July 29, 2018
2017 in Review: The Wildcats were 12-0, winning the Non-Public Group 2 championship by beating Mater Dei in the finals and beating Immaculata and St. Mary in the earlier rounds. They scored 545 points for a 45.42 average, while allowing 118 for a 9.83 average. Wins included St. Augustine, Holy Spirit, Allentown, Ocean City, Absegami, and Cedar Creek.
Graduation Losses: FB/LB Qwashin Townsell – Villanova, WR/DB Cejai Parrish – Northern Arizona, OL Dashan Birch – Delaware Valley, WR/DB Diego Martinez – Fork Union Military Academy (Va.), TE/DE Sencere Tapp – Rowan
Offense: St. Joe’s runs the Wing-T and returns seven starters. Senior Mitchell Donovan (5-9, 185) returns at quarterback and he will be supported by sophomore Jayden Shartel (5-9, 165). Both halfbacks also return in junior Jada Byers (5-7-1/2, 163) and senior Nate Johnson (5-9, 170). The fullback will be sophomore Angelo Vokolos (6-0, 195) and sophomore Ahmad Ross (5-11, 185) will also see action here and at halfback. Also in the mix will be junior Naim El (5-7-1/2, 195), but he will have to sit 30 days after transferring from Winslow.
The split end will be sophomore Keshon Griffin (6-5, 218) and sophomore Chase Lomax (6-1-1/2, 190) is in the lead at tight end, being pushed by junior Mike McLaughlin (6-2, 185).
Four starters return to the line in seniors Wisdom Quarshie (6-3, 307) at left tackle, Brad Lomax (6-2, 230) at left guard, Bobby Hyndman (6-0, 200) at right guard, and Tucker Monaco (6-2, 260) at center. The right tackle is senior Sean Morris (6-2, 283), who started on defense. Filling in everywhere on the line is senior Angelo Greer (6-1, 255).
Defense: The Wildcats run multiple three and four man fronts, returning seven starters. Wisdom and Morris are back at the tackles, while Brad Lomax returns at end. The opposite end will be Griffin, who saw a lot of action. Possibly rotating in are Greer, Monaco, and sophomore Ethan Hunt (5-11, 230).
Hyndman and Vokolos are back at linebacker, with Ross, Chase Lomax, and sophomore Tyler Paige (5-10, 180) battling for a starting spot.
Byers and Johnson return as the safeties, with Johnson moving from cornerback. Shertel will be one cornerback after starting in the state final. At the other corner, sophomore Holy Spirit transfer Amir Dunn (6-0, 170) will have to sit 30 days, but will have a chance to start, along with three freshmen: Kevin Mayfield (5-7, 150), Cohl Mercado (5-7, 135), and Kanye Udoh (6-0, 170).
Special Teams: Senior Adam Monicelli is back at kicker and Hyndman returns at punter. McLaughlin is the long snapper and the return men will be Byers and Johnson.
Schedule:
Saturday, 8/31, Hamden Hall Country Day (Ct.) at U of New Haven, 1 PM
Saturday, 9/8, Millville at home, 12 PM
Friday, 9/14, at St. Augustine, 6 PM
Friday, 9/21, at Atlantic City, 7 PM
Saturday, 9/29, Haddonfield at home, 12 PM
Saturday, 10/6, Vineland at home, 12 PM
Saturday, 10/13, West Deptford at home, 12 PM
Friday, 10/19, at Timber Creek, 7 PM
Friday, 10/26, at Holy Spirit, 7 PM
Recruits: Wisdom and Morris have 1-A offers and Lomax has offers from Towson, Bucknell, and others. Greer may wind up playing somewhere, while others could play with a good year.
There are some promising underclassmen, especially Byers in the junior class. His size may scare some away, but he is already a terrific high school football player and still has two more years.
Concerns: There is a tough game every week and they must bring their A-game every week. Depth is also an issue.
Comments: “The bar has been raised with high expectations. Everybody thought last year that we were a year away, but we went 12-0 for the first time in school history. We have a very tough game every week and I am not knocking last year’s opponents by any means. But we can’t afford a bad game or a bad practice.” – Head Coach Paul Sacco