Middletown South Dominates Bulldogs in Preseason Scrimmage

Photo: The Eagles Patrick Crowe pressuring Bulldogs quarterback Mike O’Connor

MIDDLETOWN – In their final dress rehearsal for the upcoming 2014 football season the Eagles looked as though they were in mid-season form, as they thoroughly outplayed Rumson Fair-Haven on both sides of the ball in Friday’s scrimmage at the Swamp.

The scrimmage was played in game-like conditions with both teams using their offensive and defensive starters for the entire first half, won by the Eagles 25-0, then playing predominantly second and third- team stringers in the second half.

The Bulldogs didn’t help their cause in the first half with a muffed punt inside their own 20-yard line recovered by the Eagles, and an errant snap over the punters head giving the Eagles possession inside Rumson’s 10-yard line - with both miscues resulting in Eagle touchdowns. They also dropped two long passes from sophomore quarterback Mike O’Connor that killed potential drives while failing to sustain any type of a drive in the half.

The Eagles defense was suffocating and held the Shore Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year, Charlie Volker, at bay the entire first half. Volker ran for a conference leading and school record 2,108-yards and scored 24 touchdowns last season and recently committed to Princeton University.

“We’re a little bit of ahead of everybody,” Eagle head coach Steve Antonucci said. “We got the early start and this is only Rumson’s second scrimmage, we probably got more in than they do right now, but it’s been a good preseason.”

The Eagles were afforded the early start due to the fact that their first regular season game is next Saturday, September 6, at Marlboro - a week earlier than most schools in the Shore Conference.

South tweaked its defense this season with its base scheme being a 4-2-5 with multiple variations to combat the ever-popular spread offenses that have become the norm.

“The days of lining eight men in the box to stop the run are a thing of the past,” Antonucci insists. “We had to make adjustments to what people were doing.”

Senior Patrick Crowe stood out from his defensive end/outside linebacker spot spending considerable time in Rumson’s offensive backfield, applying both pressure and smothering the run. Crowe’s line mates, including sophomore defensive tackle Will Gullick, and seniors Dan Servido (DT) and Corey Grant (DE) were impressive as well.

“Crowe’s our hybrid defensive end/linebacker type guy,” Antonucci said. “He’s a two year starter for us and looked real good out there today.”

Junior linebacker Dylan Rogers was exceptional, playing sideline-to sideline as well as making numerous stops at the initial point of contact. Senior Sergio Gonzalez, sophomore’s James McCarthy and Kevin Higgins, a newcomer, all had a solid scrimmage at linebacker as well.

“McCarthy is going to be used as a hybrid linebacker/defensive back for us,” Antonucci said. “We feel he’s athletic enough to do it and we feel he’s in a good spot in that defense for us.”

The cornerbacks, including juniors Cole Rogers, Tom Coffey and Rob Hulse – a converted linebacker - shut down Rumson’s receivers and were solid in run support while safety Nolan Peerless – a senior and three-year starter – played like the experienced veteran he is.

“Rob’s a kid making a transition and he’s getting better every day,” Antonucci said. “He plays with so much motor and has such a high passion for the game that sometimes we have to slow him down a little - we love that about him. He’s going to be a solid player for us this year.”

Offensively, Cole Rogers had a spectacular day ripping off a number of long runs including a 50 plus-yard touchdown run, while McCarthy was barreling over people. The Rogers-McCarthy tandem looks to be the Eagles own version of ‘Thunder and Lightning’ in the backfield. Grant also had some carries.

“They’re two different style of runners,” Antonucci said. “Coles a good player – a very good player – and McCarthy’s a great complement to him. McCarthy looks to make contact and run through you, whereas Cole’s more of a glider, make you miss type of a guy.”

First-year quarterback Matt Mosquera avoided mistakes, ran the offense efficiently and completed a number of passes to junior wideouts Thomas Coffey and Tom Marron. The 6-foot-4 Crowe started at tight end as well and with his height should eventually become a main target of Mosquera.

Antonucci likes what he sees in Mosquera. “I like Matt a lot; he’s picked up the offense really well and has made a lot of strides. He’s a very coachable kid that understands what we’re trying to do.” Mosquera also kicked a field goal and three extra points.

The offensive line, led by 6-foot-5, 291-pound James Wilson looked strong and athletic and with five players back with starting experience it appears this will be a very cohesive unit with the potential to dominate in the trenches.

All-in-all, the Eagles showing in Friday’s scrimmage was pretty darn impressive and you get the feeling with this team that they know what they’ve got in terms of pure talent. They possess an aura of silent confidence that when combined with their talent level there’s potential for a very exciting season in the Swamp.

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