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Sports

Football Program Looking to Continue Success

Will need to replace many players to return to the state playoff

As the summer months come to an end, it is time for the Bridgewater-Raritan athletic teams to prepare for the fall season. With opening day approaching, we're taking a look at each of the teams as they ready for competition. Today, we take a look at the Panthers football team.

OVERVIEW

Head coach Scott Bray is trying to build something in his fifth full season as coach. This season, he and the Panthers look to become the first Bridgewater football team to make the state playoffs three years in a row. Bray said his team is “inexperienced in time on the field,” so even though it is a senior-laden team, players will need to step up for the Panthers to make it back to the state playoff.

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LAST SEASON’S RESULTS

The 2010 Panthers entered last season almost the same way as this year’s team. Talent was not the issue, but the experience was lacking as the Panthers team was looking to fill in key spots from departed players. Last year’s team was able to step up and replace the missing players to have a successful season that resulted in a trip to the Group IV North 2 sectional semi-finals.

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KEEP YOUR EYE ON

•Ray Mastroianni, Quarterback (Sr.)—The Panthers will not  look for him to be just a quarterback. They will look to follow him as their leader on and off the field.

•Isaiah Solomon, Wide Receiver/Defensive back (Sr.)—Will be one of the key receivers that will need to replace graduates Jared Hargis and Derek Beck. At 6’3” he will be a big target for Mastroianni and the Panthers offense.

•Michael Pennella, Linebacker/Running back (Jr.)—Only a junior but already has varsity experience in both positions. Bray looks for him to keep developing as an athlete and to be an essential part to both the defense and offense.

•James Burke, Offensive and Defensive Line (Sr.)—One of the team captains, he will be the anchor on both the offensive and defensive lines.

THEY’LL MISS

•Jamar Archer, Running back—The 1,000-yard rusher was one of those players that stepped in for the Panthers. The All-Area selection is now playing lacrosse at Kean University.

•Connor Smith, Linebacker—All Group IV State selection racked up nine sacks and 110 tackles last season. Smith is now attending Bryant University.

•Jared Hargis, Wide Receiver—One of the smartest players from last year’s team, his “hard receptions” will be missed. He will be taking his studies to Raritan Valley Community College.

•Derek Beck, Wide Receiver—The most athletic player from last year’s team, he posed threats as a returner and his ability to stretch the field. Signed a Letter of Intent to play at UMass this season but is taking a stop at prep school first.

COACH’S TAKE

“We need to replace nine of 11 on defense from last year. We’re hoping guys step up like last year. We went in nameless last year and came out with a lot of guys who were being mentioned as best around the state. We want to qualify for the state playoffs and that is our first goal. Our other expectation is to compete for a conference and state title. We made it to the sectional semi-finals last season and we want to take it a step further this year and play for a championship.”—Bray

THEY SAID IT

“I think we have a great chance to qualify for the playoffs, which would be the third year in a row. Ray Mastroianni has a year of experience at quarterback and a playoff win. I also think that there will be a lot of younger guys who step up this year, which should make for a great season.”—Jake Maggio, 11-year-old fan and son of BRHS athletic director John Maggio

No.

Name

GRADE

HT.

WT.

Off.

Def.

1

Daniel de Deus

12

5-9

150

WR

DB

2

Julian Dorsey

12

5-5

145

RB

DB

3

Derek Roberts

12

6-1

165

WR

DB

4

Amos Lee

12

5-9

135

WR

DB

5

Brandon Weidenfeld

11

6-2

190

QB

DB

7

Isiah Solomon

12

6-3

185

WR

DB

8

Randall Ramirez

10

5-10

150

WR

DB

9

Eric Pernini

10

5-11

160

WR

DB

10

Nick Oliver

12

6-1

165

WR

DB

11

Kyle Coulter

12

5-11

170

WR

DB

12

Ray Mastroianni

12

6-4

180

QB

DB

13

Michael Pennella

11

6-1

205

RB

LB

14

Kyle Lutz

10

5-10

135

QB

DB

15

Matt Picciurro

10

5-10

188

QB

DB

16

Donny Stires

11

6-6

215

QB

DL

17

Michael Alesandro

10

5-10

178

QB

DB

18

Michael Fair

10

5-7

152

QB

DB

19

Josh Robbins

10

5-10

155

WR

DB

21

Kazier Archer

12

5-11

205

RB

DB

22

Nick Fabiano

11

6-0

145

WR

DB

23

Jared Kaden

11

6-2

155

WR

DB

24

Khalil Gordon

10

5-9

140

WR

DB

25

Kevin Li

10

5-6

145

WR

DB

28

Daniel Renna

10

5-10

165

RB

DB

29

Evan Mock

12

6-1

165

TE

DB

30

Darnell Thigpen

10

5-5

135

RB

DB

31

Frank Costa

12

5-11

170

RB

LB

32

Karl Szymanski

11

5-10

155

WR

DB

33

Onur Has

12

6-0

185

RB

DB

34

AJ Kolen

12

6-0

205

RB

LB

35

Keith Schroeder

10

5-11

165

TE

LB

36

Connor Tereman

12

5-10

170

RB

LB

37

Zach Tiano

11

5-10

190

TE

LB

38

Eric Shugan

11

5-10

160

RB

LB

39

Kene Nwankwo

10

5-8

145

RB

DL

40

Phil Picone

10

5-8

155

RB

DB

41

Rob Condo

10

6-0

150

RB

LB

42

Jack Fanning

10

6-0

180

RB

LB

43

Andrew Wieczenski

10

6-6

180

TE

DL

44

Nick Norcia

11

6-0

185

TE

LB

45

Matt Eichhorn

10

6-0

170

RB

LB

46

Billy Barber

10

6-1

188

TE

DL

48

Mark Farnham

12

6-3

175

WR

DB

49

Pierce Berrios

12

6-3

185

TE

DL

50

James Burke

12

6-0

200

OL

DL

51

Alec Garrity

12

6-3

225

OL

DL

52

David Kiffin

12

6-2

205

OL

DL

53

Kyle Fross

10

5-7

172

OL

DL

54

John Wukovits

12

6-2

225

OL

DL

55

Ryan Mirra

11

5-10

195

OL

DL

56

Kyle Kiernan

10

5-11

217

OL

DL

57

Ryan Moran

10

5-7

184

OL

DL

58

Shane Carmody

12

6-0

210

OL

DL

59

Matt Bloom

10

6-0

209

OL

DL

60

CJ Martini

12

5-9

250

OL

DL

62

Jaleen Harrington

10

5-11

218

OL

DL

63

Mario Alarcon

12

6-5

275

OL

DL

64

Chris Song

10

6-2

205

OL

DL

65

Joe Zebleckas

10

5-8

210

OL

DL

66

Daniel Gausz

11

5-9

270

OL

DL

67

Jesse Gonzalez

12

5-10

197

OL

DL

68

Patrick Gardner

10

5-10

195

OL

DL

70

Chris DeLuca

10

6-0

278

OL

DL

71

David Vanora

10

5-9

220

OL

DL

72

Chris Carter

10

6-3

200

OL

DL

73

Steve Holden

12

6-0

282

OL

DL

74

Alex Kaiteris

11

6-1

205

OL

DL

75

Matt Roselle

11

5-11

215

OL

DL

76

Ryan Stevens

11

6-2

275

OL

DL

77

Patrick Saulino

11

6-1

225

OL

DL

78

John Goode

12

6-5

270

OL

DL

79

Josh Hanemann

11

6-4

290

OL

DL

80

Scott Brandle

11

6-0

215

TE

LB

81

Carmine Pennisi

10

5-10

143

WR

DB

82

Anthony Cyriac

10

6-0

150

WR

DB

83

Alex Rios

11

5-9

190

TE

LB

84

Alessandro Castellani

10

5-9

150

WR

DB

85

Joe Vitiello

10

6-5

210

TE

DL

86

Mike Piel

10

5-10

155

WR

DB

87

Will Geraghty

10

5-10

168

WR

DB

88

Tommy Goodberlet

11

6-5

182

WR

LB

89

Nathan Melewski

10

5-8

155

WR

DB

90

Botond Veress

12

6-4

230

OL

DL

 

*In case you missed it:
Tuesday
—We looked at the field hockey team’s goal to improve its record this year.
Wednesday
—We previewed the boys soccer team with its fairly new team following the loss of many graduating seniors.
Thursday—We checked in with the girls soccer team as they prepare to get down to business.

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