Sports
Fall Sports Preview: Football Team Mixes Experience, Youth
Head coach Gary Andolena excited for Saturday's season opener against Mountain Lakes.
As the Hopatcong Chiefs football team prepares for Saturday afternoon's season opener, it will finally get to find out what dividends all those long hours spent in the weight room, watching tape and pushing through practices in the summer heat will pay.
The Chiefs will also get to answer all those questions against defending NJSIAA Group I champion Mountain Lakes, which has won 25 straight games.
But while many observers may feel that Hopatcong could be in for a long afternoon against the Lakers, senior fullback Austin Brown was hearing none of it.
Find out what's happening in Hopatcong-Spartafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"I'm glad we get Mountain Lakes right away," Brown said. "I'm ready to play against top competition."
When asked if he felt that taking on a strong team in their season opener could tell the Chiefs a great deal about themselves and where they stand, he didn't hesitate with his response.
Find out what's happening in Hopatcong-Spartafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Oh, yeah, it definitely will," he said.
"We'll approach it as if they where any other team," added senior running back John Ferguson.
Head coach Gary Andolena was also pumped for the matchup.
"Mountain Lakes has an outstanding program," Andolena said. "We're excited about having the opportunity to play them first. Our kids are working hard and we're looking to build on last season and take the next step."
As the Chiefs worked through their final week of practice before the season opener, Andolena said that Hopatcong is a hard-working team with a good amount of returning talent, including team captains Ferguson, Brown, tight end/linebacker Rob Nadrowski, and lineman Derek Walthour.
But they also have their share of new starters at several crucial positions.
"We have a lot of key returning starters at our offensive skill positions," Andolena said, later adding: "We also anticipate great things from Nick Esposito, who is a junior halfback."
One area where the Chiefs need to come together quickly if they expect to equal or improve on last season's 5-5 record is their offensive line, where only the 285-pound Walthour will return from last season's squad.
But despite an 80 percent turnover on the line, Walthour is excited rather than apprehensive about his line mates.
"I think we're coming together," Walthour said. "We have a bunch of big guys and everyone has been working really hard. Guys who needed to get bigger during the offseason have put in their time in the weight room. Everyone has been doing what they need to do to get better and I think we're all starting to gel together."
Brown added, "We're getting progressively better. Offensively, we are coming together as a unit, and the line's been doing a great job."
Hopatcong will also have a new starter under center, with senior Tom Vicedomini the most likely candidate.
On the defensive side, the Chiefs will face a similar situation as they will have several key returning starters, but will also need a few younger players to move into a starting role and step up their games.
"Our defensive situation is nearly identical to our offensive one," Andolena said. "We're very young at linebacker, so that's an area of our defense we'll have to focus on."
While Hopatcong will certainly face a trial by fire this Saturday against Mountain Lakes, Ferguson is eager to face the challenge.
"This team has an excellent work ethic, and everyone is starting to come together" he said. "If we execute like we are capable of, we can do a lot of good things."
Roster
Player Yr. Pos. Ht. Wt.
Dan Schneider 12 WR/LB 5'11" 155
Brian Attas 9 WR/DB 4'11" 80
Feyi Olugbenga 11 RB/LB 6'0" 180
Sean Carroll 10 QB/LB 5'6" 140
Tom Vicedomini 12 QB/DB 5'10" 150
Willie Russell 9 QB/LB 5'8" 145
John Ferguson* 12 RB/LB 5'10" 170
Ryan Clarke 9 QB/LB 6'2" 170
Logan Neubauer 11 QB/LB 5'8" 170
Vinny Marinoni 11 QB/LB 5'10" 155
Dan Meusel 10 RB/LB 5'10" 165
Jake Smith 12 WR/DB 5'10" 160
Rob Nadrowski* 12 TE/LB 6'0" 195
Kevin Mulharin 9 WR/DB 5'8" 115
Miguel Burgos 12 WR/DB 6'1" 180
Nick Esposito 11 RB/LB 5'10" 180
Ian Brigman 9 RB/LB 5'10" 156
Aric Webster 11 RB/LB 5'10" 165
Lucas Fragala 9 RB/LB 5'6" 150
Jonathan Parker 11 TE/DL 6'0" 210
Stephen Rogers 9 QB/DB 5'9" 125
Victor Cotto 9 RB/DB 5'6" 115
Chris Seely 10 RB/LB 5'7" 145
AJ Bongiovanni 10 RB/LB 5'6" 145
AJ Fasano 11 RB/LB 5'7" 165
Johnny Wilkerson 10 RB/LB 5'4" 125
Johann Lara 9 RB/DB 5'9" 145
Richard Selliken 10 RB/LB 6'0" 165
Sawyer Guard 9 WR/LB 5'4" 125
John Rivera 11 RB/DB 5'10" 185
Wyatt Gehring 10 RB/DB 5'7" 158
Tommy Rieg 9 RB/LB 5'8" 150
Austin Brown* 11 RB/LB 6'1" 205
Eric Cucinella 11 OL/DL 6'2" 275
Danny Pisano 10 OL/DL 5'10" 175
Jonathan Nelson 11 OL/DL 5'11" 200
Ali Elgazzar 12 OL/LB 5'9" 230
Bryan Booth 9 OL/DL 5'7" 210
Tyler Green 12 OL/DL 6'3" 250
Joe Esposito 9 OL/DL 5'7" 165
Brandon Moore 10 OL/DL 5'8" 160
Derek Walthour* 12 OL/DL 6'3" 285
Troy Bongiovanni 9 FB/DL 5'4" 165
James Braun 10 OL/DL 6'1" 205
Tom Donnelly 9 OL/DL 5'7" 165
Patrick Giannetti 12 OL/DL 6'2" 295
Kyle Hangley 11 OL/DL 5'8" 165
Thomas Craggy 12 OL/DL 6'0" 205
Chris Houterman 10 OL/DL 5'10" 180
Joe Costanzo 9 OL/DL 5'6" 155
Tyler Mateychick 10 OL/DL 5'8" 160
Jesse Nelson 10 OL/DL 6'0" 187
Chris Monaco 10 OL/DL 5'9" 205
Kenny Pisano 9 OL/DL 5'7" 160
Dan Cappiello 9 OL/DL 5'7" 145
Carlos Maldonado 11 OL/DL 5'10" 190
Vincent Solimando 9 OL/LB 5'10" 135
Collin Koets 9 OL/DL 6'0" 215
Jason Mero 11 OL/DL 5'7" 185
Pat Menagh 10 OL/LB 5'7" 140
Matt Baillod 9 WR/DB 4'11" 95
Mark Duncan 10 TE/LB 5'11" 175
Bill Snyder 11 TE/LB 5'10" 200
Patrick McNamara 9 TE/LB 6'0" 160
Eric Cabrera 10 WR/LB 5'5" 135
* Team Captains
