Post 66 – HS Football – Preview: Lenape Valley

August 28, 2018 

2017 In Review:  The Patriots were 7-4, losing to Rutherford in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 2 semi-finals after beating Hanover Park.  They scored 254 points for a 25.4 average, while allowing 1870 for an 18.0 average, including two shutouts. Wins included Mountain Lakes, Madison, and Jefferson, while their other losses were to Newton, Hackettstown, and Lakeland.

Graduation Losses:  — QB Craig Swanson – Bloomsburg (Pa.), RB Troy Dupont – Pittsburgh for lacrosse

Offense:  Lenape Valley runs the Wing-T and return two starters.  The new quarterback is senior Ryan Fleming (5-9, 150), while junior Nick Molinari (6-1, 210) returns at fullback.  The left halfback is senior Drew Pickett (5-11, 185) and senior John Spada (5-10, 185) will play right halfback.  Both halfbacks started on defense.

The split end is sophomore Cameron Samiljan (5-10, 170) and the tight end is junior Justin Peterson (5-10, 165), plus senior Michael Agens (6-0, 195) will also see action there.

The lone starter back on the line is senior left guard Joe Seck (5-10, 235).  Playing at right guard is sophomore John Lapinski (5-10, 190) and junior Matt Credidio (6-0, 190) will play center.  Left tackle will be defensive starter from last year in junior Rocco Bonavolonta (6-0, 260) and the right tackle is junior Bobby Erlemann (6-0, 260).  Junior John Zeich (6-0, 240) is the third tackle who may make a push into the season.

Defense:  The Patriots run a 3-3 stack, returning three starters.  Bonavolonta returns at nose guard and senior Michael Deane (6-0, 190) is at right end, while junior Ryan Hall (6-2, 230) will play left end.

Spada returns at inside linebacker on the left side and Pickett returns as an outside linebacker.  Playing inside in the middle is sophomore Jake Spada (5-10, 195), sophomore Trey Kaplan (5-8, 150) will play inside on the right, and Molinari will be the outside linebacker.

The cornerbacks are junior JT Lyons (5-9, 155) and sophomore Gavin Coles (5-7, 140), while the free safety is senior Brendan Abiskaroon (5-11, 155).

Special Teams:  Molinari returns as both kicker and punter, while the return men are Coles and sophomore Drew Togno (5-7, 145).

Schedule:

Friday, 8/31, Newton at home, 7 PM
Saturday, 9/8, at Hackettstown, 10 AM – Hackettstown celebrating 100 years of football
Friday, 9/14, at Lakeland, 6:30 PM
Friday, 9/21, Hopatcong, 7 PM
Friday, 9/28, at North Warren, 7 PM
Friday, 10/5, Kittatinny at home, 7 PM
Saturday, 10/13, at Madison, 1 PM
Saturday, 10/20, at Wallkill Valley, 1 PM
Friday, 10/26, High Point at home, 7 PM

Recruits:  There are good high school football players at Lenape Valley and where they go depends on how good a year they have.

Concerns:  Youth and inexperience.

Coach’s Comments:  “We have gotten a lot better since the first day of practice and we need to grow up in a hurry.” – Head Coach Don Smolyn

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