August 22, 2018
2017 In Review: The Blue Knights were 8-3, losing to Phillipsburg in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 semi-finals after beating Linden. They scored 348 points for a 31.64 average, while allowing 187 for a 17.0 average, including two shutouts. Wins included Wayne Hills, Passaic Valley, and Lincoln, while their other losses were to Smyrna (Del.) and Nutley.
Graduation Losses: WR/DB Isaiah Provillon – North Carolina State, DE Lancine Turay – North Carolina, QB Brandon Robinson – Liberty, DB Jason Antwi – Monmouth, TE/LB Keyon Means-Bowman – Wagner, RB Muadh Abdus Salaam – Delaware State, WR/DB Darryl Hill – American International, DL Jalen Scott – Prep, followed by non-Power 5 1-A, DE Kevin Kirkpatrick – Dodge City JC (Kan.), DL Carl Napoleon – East Stroudsburg for wrestling
Offense: Irvington runs a multiple spread and returns one starter and several who played. Quarterback is a competition between juniors Taiyon Battle (6-0, 165) and Mike Jackson (6-2, 180). The running back will be junior Zakee Swann (5-9, 175) after seeing time last year.
Three of the wide receivers are senior Mohamed Toure (6-2, 190), junior Zahir Swann (5-9, 170), and sophomore Zahir Abdus Salaam (5-9, 160). Toure started at Paramus Catholic, while Swann and Abdus Salaam both played. The last receiver is undecided.
At left tackle is senior Savion Herring (6-5, 300), a transfer from Hudson Catholic. The left guard is senior Jalen Patilla (6-3, 260) and junior Nasir Harrison (6-1, 270) is the center. The right side will feature senior Jethro Pierrevil (6-5, 250) at tackle and senior Nashawn Brooks (5-11, 230) will play guard.
Defense: The Blue Knights run a 4-2-5 and return three starters. Senior Elton Jean-Baptiste (6-2, 230) returns at end and senior Mikai Gbayor (6-1, 270). Tackle is undecided with four players battling.
Brooks is back at linebacker and there is a four-way competition at the other two backers.
The secondary brings back senior Darren Fields (6-3, 187) at safety and his partner will be junior Ray Simmons (6-0, 180). Cornerback is not decided with several in the mix.
Special Teams: Senior Clervency Prince returns as the kicker and the punter will be Simmons. The return men will be the two Swans, Toure, and Abdus Salaam.
Schedule:
Friday, 8/31, Orange at home, 7 PM
Friday, 9/7, Union City at home, 7 PM
Friday, 9/14, at Ridgewood, 7 PM
Friday, 9/21, at Millburn, 7 PM
Saturday, 9/29, at Bergen Catholic, 1 PM
Friday, 10/5, North Bergen at home, 7 PM
Saturday, 10/13, at Ferris, 7 PM
Friday, 10/29, Barringer, 7 PM
Friday, 10/26, Montclair at home, 7 PM
Recruits: Herring committed to Cincinnati, Brooks to Morgan State and Fields to Albany. Toure has fifteen 1-A offers and Jean-Baptiste may go Patriot/Ivy League.
In the sophomore class, Abdus Sallam has an offer from Baylor, Swan has offers from Cincinnati and Western Michigan, and Clerk has offers from Cincinnati and Syracuse.
Concerns: Youth and coming together.
Coach’s Comments: “We have a good amount of talent with good football players who will get better as the season goes on.” – Head Coach Ashley “Smoke” Pierre