Cranford Cougars
2018 in Review:
- 6-4 record
- Lost to Phillipsburg in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 semifinals
- Beat Linden in the first round
- Scored 212 points – 21.2 average
- Allowed 197 points – 19.7 average
- Wins Included: Summit, Immaculata, Voorhees
- Losses: Hillside, Somerville, Rahway
Departing Seniors:
- RB/DB Jimmy Shriner – Springfield
- DE/TE Rob Schork – Central Connecticut
- LB Matt Doran – Bentley
- DB Jamelle Harper – Montclair State
- LB Ahmad Rasheed – William Paterson
*The bold print below is a returning starter. This includes one who had playing time and one who started on the other side of the ball only in 2018, with explanation included after their name.
Offense:
Formation: Multiple Spread
Returning Starters: 6
Quarterback:
- Connor Katz, Senior, 6-2, 205 – 3-year starter
Running Back:
- Anthony DeCostello, 6-2, 195 – returning starter moving from the slot, will play and compete
- Marcus Johnson, Junior, 5-6, 140 – competing and will play
Wide Receiver:
- Michael Kalnins, Senior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter at slot receiver
- Cole Blazek, Senior, 6-2, 195 – returning starter
- Tom Korzeneski, Senior, 6-2, 185 – returning starter
- Jake Chapman, Junior, 6-2, 170 – competing at slot receiver and started on defense
- Liam Loughlin, Senior, 6-4, 195, competing at slot receiver, plays h-back and tight end
- Argun Petgrave, Junior, 6-3, 170 – provides depth
- Jake DiClerico, Senior, 5-9, 175 – provides depth at slot and wide receiver
Tackle:
- Rob Stevens, Junior, 6-3, 230 – competing
- Dan Quinones, Junior, 6-3, 200 – competing
- Matt Fries, Sophomore, 6-4, 210 – competing
Guard:
- Patrick Blowe, Senior, 6-2, 295 – returning starter
- Kevin Shriner, Sophomore, 6-2, 240 – projected starter
Center:
- Mike Fanelli, Senior, 5-9, 215 – competing
- Lukas Ruby, Sophomore, 6-2, 215 – competing
Defense:
- Formation: 3-3 stack
- Returning Starters: 2
Nose Guard:
- Patrick Blowe, Senior – returning starter
End:
- Liam Loughin, Senior – competing
- Mike Anzalone, Junior, 5-10, 220 – competing
- Garrett Lynch, Junior, 6-2, 205 – competing
- Aidan Plick, Senior, 6-2, 205 – competing
Linebacker:
- Matt Coates, Junior, 5-10, 190 – projected starter
- Kevin Keogh, Junior, 5-11, 205 – projected starter
- Nick Librera, Junior, 5-10, 195 – projected starter
Strong Safety:
- Evan Kanterman, Senior, 6-0, 180 – projected starter
- Michael Kalnins, Senior – projected starter
- Nate Caldwell, Junior, 5-7, 165 – pushing for time
- Dennis DeMarino, Junior, 5-10, 185 – pushing for time
Cornerback:
- Cole Blazek, Senior – projected starter
- Luke Pachkowski, Senior, 5-10, 170 – competing
- Jake DiClerico, Senior – competing
- Luke Infante, Junior, 5-9, 165 – competing
Free Safety:
- Jake Chapman, Junior – returning starter
Special Teams:
- Kicker and punter have a competition between Ian Spurr and junior Diar Dautaga, with Dautaga coming from the soccer team
- Kalnins, Blazek, DeCostello, and Johnson are the return men
Schedule:
- Bye Week
- Friday, 9/13, Montgomery at home
- Saturday, 9/21, at Scotch Plains-Fanwood
- Friday, 9/27, Somerville at home
- Friday, 10/4, Immaculata at home
- Friday, 10/11, at Rahway
- Friday, 10/18, at JP Stevens
- Friday, 10/25, at North Hunterdon
- Saturday, 11/2, at Summit
Concerns:
- Offensive and defensive lines are talented, but inexperienced
Recruiting:
- Katz has a Georgetown offer, with interest from Ivy, Patriot, and the NEC
- Blowe has interest from the Ivy and Patriot Leagues, Johns Hopkins, and the service academies
- Blazek has both football and lacrosse interest at the D3 levels
- Kalnins has both football and lacrosse interest at the D3 levels
- Korzeneski is a D3 prospect
Coach’s Comments:
“We have a chance to be good. The Skill kids return and that can accelerate progress. We have a quarterback returning who threw for 1,000 yards with our four top receivers returning. Our expectations are high as always and now we have to be in a position to win football games.” – Head Coach Erik Rosenmeier