Millburn Football Chasing Postseason, .500 record

The Miller football team isn't exactly coming off of a strong season with a 4-6 record in 2009. But considering they won a total of two games in the two seasons prior, four wins is definitely a step in the right direction for Millburn football.

"Last season was really big for us because it proved to us that we can really turn it around," said Miller starting wide receiver Tim Swanson. "I know four wins isn't like a winning season, but it's still a winning season for us after coming off of a two win season and then a zero win season. It's a total turnaround."

Now the question is can they take the next step and finish at or above .500 for the first time since 2006 and possibly break into the playoffs?

"We have a very, very high potential to have at least five wins this season and possibly make the playoffs," Swanson said. "I think we have a lot of potential on this team. A lot of young kids, but a lot of young kids with skill."

Last season began with a shutout win over Snyder but quickly went downhill after facing the three best teams in the Super Essex Liberty division all in a row and two on the road. The Millers fought back to 3-3 but a last second field goal in Belleville ended their playoff hopes.

Millburn faces a similar test this season by facing Nutley, West Essex and Columbia in games two through five once again. Two of the three games, however, are at home and all three of the teams took bigger senior losses than the Millers.

"It's a lot weaker than last year," said Millburn starting quarterback Ryan Bednarski of the division schedule. "I think we're coming back with maybe the most starters still on our team."

While graduation decimated the offensive line, losing four of the five starters, many of the skill players have returned. Seniors Ricky Simon and Max Wasserman will be featured in the backfield at running back and fullback respectively. They also will start at linebacker on defense.

"We lost a lot of seniors but we had a lot of juniors who contributed last year who are on the team this year now as seniors," said Millburn assistant coach Andy Silvagni. "We lost a lot, but we still got a lot right now."

Three-year starter Adam Bavosa anchors the offensive and defensive lines this season. He will be the lone veteran in the trenches.

"Four kids graduated, he's the one kid remaining, so he should be the captain of the big uglies. The big guys up front," Silvagni said.

On the offensive side of the ball, there could be some potential in the passing game. Bednarski returns as a second year starter at quarterback, and his main target will be wide-out and fellow senior Swanson, who is also a starting safety.

"I think [Bednarski] looks pretty good. I think he and Timmy Swanson are starting to develop a pretty good chemistry with one another. You're even seeing them out there before and after practice throwing the football around," said first year wide receivers and outside linebackers coach Chet Parlavecchio. "I think you can expect a little more as a big play in this offense now with a senior quarterback and a senior receiver."

The loss of A.J. O'Leary is going to hurt the Millers in all three phases of the game. He was the team's top player a season ago at running back, defensive back and return man. But the trio of Simon, Swanson and Bednarski could prove to be a formidable force this season, especially in a Liberty Division that has no powerhouse or clear favorite.

"When I drop back in the pocket, I know that I don't have that much time. But I look over to Tim's side and I know that I have an outlet every single time I drop back to pass the ball," Bednarski said. "If I throw it up, he's probably going to go and get it for me, so I know that I can always look to him if I need a big play."

Defensively, Silvagni said he has extremely high expectations of his defense and said if the offense can give them 14 points, the defense will take care of the rest. They surrendered a hair over 21 points per game last season.

All things aside, if this squad is going to do any better than last year's group did, they will have to do a better job in second halves of games. They were outscored 126-42 in the third and fourth quarters last season and scored only 21 fourth quarter points.

If they can play for four quarters, they have the potential to be competitive within the division and to possibly break into the playoffs.

"Just trying to find a way to squeak into the playoffs anyway we can," said assistant coach Sean Kaverick of making this season a success. "If we compete for a conference title, that would be fantastic. Let's just be competitive and make sure that Millburn football is respected in the SEC."