Barnegat Football Anxious to Tackle Unfinished Business

Photo above: Manny Bowen in last year’s South Jersey Group III final.

BARNEGAT – Although the Barnegat Bengals won a school-record 10 games last season, reached its first state final in program history and won the Class B South division title, it was as if they were left standing at the alter after their 31-7 loss to Delsea in NJSIAA South Jersey Group III final.

“Coming up short and being so close last season was definitely a heartbreak,” star linebacker Manny Bowen said. “I have no doubt that this year we’ll be there and we’ll be able to win it all. I’d be more than honored to bring Barnegat High School its first state championship. Just being able to get there and finish the job would be a great accomplishment for my senior year.”

Bowen – who’s already committed to Penn State - is a super all-around athlete whose versatility allows him to play on both sides of the ball. As a junior last season Bowen made 78 tackles with 15 going for a loss, recorded 2.5 sacks and had 22 quarterback hurries to his credit on his was to being named Class B South Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches. On top of that, he intercepted four balls and forced four fumbles – recovering three. On offense, he caught 25 passes good for 479 yards and seven touchdowns with a long of 76 yards, while also running for a score.

“Manny is a stud,” Barnegat head coach Rob Davis said. “Manny’s the real deal, he could play any position on the field. He’s probably the most dynamic kid I’ve ever coached. When he gets in the zone he can take over a game. He loves football and wants to be the best – he wants to make a mark.”

Besides Bowen the Bengals return a host of ultra-talented players from last year’s squad including Bucknell commit Cinjun Erskine at quarterback and one of the state’s top offensive lineman in Wisconsin recruit Sam Madden. In all, eight starters return on offense and six on defense with most of this year’s new starters having had quality time on the field last season. This team is as deep as it is talented.

Erskine is a dual threat quarterback that is perfectly suited for the Bengals multiple spread offense. He was named second-team All-Shore and Class B South Offensive Player of the Year after a sensational junior campaign. Erskine competed 55 percent of his passes for 1,119 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 652 yards and six touchdowns in his first full year as the Bengals starting quarterback.

“Cinjun is a very mature and poised quarterback,” Davis said. “He’s physically gifted and getting better at reading plays all the time. His teammates rely on him a lot and there’s a comfort zone out there with him at quarterback.”

Barnegat’s offensive backfield is loaded with all their top runners from last season back including their second-leading rusher behind Erskine, Tyler McGuinness. McGuinness is a punishing back that bulled his way to 633 yards rushing with three touchdowns. At 5-foot-8, 193-pounds he’s a fire hydrant of a runner but has the speed to break the long run as his 57-yard touchdown jaunt last season attests.

The perfect complement to McGuinness in the backfield is 5-foot-8, 145-pound lightning bolt Paul Wickwire. Wickwire has 4.5 speed in the 40 and 11.01 in the 100 meters. As a sophomore last season he picked up 462 yard on the ground on only 49 carries for a 9.43 yards per carry average with three touchdowns. Senior Kevin Bass - another versatile player who will also line up at wideout - will be in backfield mix after getting 24 carries last season picking up 144 yards and a touchdown. Fullback/middle linebacker Kevin Hoffman is a preseason casualty and will be out until the November 1 Lakewood game after hand surgery forced him out, so expect to see McGuiness and Wickwire in the same backfield quite a bit this season.

Bowen will once again be Erskine’s favorite target but expect to see senior wide receiver/defensive back Ricky Gerena being targeted more often this season after grabbing 10 balls for 150 yards and two touchdowns a year ago. Last season’s tight end Kyle Morris (7-140, 2 TD) has been moved to wide receiver this season and at 6-foot-4, 200-pounds he’ll be easy for Erskine to find. Bass and Wickwire will line up at wide receiver as well. Bowen’s brother Josh – a transfer from Toms River South – will start at tight end this season. He’s a 6-foot-1, 215-pound junior.

The 6-foot-7, 350-pound Madden – a third-team All-Shore selection - anchors the offensive line at right tackle with 6-foot-3, 223-pound junior Danny Dugan and 6-foot-1, 278-pound junior Kyle Rodmell battling it out at left tackle. 6-foot-2, 268-pound senior Xavier Young – a three year starter - is back at left guard with 6-foot-2, 258-pound senior Mason Schultz penciled in at center. Right guard is between 5-foot-10, 208-pound senior Adam Ricci, 5-foot-10, 203-pound senior John Doles and 5-foot-7, 230-pound junior Joe Scaglione.

Defensively, Madden and Young (31 tackles, 10 for loss, 2.5 sacks and 11 quarterback pressures) are the tackles with Scaglione, Ricci and Schultz backing up. Doles gets the start at one end position and probably Duggan at the other end spot with 5-foot-10, 210-pound sophomore Andrew Meany and 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior Jeff Pereira battling for playing time.

Bowen and McGuinness (44 tackles, seven for a loss and nine quarterback pressures) head up the linebacking corp with senior Tyler Podinker and Josh Bowen filling in for Hoffman who had 45 tackles with three going for a loss, a sack, four quarterback pressures and a pass breakup last season. Hoffman will be missed, not only for his play, but for his leadership on and off the field. Podinker will also see time at fullback for Hoffman.

Gerena is back at cornerback where he was a Class B South first-team selection last season and was fourth in the Shore Conference with five interceptions. He also had 15 tackles, five pass breakups and a quarterback pressure as a junior. Wickwire and Bass will spit time at the other corner. 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior Mike Christensen returns at strong safety where he had 25 tackles, four for loss, a sack and a pressure. Christensen likes to hit people and will be a leader in the backfield. Erskine and junior Nick Camarato will both see time at free safety.

Young will handle the punting after averaging 36.6 yards/kick last season with eight punts left inside the 20-yard line. The placekicking duties go to sophomore Connor Lustenberger.

“We had goals put in place when I came here in 2003 and last season we came very close to accomplishing those goals,” Davis said. “We were four quarters away from a state championship and didn’t get it done. Our kids are using that as a rallying cry but they realize they need to focus on just today - win today – if you look ahead there are just too many good teams and well coached teams out there that will disappoint you.”

Follow @getmready