New Beginnings: Fossetta, West Essex Back in Form

A new season opens Saturday afternoon for the West Essex High football team with a another and difficult, rugged non-conference opponent when the Knights face Delbarton at Travis Field at 2 p.m.

West Essex opened last season with a 42-7 loss at home to Wayne Hills, the eventual North Jersey Section 1, Group 3 finalists.

Delbarton has consistently qualified for the Non-Public Group 3 state tournament, while the Knights will be looking to return to the playoffs themselves—this year as a North Jersey Section 2, Group 2 school.

West Essex, the second seed, lost to eventual champ Ramsey in the semifinals of the North 1, Group 2 tournament in 2009.

After finishing 8-3 last year, the Knights are primed for the new season.

"Delbarton is good, they are a solid team," said longtime West Essex coach Dave 
Drozjock, whose team last won a sectional title in 2007. "I think it'll be a tough 
game, and it will come down to the fourth quarter.

"We're in great shape," he added. "But we usually don't have easier openers. But I 
believe it'll be a close game, we're strong enough."

Senior quarterback and captain Tyler Fossetta returns after missing virtually all of last season with a knee injury he sustained in the season-opener.

"He's moving well, his knee isn't giving him any problems," Drozjock said. "I 
think he built up his confidence during lacrosse season. Once he got going, he was OK. He felt fine. He's doing the stuff we ask him do do. We went to a number of 7-on-7s [during the summer]."

The rushing game will be centered around junior fullback D.J. Hamker and senior 
halfback Mike Mitchell. The two look to pick up the slack after the graduation of Mike Cimilluca, who ran for 1,171 yards and nine touchdowns, and fullback John Locascio, who dashed for 900 yards and 13 scores.

Junior Garrett Rees, who had 15 carries for 97 yards last season, will be another of the backs along with junior Steve O'Neill.

The offensive line is led by junior Matt Rando, right guard and senior captain Kyle Kitchin, right tackle and captain Grant McGuire, senior left guard K.J. Glenn and junior left tackle Dom Valeriani. Senior captain and split end Mike D'Annunzio and senior Frank Marotti also return, while senior Anthony Gonnella will be at tight end.

The defense will be led by McGuire, the nose guard, Valeriani, at tackle, and defensive ends Gonnella and Glenn. The linebackers will be Hamker, senior Chris Kitchin and Rees.

The defensive backs will feature D'Annunzio and junior Ralph Velardi at the corners, O'Neill at strong safety after recording two interceptions last year and Fossetta at free safety. 

Junior Mike Jones will do the punting and senior Mike Drumm will be the kicker.