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September 8, 2012

Pat PJR Rice
NJVarsity.com

2011 In Review: The Green Knights were 10-2, winning the Non-Public Group 3 championship by beating Delbarton, after beating Immaculata and Bishop Ahr. They scored 435 points for a 36.25 average, while allowing 171 points for a 14.25 average. Wins included St. Peter's Prep, Wayne Hills, DePaul, and Paramus Catholic, while their losses were to Don Bosco and Paramus Catholic.

Departures: LB Mark Cieslak - Columbia, WR/DB Christian Stapleton - Penn, DL Anthony Castillo - Wagner, FB/LB Max Havlusch - Franklin & Marshall, C Glenn Beckmeyer - St. Francis (PA.), T Joe Kennedy - Maritime, RB John Sanford - West Point prep, RB/CB Jabari Garvin - Fork Union (prep), LB Dylan More - wrestling

Offense: St. Joe's runs a multiple offense and returns six starters and a couple of others who started. Returning at quarterback is junior Spencer Aukamp (5-foot-11, 170). The running backs have several who played often last year in senior Jeff Farina (5-foot-9, 180), junior Sherman Alston (5-foot-6, 180), junior Mark Fossati (5-foot-9, 185), senior Marcus Jemison (5-foot-10, 175), and senior Brion Wynn (5-foot-10, 195). They can play both running back positions and can line up in the slot during spread formations.

Two receivers return in senior wide receiver Ricky Jeune (6-foot-3, 205) and senior tight end Matt Buckman (6-foot-3, 210). The other wide receivers will be between junior Quai Jefferson (6-foot-0, 180) and senior Pat Mensa (6-foot-1, 190). Mensa is a basketball player, playing football for the first time.

Three starters return to the line. Back are senior three year starter Shawn Flaherty (6-foot-2, 270) at center, senior three year starter Joel Campo (5-foot-10, 250) at right guard, and junior left guard James McNerney (5-foot-10, 240). Flaherty returns to center after playing tackle last year. The tackles will have sophomore Tom Hatton (6-foot-3, 230) on the right side and junior Austin Stapleton (6-foot-3, 255) on the left side.

Defense: The Green Knights play a 4-4 base and return seven starters and another who started games. At the ends, Buckman and junior Anthony Paolello (6-foot-0, 225) return. Both tackles are back with senior Troy Kay (6-foot-0, 230) and senior Troy Zoltowski (5-foot-10, 230). Campo will spell the tackles and junior Austin Barber (6-foot-0, 185) will spell the ends.

At linebacker, Farina returns on the outside and Jemison started several games. The inside linebackers are juniors Dominic Carfagno (6-foot-1, 225) and Conrad Fitzpatrick (6-foot-0, 190).

In the secondary, the two returning starters are Jeune at cornerback and Fossati at safety, moving from linebacker. Jeune may be in a rotation with Mensa, Jefferson, and Alston. Spelling Fossati will be senior Jake Solari (6-foot-2, 190).

Specials: Fossati will be the kicker and he may punt, with Solari pushing him there. Sherman will be the punt returner, and he will return kicks along with Jefferson and Mensa.

Schedule:

Saturday, 9/8, at Good Counsel (Md.) at Annapolis
Saturday, 9/15, Xaverian (Mass.), 1PM
Saturday, 9/22, Bergen Catholic, 1PM
Saturday, 9/29, Wayne Hills, 1PM
10/5-6, bye week
Saturday, 10/13, St. Peter's Prep, 1PM
Saturday, 10/20, at Paramus Catholic, 1PM
Saturday, 10/27, DePaul, 1PM
Friday, 11/2, at Ramapo, 7PM
Thursday, 11/22, at Don Bosco, 10:30AM

Schedule is courtesy of www.maxpreps.com and www.gridironnewjersey.com

Question Marks: Depth.

Recruits: Jeune has numerous 1-A offers, while Buckman holds an offer from Buffalo. Flaherty has interest from Wake Forest and may be a possibility in both the Ivy and Patriot Leagues. Campo has interest from NESCAC schools such as Amherst and Wesleyan. Kay is a very good high school player who could end up as a linebacker. Farina will play somewhere, while Jemison is D2/D3. Mensa is a sleeper. Zoltowski is smart and may also go NESCAC. Wynn may go prep, due to injuries.

In the junior class, Stapleton has very good long range potential. Fossati is a playmaker with a height issue. Aukamp also has a height issue, but runs well and makes good decisions. Jefferson is a very good athlete. McNerney and Paolello are good players with height issues. Carfagno has been a pleasant surprise who can be very good.

In the sophomore class, Hatton may be a big recruit and he is the only player to play varsity as a freshman under Tony Karcich at St. Joe's.

Coach's Comments: "We're very optimistic. We have six or seven starters back on each side of the ball. We're experienced and have good, young kids. The front line is talented and the team has a good work ethic. We have a tough schedule, adding teams like Good Counsel from Maryland. It's a long, tough road ahead for us, but we've had an outstanding summer - the best summer we've had in a while. Some of it is the urgency in opening up with Good Counsel, a team with 6-7 1-A college commitments. They will be playing their third game, while we're playing our first and that brings an urgency. We have to condition ourselves to get to week three in week one." - Head Coach Tony Karcich

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