August 29, 2018
2017 In Review: The Indians were 11-1, winning the South Jersey Group 5 championship by beating Rancocas Valley after beating Howell and Vineland. They scored 451 points for a 37.58 average, while allowing 79 for a 6.58 average, including five shutouts. Wins included Shawnee, Cherokee, Burlington Township, and Trenton, while their lone loss was to Rancocas Valley.
Graduation Losses: G/DE Aaron Acosta – Marist, RB/DB Jojo Kellum – Assumption, LB Shane Scott – Lock Haven, QB Matt Lajoie – Gettysburg, FB/LB Mike Galaida – Gettysburg, G/DT Lawrence Sutton – Mount Union (Oh.), TE Uthman Bruce – Stevenson (Md.), DT Thomas KaiKai – Delaware Valley, DB Izjan Koonce – Widener, WR/DB Jake Topolski – Duke for baseball, T/DE Jared Davenport – Gloucester CC for wrestling, LB Zach Cole – St. Joe’s (Pa.) for lacrosse, DB AJ Pena – U of Sciences for baseball
Offense: Lenape runs a multiple spread and return one starter. The quarterback is junior Connor Kennedy (6-1, 175), while sophomore Braden Long (6-0, 185) will miss the year with a broken collarbone. Sophomore Xavier Coleman (5-10, 185) will be the running back with sophomore Hamza Bruce (5-9, 175) will also get carries.
Returning at wide receiver is senior Brandon Marshall (6-2, 185). He is joined by seniors Ryan Erlanger (5-10, 180) and Amir Byrd (5-8, 160), who both saw some time. The fourth receiver is senior Sam Ceniccola (6-0, 170) and when the tight end is used, it will be junior Clyde Washington (6-3, 210) – it will either four wide receivers and no tight end or three wide receivers and a tight end.
The line will consist of sophomore Ben Hamilton (6-0, 215) at left tackle, junior Vaughn Heller (5-11, 230) at left guard, junior Owen Hartman (6-4, 230) at center. On the right side, it is currently junior Dom Monserrate (5-11, 250) at right guard and junior Jake Silver (6-0, 230) at right tackle, but junior Dan Conway (6-2, 275) is making a push and could start at right tackle. If that happens, Silver would start at right guard and he saw time last year.
Defense: The Indians play a 4-2-5 and do not return any starters. The ends will be sophomore Jalen Walker (6-1, 215) and junior Jordan Walker (6-0, 205), with sophomore Jammal Simon (6-2, 240) rotating in. The tackles will have senior Jayson Wingate (6-0, 315) at one spot after seeing action last year. The other tackle is Silver, with some of the offensive linemen in a rotation with them.
The linebackers will be senior Mike Meagher (5-9, 215) and Washington. In the mix is sophomore Luke Cole (5-10, 180), who is currently injured.
The secondary has three players saw played in situations: Erlanger as the rover, Kennedy at free safety, and Byrd at cornerback. Strong safety will be shared by Coleman and senior Brandon Carter (5-10, 185) and senior Dasan Craig (5-10, 185). Rotating in the secondary will be sophomore Tyler Davis (6-3, 160) and senior John Aytch (6-2, 185).
Special Teams: Senior Steven Mulville is back as the kicker and punter, while Byrd and Coleman will return kicks and punts.
Schedule:
Thursday, 8/30, at South Brunswick, 7 PM
Friday, 9/7, at St. Augustine, 6 PM
Friday, 9/14, Vineland at home, 7 PM
Friday, 9/21, Williamstown at home, 7 PM
Friday, 9/28, at Allentown, 7 PM
10/5-6, Bye Week
Friday, 10/12, Camden Catholic at home, 7 PM
Saturday, 10/20, at Rancocas Valley, 2 PM
Friday, 10/26, Cherokee at home, 7 PM
Thursday, 11/22, at Shawnee, 10:30 AM
Recruits: Marshall is a 1-AA/D2 candidate, Byrd is D3, Erlanger is a D3/Centennial Conference prospect, and Craig will play somewhere.
The junior class has Washington being anywhere from 1-A to D2 and Kennedy is a likely Patriot League player. The sophomore class has Coleman with offers from Baylor and U Mass.
Concerns: Players who are talented, but green. Staying healthy.
Coach’s Comments: “We’re excited. We graduated a lot, but the guys we have are good and they need to step up. It’s a matter of getting everyone ready because we have a tough schedule that will test our depth and mental toughness, as well as our physical toughness.” – Head Coach Joe Wojciechowski