August 28, 2018
2017 In Review: The Mustangs were 7-3, losing to Jackson in the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs. They scored 258 points for a 25.8 average, while allowing 188 for an 18.8 average. Wins included Sayreville, Jackson, and Central Regional, while their other losses were to Brick and South Brunswick.
Graduation Losses: FB Tony Thorpe – Albright (Pa.), OL/DL Willie Garner – Lycoming (Pa.), RB/DB Blaine Netterman – Delaware Valley, WR/DB/LS Billy Mullen – SUNY Cortland
Offense: Brick Memorial runs the flexbone with multiple options and returns four starters, one of them being senior quarterback Tyler Sindel (5-10, 180). Fullback will have three playing: senior Ja Billingsley (5-11, 180), senior Alex Vonderlinden (5-11, 190), and sophomore TJ McArthur (5-10, 185). The two halfbacks will be seniors Jeff Lavarin (6-0, 175) and David Baez (5-10, 170), both returning defensive starters. Rotating in will be juniors CJ Lavarin (5-7, 150) and Sal Lepore (6-0, 140).
Returning at end is junior Ryan McCombs (6-3, 185) and junior Mekhi Irving (6-3, 170) will play opposite him. Also in the rotation are seniors Jimmy Wrightington (6-2, 165) and Graham Harrigan (5-7, 150).
Two starters are back on the line in seniors Logan Baxter (5-11, 230) at center and Kyle McBride (6-1, 190) at left tackle. At right guard is senior Jamison Whaley (6-4, 335), a returning defensive starter. At left guard is junior Mike Spanola (5-7, 230) and senior Kris Boyington (6-3, 250) will play right tackle. Two players pushing for time are junior Jeremy Campbell (6-3, 240) and sophomore David Szuba (6-1, 200).
Defense: The Mustangs run a 4-2-5 and return five starters. Whaley returns at tackle and Spanola will play next to him, with Campbell and senior DJ Alton (5-11, 215) in the rotation. The ends are Baxter and Szuba, with Boyington and McCombs also playing.
McBride returns as one linebacker and McArthur will start next to him. Vonderlinden and junior Larry Fonville (5-9, 165) will also see action.
Returning in the secondary are Jeff Lavarin at cornerback and both Billingsley and Baez at the strong safeties. LaPorte is the free safety and CJ Lavarin is the other cornerback.
Special Teams: McCombs is the kicker and Irving is the punter. The main return man is CJ Lavarin.
Schedule:
Friday, 8/31, at Central Regional, 7 PM
Saturday, 9/8, Brick at home, 11 AM
Saturday, 9/15, at Freehold Boro, 1 PM
Friday, 9/ 21, Rumson-Fair Haven at home, 7 PM
Friday, 9/ 28, at St. John Vianney, 7 PM
Friday, 10/5, at Middletown North, 7 PM
Friday, 10/12, Manalapan at home, 7 PM
10/19-20, Bye Week
Friday, 10/27, Long Branch at home, 7 PM
Recruits: Whaley is 1-AA/D2, Billingsley and Baez are D2/D3, and CJ Lavarin may go 1-A in track with a 10.9 100.
Concerns: With an early game, is the timing solidified? How soon does the team gel?
Coach’s Comments: “Our seniors have done very well this off-season and developed into good leaders. We think we can go a long way with this.” – Head Coach Walt Currie