The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School football team had its first official practice Monday afternoon. The Raiders were greeted by broiling heat, and plenty of water, ice and towels to help keep them cool.
The National Weather Service reported temperatures in the 90s throughout the day, but that didn't slow the Raiders down. The team sweat out their first day of practice under the supervision of Head Coach Steve Ciccotelli.
The Raiders are preparing for a daunting season, which will be their first in the first-year Mid State 39 League. The schedule includes a game at perennially strong Immaculata of Somerville on Oct. 2, followed with a home game against North 2 Group III defending champion Phillipsburg on Oct. 10. The team's season opener is against Cranford on Sept. 11.
"I'm excited and I can't wait to get started, the excitement is still there for me,'' Ciccotelli said.
The Raiders will be very young this year, especially their linemen. Among the graduated were standout tight end/linebacker Marcus Green, running back Anthony Taylor and linemen Mark Renfree. Ciccotelli said that 72 players between sophomores and seniors had physicals for football.
"We're looking for linemen,'' Ciccotelli said, adding that it's an opportunity for youngsters to step in.
"We tell our players that everyday they get re-evaluated," he said. "It's a season-long process."
Senior quarterback Gary Binkiewicz will return after starting last year. The Raiders went 4-6 last season after making the North 2 Group III playoffs the year before with a 7-4 record. Binkiewicz, a team co-captain, along with senior left tackle Mitch McNamara, will be very important to the team's quest. Senior tackle David Kreps will be another player counted on to help protect Binkiewicz and help the running game.
"Our entire offensive line will be new with the exception of Mitch,'' Binkiewicz said.
Other returning players are senior wideouts Doran Nelson and Mike Burke, junior cornerback/running back Clinton Blackwell and junior Mike Marsan.
The team will continue with a single session workout Tuesday, and double sessions Wednesday.
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