Fall Sports Preview: West Essex Football

NORTH CALDWELL—There were only a few who knew that West Essex football head coach Dave Drozjock's last time leading a Knights football team would be on the field in Rutherford.

West Essex had just lost a heartbreaker in overtime to Rutherford, 21-14, in the Group 2 North 2 state playoffs.

Last June, Drozjock would announce that he was stepping aside after 14 years.

At that time it was assumed that long-time assistant coach Chris Benacquista, who also played at West Essex, would take over—and that was the case.

"The transition has also been made smoother because I have played here and coached here for the past 10 years," said Benacquista. "I am familiar with the players and the traditions and it feels like very little has changed since Coach Drozjock stepped down in June."

The Knights come into the 2011 season after a 6-4 mark in 2010; they were 6-1 in the Super Essex Conference Liberty division, a game behind Columbia.

And so far so good, in the off-season and preseason for the Knights.

"Right now I am very pleased with the leadership and enthusiasm that is being shown by our captains, seniors and underclassmen," said Benacquista. "The team has been motivated since the day I officially became head coach and that has made the transition much easier."

It is quite an opener for the new head coach as he brings his team down Passaic Avenue to take on rival Caldwell on Saturday. Last season, the Chiefs took the Knights, 23-14, and the returning West Essex varsity will not need to be reminded.

When you talk about the Knights in 2011, you point to the three seniors, lineman co-captain Dominic Valeriani, fullback/linebacker D.J. Hamker and senior half back/strong safety co-captain Stephen O’Neill.

The combination of Hamker and O'Neill makes the running game, strong again for the Knights. Hamker collected 650 yards on the ground, while O'Neill added 550 yards rushing. The other running backs are seniors Anthony Pompei and Garrett Rees, along with junior Anthony Kross.

Replacing Tyler Fossetta as the signal caller will be senior Paul Haramis.

Leading the blocking for the large group of backs is tackle Valeriani, who was first team All Essex County and second team All Group 2 last season. He is a three-year starter at tackle. Joining Valeriani on the line is junior Mike Realbuto and senior Mike Malanga as the other tackles. At guard there is senior Alec Miller and junior Nick Gareffa. The starting center is senior co-captain Matt Rando.

If Haramis goes to the air, he has several options with senior Tom Filipow at tight end, while four seniors—Ralph Velardi, Mike Jones, Mike Lentine and Tom Caprio—lead the wide receiving group.

Valeriani leads the defensive line on tackle while there are five other seniors vying with three at defensive end, Alec Miller, John Lisella and Lonnie Velieu. At the other defensive tackle spot there are two seniors—Rando and Malanga and a junior, Realbuto.

Hamper leads the linebacking corps and comes in with 90 tackles last season. The other middle linebacker is senior Rees, while the outside linebackers are Filipow and senior Harry Neugold.

O'Neill leads the way in the defensive backfield at strong safety while two free safeties are seniors Mike Jones and Ralph Velardi. The players vying for cornerback are senior Pompei, junior Kross and sophomore Billy Galese.

In terms of the race for a SEC Liberty division there no longer is Columbia who moved up to the SEC American division.

The expectations again are high for West Essex, which should again battle for the Liberty crown. The key games should be against Nutley at home on Oct. 7 and the division might be determined on Oct. 28 in Livingston, the cutoff game for the state playoffs.

And like the standard set by Drozjock, the Knights expect to make the state playoffs.
     
West Essex 2011 Football Schedule
(Games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

Sept. 10        Caldwell, 1 p.m.
Sept. 17        at Irvington, 1 p.m.
Sept. 23        Millburn
Sept. 30        at Belleville
Oct. 7            Nutley, 3 p.m.
Oct. 14          East Side, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21          at West Side
Oct. 28          at Livingston
Nov. 5           at Delbarton, 2:30 p.m.