August 28, 2018
2017 In Review: The Vikings were 11-1, winning the Central Jersey Group 5 championship by beating Manalapan after beating Old Bridge and Hillsborough. They scored 372 points for a 31.0 average, while allowing 147 for a 12.25 average. Wins included Sayreville, Old Bridge, and Brick Memorial, while their only loss was to Piscataway.
Graduation Losses: WR/DB Justin Shorter – Penn State, OL/DL Xavier Cargile – New Haven, WR/DB Jaylan Lawson – Albright (Pa.)
Offense: South Brunswick runs the triple option, returning five starters. The new quarterback is junior Gage Katzenell-Hall (6-0, 165), who started some games when the starter was hurt. Senior Thomas Joe-Kamara (6-1, 190) is back at running back and he will also play in the slot. When that happens, the running back is senior Mike Slover (6-0, 215), who started on defense.
Returning at receiver is senior slot receiver Katibu Martin (5-9, 170). Also playing there will be Kamara, along with junior Ezequiel Johnson (5-8, 165). The wide receivers will be sophomore Jelani Devonish-Wynter (5-9, 155) at one spot and either junior JP Cuellar-Nieto (6-1, 165) or senior Amir Assassi (6-2, 180). When a tight end is used, it may be Slover.
Three starters are back on the line: senior Jalen John (6-0, 270) at guard and senior tackles Darrin Seavers (6-5, 220) and Kyle White (5-9, 245). The center is junior Akil Murugan (6-2, 265) and sophomore Gabe Neals (6-1, 250) is starting at guard. Pushing hard at tackle is junior Danny O’Grady (6-3, 265).
Defense: The Vikings employ a 3-3 stack and return six starters. Returning at the tackles are John and Seavers, while nose guard is still a battle among Neals, White, and junior Nick Ng (5-6, 240).
The inside linebackers have Slover back in the middle and senior Sean Goldsmith (6-1, 205) back on the strong side. The weak side will have either junior Nick Jairdullo (6-0, 190) or sophomore Justin Lawson (5-10, 190) stationed there.
In the secondary, Kamara returns at free safety and Martin is back at strong safety. The weak safety is between Johnson and sophomore De’Jhon Thomas (5-8, 160). The corners will be Devonish-Wynter and sophomore Majid Howard-Baker (95-7, 140), with Assasi rotating in with them.
Special Teams: Returning at kicker is senior Mitch Fisher and Slover is back at punter. The return men will be Johnson, Kamara, and Devonish-Wynter.
Schedule:
Thursday, 8/30, Lenape at home, 7 PM
Friday, 9/7, Old Bridge at home, 7 PM
Friday, 9/14, at Piscataway, 7 PM
Friday, 9/21, at Perth Amboy, 7 PM
Friday, 9/28, Union at home, 7 PM
Friday 10/5, at East Brunswick, 7 PM
Friday, 10/12, St. Joe’s (Metuchen), 7 PM
Friday, 10/19, JP Stevens, 7 PM
Friday, 10/26, at Sayreville, 7 PM
Recruits: Kamara verballed to Temple and Martin is a D2/D3 prospect.
Concerns: Replacing a lot of skill kids. It’s a work in progress. With a short pre-season, and early start, they need to be ready by Thursday.
Coach’s Comments: “We lost some very good players in Justin Shorter, Felix Quinones, Xavier Cargile, and Jaylan Lawson, but that’s high school football. Some players are getting a chance to play and it’s a matter of how soon we gel with a tough schedule. If we do what we’re capable of, we will be competitive.” – Head Coach Joe Goerge