August 1, 2018
2017 in Review: The Raiders were 8-1 and play in the Mid-Atlantic Prep league. They are not a member of the NJSIAA and do not participate in the playoffs. They scored 379 points for a 42.11 average, while allowing 163 for an 18.11 average. Wins included Blair Academy, Friendship Academy (DC), and Lawrenceville School, while their lone loss was to Peddie.
Graduation Losses: WR Josh Szott – Arizona, OL/DL Bobby Haskins – Virginia, WR Preston Parsons – Princeton, MLB Jackson Henry – Pittsburgh as a walk-on, QB Pat Holly – Harvard, C/DT CJ Williams – Sacred Heart, G/DT Jordan Morris – Delaware, T Ben Wild – Lafayette, DE Adrien Pluchard-Cole – Dickinson (Pa.)
Offense: The Hun School runs a pro-style offense and return three starters. The quarterback will be junior Logan Clouse (6-3, 210) and tailback returns senior Josh Henderson (6-0, 205). Also getting carries this year will be post-grad Ryan Parris (5-11, 200) and freshman Ahmad Dixon (5-9, 185). Fullback will have post-grad Gavin Casey (6-2, 225) and senior Malcolm Brunson (6-2, 215), who saw time in the backfield and at linebacker before being injured. Another who may be used as a hybrid tailback-fullback is junior Ian Franzoni (5-11, 205).
One wide receiver who returns is senior Jackson Barletta (6-2, 200). The other wideout will be a committee of junior Nick DeGennaro (5-11, 185), sophomore Owen Anderson (6-4, 210), senior Eric Fleming (6-6, 180), and senior Brendan Ekwughalu (6-0, 220). The tight end will be post-grad Dylan Deveney (6-6, 245) and senior Jack Ruddy (6-6, 220) will see action when they go with two tight ends.
The line returns senior Caedan Wallace (6-6, 295) at left tackle. The rest of the line looks like it will have sophomore Kevin Wigenton (6-5, 275) at left guard, junior Joe Horn (6-3, 275) at center, junior Harrison Hill (6-3, 295) at right guard, and junior Mike Leone (6-6, 275) at right tackle.
Defense: The Raiders run a 4-3 and return three starters. The front four will feature Deveney, Wallace, Hill, and Horn. Where each lines up will be determined in the pre-season.
The linebackers will be a mix of Ekwughalu, Casey, Brunson, and Parris, with Brunson starting before being injured.
Three starters return in the secondary, with Barletta back at cornerback, Henderson at strong safety, and senior Blake Hansen 96-2, 185) at free safety. The other corner will be both Hixon and DeGennaro, while Franzoni will rotate in at safety.
Special Teams: Senior Ryan Kasper returns at kicker, while punter is undecided. The long snapper is junior Brian Cocciolillo and the return men will be Hixon and Henderson.
Schedule:
Saturday, 9/8, Cheshire Academy (Ct.) at home, 11 AM
Saturday, 9/15, at Steubenville (Oh.), 11 AM
Saturday, 9/22, St. Thomas More (Ct.) at home, 11 AM
Saturday, 9/29, at Haverford School (Pa.), 1 PM
Saturday, 10/6, Blair Academy at home, 4:15 PM
Saturday, 10/13, at Hill School (Pa.), 2 PM
Saturday, 10/20, Lawrenceville School at home, 7 PM
Saturday, 10/27, at Peddie, 2 PM
Saturday, 11/3, Mercersburg Academy (Pa.) at home, 2 PM
Recruits: Wallace verballed to Penn State, Henderson to North Carolina, Deveney to Rutgers, and Ekwughalu to Colgate. Barletta has offers from Fordham, Lafayette, and Colgate, with a decision possible in the next few days. Brunson has offers and will play out the season before deciding. Post-graduates have Parris hearing from a couple of NEC schools and Casey from both the Pioneer League and NEC.
Concerns: New faces have arrived and it’s a matter of getting everybody on the same page. Depth, which is normal for a prep school.
Comments: “We are excited about the team and we have great kids. The sky is the limit; we just have to play to our strength.” – Head Coach Todd Smith