Cedar Creek Pirates  

2021: 

• 13-0
• Won the South Jersey Group 3 regional championship by beating Woodrow Wilson
• Won the South Jersey Group 3 sectional championship, beating Delsea in the finals, Somerville in the semi-finals, and Absegami in the first round 
• Scored 439 points: 33.77 average 
• Allowed 109 points: 8.38 average, including five shutouts 
• Wins included Winslow, Holy Spirit, Camden, Woodrow Wilson, and Willingboro 

Graduation: 

• WB/DB Jojo Bermudez – Cincinnati 
• QB JC Landicini – Fork Union (Va. prep school) 
• RB/LB Ja’Quan Howard – Myrtle Beach Academy (SC prep) 
• WR/DB Zac Ricci – Myrtle Beach Academy (SC prep) 
• TE/DE Kevin Dougherty – Myrtle Beach Academy (SC prep) 
• WR/DB Elijah Smalls – East Coast Prep (Mass. prep) 
• LB Elijah Usher – Montclair State 
• DL Jayden Torres – King’s College 
• LB CJ Resto – St. Ambrose 
• LB Jamal Chapman – Colby 
• OL Jaeden Sarao – Rowan 
• OL Perry Parker – Eastern U 
• DL DJ Martinez – Wilkes 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 3 

Quarterback: 

• Billy Smith, Junior, 5-11, 175 – projected starter 

Running Back: 

• Mekhi Harvey, Senior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter who played often 
• Justin Castillo, Junior, 5-8, 205 – returning starter at h-back/fullback 

Wide Receiver: 

• Alim Parks, Junior, 5-11, 180 – returning starter 
• Zaire Pilgrim, Senior, 5-10, 170 – projected starter; started on defense 
• Darius Benjamin, Sophomore, 5-10, 165 – projected starter 
• Josh Mozelle-Moldanado, Senior, 5-8, 160 – competing 
• Amon McLaughlin, Junior, 6-2, 170 – competing 
• Jahmir Campfield, Freshman, 5-9, 160 – competing 

Tight End: 

• Mike Sears, Senior, 6-0, 210 – returning starter; moving from tackle 

Offensive Line: 

• Mandel Pettiford, Sophomore, 6-2, 255 – projected starter at left tackle 
• Nate Tunnat, Junior, 6-1, 230 – projected starter at left guard 
• Randy Beane, Junior, 6-0, 245 – competing at center 
• Cody Harris, Junior, 6-2, 275 – competing at center 
• Tyler Cannon, Junior, 6-0, 245 – projected starter at right guard 
• Dan Bellamah, Senior, 6-2, 250 – projected starter at right tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: Multiple 4-3 
• Returning Starters: 3 

Defensive Line: 

• Malik Moore-Summers, Senior, 6-2, 245 – returning starter at end 
• Mandel Pettiford, Sophomore, 6-2, 255 – projected starter at end 
• Tyler Cannon, Junior, 6-0, 245 – projected starter at nose guard 
• Kahmir Cooper-Brown, Senior, 5-10, 205 – projected starter at tackle 
• Shoron Britt, Junior, 6-3, 275 – part of rotation at tackle 
• Aiden Jinks, Sophomore, 6-0, 210 – part of rotation at end 

Linebacker:  

• DeJuan Palmer, Senior, 6-0, 215 – returning starter on strong side 
• Mekhi Harvey, Senior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter on the weak side who played in nickel packages and made 3-4 starts 
• Justin Castillo, Junior, 5-8, 205 – projected starter in the middle 
• Mike Sears, Senior, 6-0, 210 – part of rotation on weak side 

Secondary: 

• Zaire Pilgrim, Senior, 5-10, 170 – returning starter at safety 
• Alim Parks, Junior, 5-11, 180 – projected starter at safety 
• Darius Benjamin, Sophomore, 5-10, 165 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Jamal McClellan, Junior, 5-11, 170 – projected starter at cornerback 

Special Teams: 

• Senior Matt Best returns at kicker and punter 
• The return men will be determined in camp 

Schedule: 

• Sunday, 8/28, Edison at Ocean City
• Friday, 9/2, at Absegami 
• Saturday, 9/10, Ocean City at home 
• Saturday, 9/17, Eastside (Camden) at home 
• Saturday, 9/24, at Salem 
• Saturday, 10/1, St. Joe’s (Hammonton) at home 
• Friday, 10/7, at Delsea 
• Saturday, 10/15, Oakcrest at home 
• Friday, 10/21, at Winslow 

Concerns: 

• Tough schedule, especially for a team that has many with no varsity experience 
• Kids finding their roles, which will be determined this summer 

Recruiting: 

• Harvey and Moore-Summers may be playing at a high-academic school, possibly in the Ivy or Patriot League
• Palmer and Pilgrim have 1-AA interest 
• Others need a good senior year
• Underclassmen: 
• Parks has is a low 1-A/high 1-AA candidate 
• Much of the underclass talent is unproven 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We feel good. A lot of kids are working hard. Many players are unproven, but have a great opportunity to do it on the field. We are looking at it as a reload, not a rebuild.” – Head Coach James Melody