Cedar Creek Pirates   

June 29, 2024

2023: 

• 8-4 
• Lost to Camden in the Central Jersey Group 3 sectional final after beating Timber Creek in the semifinals and Wall in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Oakcrest, Matawan, and Ocean City 
• Losses were to Camden Eastside, Delsea, and Winslow 
• Scored 298 points for a 24.83 average 
• Allowed 265 points for a 22.08 average  

Graduation: 

• WR/DB Alim Parks – Wagner (NY) 
• DB Jamal McLellan – New Haven (Ct.) 
• QB Billy Smith – WIlkes (Pa.) 
• FB/LB Justin Castilo – Wilkes (Pa.) 
• C Nate Tunnat – Rowan 
• OL Randy Beane – Eastern (Pa.) 
• WR/DB Chris McAfee – Monroe College (NY JUCO) 
• DB Aman McLaughlin – Monroe College (NY JUCO)  

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread
• Returning Starters: 7 

Quarterback: 

• Frenchmon (Junior) Bethea, Junior, 6-0, 180 – competing; started on defense  
• Riley Hoffacker, Senior, 6-4, 220 – competing 

Running Back: 

• Aamir Dunbar, Junior, 5-11, 200 – returning starter; rushed for 1,371 yards and 10 touchdowns per nj.com 
• Kai Stoner, Senior, 5-9, 160 – will spell Dunbar 

H-Back: 

• Daniel Montero, Junior, 5-9, 215 – competing 
• Justus Peyton, Junior, 6-0, 215 – competing; started on defense  

Wide Receiver: 

• Darius Benjamin, Senior, 5-10, 170 – 3-year starter; 37 receptions, 683 years, and 6 touchdowns per nj.com 
• Jahmir Campfield, Junior, 6-0, 175 – returning starter; 14 receptions per nj.com 
• Gyan King, Junior, 6-0, 175 – returning starter 
• Khanii Roe, Senior, 6-1, 160 – competing 
• Frenchmon (Junior) Bethea, Junior, 6-0, 180 – may see action here if he is not the quarterback 

Offensive Line: 

• Jonathan Martinez, Senior, 6-3, 275 – 3-year starter at left tackle 
• Mandel Pettiford, Senior, 6-1, 270 – 3-year starter at left guard 
• Cesar Ramirez-Cortazar, Senior, 5-9, 240 – projected starter at center 
• Shawn Alicea, Senior, 5-11, 255 – returning starter at center 
• Aiden Jinks, Senior, 6-1, 235 – competing at right tackle; started on defense 
• Mason Beck, Junior, 6-3, 300 – competing at right tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: Multiple 3-man fronts 
• Returning Starters: 7 

Defensive Line: 

• Mandel Pettiford, Senior, 6-1, 270 – 3-year starter at end 
• Aiden Jinks, Senior, 6-1, 235 – returning starter at end 
• Mason Beck, Junior, 6-3, 300 – projected starter at nose guard 
• Shawn Alicea, Senior, 5-11, 255 – part of the rotation 
• Daniel Montero, Junior, 5-9, 215 – part of the rotation 
• Jonathan Martinez, Senior, 6-3, 275 – part of the rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Aamir Dunbar, Junior, 5-11, 200 – returning starter on the outside 
• Justus Peyton, Junior, 6-0, 215 – returning starter on the inside, moving from end 
• Zach Kamenar, Junior, 5-11, 200 – competing on the inside 
• Jajuan McIntosh-Ward, Junior, 5-11, 185 – competing on the inside and outside 
• Jason Little, Junior, 5-11, 195 – competing on the outside  

Secondary: 

• Gyan King, Junior, 6-0, 175 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Jahmir Campfield, Junior, 6-0, 175 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Frenchmon (Junior) Bethea, Junior, 6-0, 180 – returning starter at safety 
• Darius Benjamin, Senior, 5-10, 170 – projected starter at safety 
• Kai Stoner, Senior, 5-9, 160 – projected starter at safety 

Special Teams:  

• Junior Chris Sandoval returns as the kicker and the punter is undecided 
• Benjamin, Campfield, and King are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Saturday 8/31, Camden Eastside at Egg Harbor in the Battle of the Beach 
• Friday, 9/6, Absegami at home 
• Friday, 9/13, at Atlantic City 
• Saturday, 9/21, Hammonton at home 
• Friday, 9/27, at Holy Spirit 
• Friday, 10/4, at Oakcrest 
• Friday, 10/11, at Lower Cape May 
• Friday, 10/18, Timber Creek at home 
• Friday, 10/25, Ocean City at home 

Concerns: 

• Progressions of 23 sophomores to juniors; if they make the jump, the team makes a jump 
• Getting off to a good start 

Recruiting: 

• Pettiford has offers from Temple, Monmouth, Wagner, and Maine 
• Benjamin has 1-AA interest 
• Hoffacker has Patriot League and PSAC (Pa. D2) interest 
• Martinez has D2 interest 
• Jinks has PSAC (Pa. D2) interest 
• Stoner has D3 interest 
• Others are D3 candidates 
• Underclassmen: 
• King has offers from Buffalo, Kent State, and Temple 
• Dunbar has offers from Kent State and Temple 
• Campfield hold a Temple offer 
• Peyton is a very good player who is one to watch 
• Bethea is also a very good player with low 1-A/high 1-AA interest 
• Beck will play somewhere 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We feel good. We started six sophomores and a few juniors last year. We lost some top seniors that will need to be replaced, but it has been a good offseason. The players tasted success and winning is a learned trait. They know now what it takes to get over the hump.” – Head Coach James Melody