
      Also, it helps that even though Edgerly didn't finalize everything with Rutgers until Aug. 5, there was a plan of succession in place. Edgerly's desires to move to the next level were known, so Portela's succession was in place should Edgerly ever leave. Casale, on the other hand, had to step in unexpectedly after Tobin's abrupt resignation in July.

      5. Who will be this year's Derrell Bell or Michael Peavy, a previously unknown or part-time player who steps up and makes a huge impact?

      This obviously is a tough one because during last preseason I didn't who Bell was, so what should make me think I know this year's version already? I'll probably have a much better idea of this after visiting a bunch of camps and I'm sure a few teams (Long Branch and Toms River North come to mind) have some young stars ready to unleash, but here goes.
       Quietly, Manchester running back D'Andre McFadden was putting up some huge numbers late last season. I think everyone wants to see him do it against a Top 10 team before they fully believe.
       While Red Bank Catholic running back David Reeves is known by some, I think he could be a major breakout player this year if he can stand up to the pounding of more carries.
       I like Marlboro wideout E.J. Tucker, so we'll see if new coach Derek Sininsky can get him the ball more in position to make big plays.
      Keep an eye on Keyport two-way lineman Bryan Thomson. He hasn't gotten much ink, but he could be a breakout player in the Patriot Division. The same goes for Rumson defensive end Chris Hofer, who is also a promising pitcher on the baseball team.

     6. Will Southern's offense do enough to help the Rams win a division title?

       Southern's defense again looks to be a ferocious unit, particularly against the run, led by the tandem of linebackers Glenn Carson and Anthony Stroffolino. However, the Rams graduated quarterback Todd Kaiser and all of his top wideouts as well as 1,000-yard rusher Brad Gesser. Their replacements have to emerge and produce because that would be awfully tough for the Rams' faithful to stomach a 7-6 loss or a 10-7 loss in a game deciding a division title. It at least helps that Carson is also a punishing fullback who can move the chains on offense.

     7. What teams are ready to have breakthrough seasons?
    
     The four most obvious candidates are Middletown North, Brick Memorial, Neptune and St. John Vianney.
     Brick Memorial returns 18 of 22 starters from a team that upset Brick on Thanksgiving last year and has a year of experience in running second-year coach Walt Currie's flexbone offense. The more they refine it, the more dangerous they will be, and if their defense can bring it up a notch, they will challenge for a division title. They play Toms River East in the opener, so we'll find out right away where the Mustangs are at.
     As for Middletown North, this is the season that coach Joe Trezza has been building toward after taking the job in 2006. The Lions went 0-10 in his first year, followed by a 3-7 season last year that included a win over Brick Memorial. With nearly its entire starting lineup returning and a host of three-year starters, this is the season that has been circled when it comes to the rejuvenation of one of the Shore's more history-laden programs that has been in Middletown South's shadow for a while.
     The Lions also run the flexbone offense and now have had two years of experience to refine it. They have had slow starts the last two years, so it is imperative that they get out of the gate fast and not let a promising season slip away.
     Neptune, meanwhile, returns its entire offensive line and all of its top skill players except for wideout Brian Stepney in its quest to regain its usual status as a top 10 team in the Shore and a playoff contender. With explosive running back Michael Peavy and quarterback Lem Walker returning, the expectations are high for the Scarlet Fliers under coach John Fiore.
     Neptune has a passionate fan base that expects to win, so the pressure is certainly on at Memorial Field this year. The keys will be a solid defense led by defensive end Roderick Tillery and the performance of the offensive line.
     St. John Vianney has been close in recent years but hasn't been able to break through and really challenge for a division title. With the Mayos as well as exciting all-around athlete Charles Davis, this could be their year. They showed flashes at times offensively last year, but their inability to make plays in the passing game held them back. Still, with a loaded backfield, they might just have to do enough to keep teams honest, while also playing defense for four quarters and guarding against the big plays that hurt them last year.
     Also, watch out for Ocean, as coach Don Klein is excited about a host of returners in his second season. This is another program that is accustomed to being among the Shore's elite, and with a game against Manasquan in Week One, can send a message. 
     On the lower level, watch for Keyport and Shore to cause trouble in the Patriot Division after being out of the running the past few seasons. Manchester is another team that has played a lot of young players the past two seasons and is looking to get over the hump against traditional divisional powers.

     8. Will Colts Neck have a new identity?

     Under Mike McArthur, the Cougars have been all about tough defense and a punishing running game. However, with junior quarterback Chris Chiarelli, who came on like gangbusters at the end of last season in the passing game, the Cougars could possibly become a team that starts airing it out. With the graduation of star running back Ashton Jackson, we'll see if Colts Neck sticks with its usual formula or molds things around Chiarelli.

     9. Will Raritan rocket back into contention this season?
 
     The Rockets had reached three straight state sectional finals before graduation losses finally caught up with them last year as they plunged to 2-8. However, they did win their final two games and return the bulk of their team this season. A huge key will be staying healthy, as their top two quarterbacks went down in the season opener to set an ominous tone for the year. The bright side was that the injuries meant that a lot of young players gained valuable experience at the varsity level.
     With juniors Bennett Jackson and Jesse Raymond back as skill players on offense and a more stable quarterbacking situation, the Rockets have the ability to make last season look like a blip on the radar. They struggled mightily on offense at times last year, so if that area improves, they will be in the hunt.
     Plus, I think their strong coaching staff, led by Bob Generelli, was almost re-energized by last year because now there is the challenge of restoring Raritan's place among the elite. While they don't have the same talent as Middletown South, I think there is the same mentality of getting back what they once had. Point Boro looks like the National Division favorite, but the Rockets are determined to have their say.

  10. How will some of the Shore's top programs do after middle-of-the-pack seasons last year?
  
    The four teams that come to mind here are Manasquan, Wall, Brick and Jackson Memorial. They all were .500 or better and all reached the state playoffs, but for these three programs, the goals are usually much higher.
    Wall loses current Rutgers freshman Tim Wright and will build around senior tailback Blaze Caponegro. Their biggest challenge last year was finding offense against top opponents, so we'll see if they can come up with a diversified attack that doesn't let teams zero in on Caponegro. If they can't consistently get the ball down the field in the passing game, they could be looking at another solid, but not spectacular, season. The Crimson Knights have moved back from the Liberty Division to the Federal Division, where Freehold, Neptune and their old buddies, Middletown South, are lurking.
     As for Manasquan, the Warriors return plenty of experience after a large group was thrown into the fire last season following the graduation of the 2006 juggernaut team. There also isn't the raw emotion of having to deal with the death of legendary coach Vic Kubu shortly before the season. 
     Lorenzo Venables is an explosive running back who had a hard time staying healthy last season, and the Warriors also welcome some young talent from the lower levels that could have an impact. With this team, "We've been working hard in the weight room,'' isn't just a boring cliche, it's often a big indicator of its success. So much of their game is based on physically whipping teams at the line of scrimmage that the more size and strength that they have added, the better their season will be.
     Brick returns quarterback Jordan Roshala and some other weapons and should make it two straight state playoff appearances in Warren Wolf's 51st season at the helm. 
     Finally, Jackson looks to be competitive and will be looking for a new running back to replace Don Murphy and keep its streak of 1,000-yard rushers alive. This team isn't packed with explosive talent, but with a good coaching staff and execution, the Jaguars can be right in the thick of it for a division title and a playoff run as usual.
     

     11. Will Lacey and Point Boro sustain their high level of success?

      On paper, I would have to say 'yes' to that question. Lacey, which has reached three straight South Jersey Group III finals, returns top running back Tom Rickmers and all-around star Justin Pandorf. They will have to replace some talented linemen and quarterback Warren Smith, but they always seem to find a way, particularly with linemen. Winning is so engrained in the culture there now that it's state championship or bust every season for Lou Vircillo's club.
      Same goes for Point Boro, as Calvin Thompson's squad has reached the sectional final in three of the past four years and has the horses to do it again this year. Three-year starter Shane O'Connor is back at quarterback and Ty Hughes could be a breakout star at running back and kick returner this year after showing flashes last year. There are always new athletes ready to make an impact for the Panthers, and they should be formidable once again.

    12. Who will be the Shore's most exciting offensive player?
 
    Neptune running back Michael Peavy has breathtaking speed when he gets in the open field and is certainly one to watch. Asbury Park running back George Stephens has some good shake-and-bake moves and also some power.
    One player who stands out in my mind as someone who always looks like he's one block or one move away from a touchdown is St. John Vianney's Charles Davis. He played quarterback last year but almost exclusively ran the ball, and is believed to be moving to running back this year. He shied away from contact at times, which could be expected of any freshman playing varsity, but he is fun to watch when he hits the corner.
    Barnegat wideout Dan Cintron has blazing speed and can simply outrun defenders to a deep pass, which is always exciting to watch late in a close game. Asbury Park's Derrell Bell was a highlight factory at wideout last year, so we'll see if he can keep it up now that teams will try and gang up on him downfield. Toms River East running back Nico Steriti also has some explosiveness, and I think you will see some new Toms River North skill players who will get you out of your seat at the wideout spot.
    Red Bank Catholic running back David Reeves has breakaway speed and is one to watch. Of course, fans know from last year that Freehold senior kick returner/wideout Brandon Brown can single-handedly change a game with his speed. Manchester's D'Andre McFadden ripped off a few 90-yard-plus-touchdown runs last year, so he deserves consideration.
    After taking his lumps as a freshman, Matawan quarterback Jared Allison is looking to emerge as more of a playmaker, while senior wideout/kick returner/defensive back Kyle Hardy is a dangerous open-field player. Point Boro's Ty Hughes is also a big-play threat, and Manalapan tight end Jimmy Gillburn was a big playmaker for the Braves last year. 

  13. Who is the Shore's top returning quarterback?

   The only returner from the first, second or third teams from last year's DigitalSports Legends of the Fall team is Point Boro's Shane O'Connor, who was a third-team selection.
   He is a dual running/passing threat who is heading into his third year at starter and could put up some big numbers. Others to look at are Colts Neck's Chris Chiarelli, a 1,000-yard passer who showed flashes of being able to take over games last year, and Asbury Park's Will Johnson, a four-year starter at quarterback who helped the Blue Bishops win a state title last year.
   Brick's Jordan Roshala is entering his third year as a starter and also is a running/passing threat, while Neptune's Lem Walker will be counted on to make plays in the passing game to keep defenses off Michael Peavy. Matawan's Jared Allison returns after a year of hard knocks as a freshman and could impress, plus you have to figure that whomever gets the starting job at Howell will put up some numbers in the spread offense.

    14. Who is this year's Asbury Park?

      I don't think we'll see any team go from 1-9 to state champs, but there are a few teams who had three wins or less who could turn things around. I could see Pinelands, a 1-9 team last year, making a jump up in the standings with a large group of returners. Also, Raritan, a two-win team, has the potential to get to six wins or more, and Toms River South could show strides under new coach Bill Hill.

    15. Who will be the Division I-A recruits from this year's senior class in the Shore?

      While that's up to the college coaches who green-light offers and the student-athletes who need to make their grades, here are the players with Division I-A offers so far: Glenn Carson (LB, Southern); Blaze Caponegro (RB, Wall); Derrell Bell (WR, Asbury Park); Roderick Tillery (DE/LB Neptune); Matt Faiella (LB, Freehold Township); Evan Regas (OL, TR North, committed to Temple).
      Southern linebacker Anthony Stroffolino, Matawan's Kyle Hardy and Freehold's Brandon Brown have all received interest and could be on this list before long. Also, if I missed anybody from this year's senior class, feel free to drop me an e-mail at stump@digitalsports.com.
      Freehold Township coach Dom Lepore also informed me that wideout Ryan Spadola, one of the Shore's most underrated players, got an offer from Division I-AA Towson University in June.

    16. Is this the year of the kicker?

      Quietly, the kicking crop for this year could be outstanding. You might see some games decided by a 50-yard field goal. Colts Neck's Eric Spillane, Middletown North's Dylan Maresca, Toms River North's Pat Szukics, and Point Boro's Dean Schreefer all have great range or have made clutch kicks or both, and could end up having a fun little battle for DigitalSports first-team honors. Plus, there always seems to be a kicker or two who emerges from obscurity, so it should be a good competition.