It's a good thing the South Brunswick High School football team has good speed. Because based on its opponent in the season opener, South Brunswick will have to start fast.
SBHS will open the 2011 season at Sayreville at 7 p.m. on Sept. 9. Sayreville is the defending Central Jersey Group IV champion.
"Sayreville is the team to beat, but I think we match up well against them," South Brunswick Coach Rick Mantz said.
Find out what's happening in South Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In order for South Brunswick to be successful against Sayreville, it needs to do what it does best -- run the football.
During the 2010, South Brunswick was a team that liked to run the ball. It averaged 251.5 yards rushing to just 33.7 yards passing.
Find out what's happening in South Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
One of the reasons why South Brunswick liked to run so much is that is has good size on its line. The same is true this season.
Bryan Stonkus, the left tackle, is a senior that measures in a 6' 3" and 250 pounds. Chris Molnar, the left guard, is a senior that checks in at 6' 2', 245 pounds. Jeff Lewis, the center, is a senior that goes 5' 10 and 190 pounds. At right tackle is Rashaan Baker, a sophomore that is 5' 10 and 240 pounds. Bon Spilatore, a senior, puts his 6' 4', 265-pounds frame at right tackle. Nick Cima (senior) will use his 6', 215-pound body to fill in at center.
These guys will try and provide time for the few opportunities where senior quarterback Dan Gorzynski throws the ball. For the most part, Gorzynski (6' 2', 175 pounds), will be handing the ball off to Jevon Tyree, Darrell Harper or Dion Hooper (a 5' 9", 170-pound junior).
Tyree, a 5' 11', 180-pound senior, carried the ball 60 times for 600 yards last season. He topped 100 yards rushing in three different games and had seven touchdowns. According to Mantz, he already has 14 scholarship offers.
Harper, a 5' 11" 170-pound senior, carried the ball 29 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns last year.
Azim Blakely, is a 6', 215-pound fullback. Dahrae Ford (5' 11", 235 pounds) is another big option at fullback.
The wide receivers are David Flanders (a 6' 1", 175-pound senior) and TJ Taylor (a 6' 3", 175-pound senior).
"We have a good group of skill kids and a lot of speed," Mantz said.
South Brunswick lines up a formidable defense. This is a team that doesn't give up the run or pass easily. South Brunswick outrushed its opposition on average 251.5 to 152.2 last season. It trailed 86.2 to 33.7 in passing yards, but it more than made up for that fact with 15 interceptions.
Taylor, one of the starting safeties, had four of those interceptions. Tyree, one of the starting cornerbacks, had three interceptions. Hooper (safety) and Harper (cornerback) are the other starters at those positions.
On the line, Stonkus and Spilatore will start at defensive tackles. Baker is the nose tackle. Jake Pietrefesa (a 6' 185 pound senior) and Joe Pietrefesa (a 6' 190-pound senior) are the defensive ends.
Isnard Mir-Merced, a 5' 11", 200-pound senior, and Blakely are the starting linebackers.
South Brunswick has a total of 87 players on its team. Helping Mantz out with that many players are assistants Jonathan Carnes, Mike Diaz, Bob Dougherty, Will Miska, Greg Scher, Jack Rodriguez, Dan Solomon, Robert Haberthur and Paul Mychalczuk.
Everyone -- players and coaches -- will need to be at the top of their game to handle Sayreville. Even during an excellent 7-3 season in 2010, South Brunswick lost the opener, 28-7, to Sayreville.
"I like our chances," Mantz said of the Sayreville game. "We're excited about the game."
