MANALAPAN – With seven returning starters on both sides of the ball, Manalapan looks to be fully equipped to make another run at the program’s second-ever sectional championship after coming up just short a year ago when they fell to Piscataway in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group V final.
Heading into the final the Braves were undefeated and had captured their sixth division title in the last seven seasons. But that elusive second title escaped them and they would like nothing more than to finish the job this season with its senior-dominated class.
“We don’t talk about it, but we do have goals,” Manalapan head coach Ed Gurrieri said when asked if he thought his team can finish the job this season. “Our goal is to have a great year, win our division first and hopefully down the road we’ll think about the state championship. But our goal right now is to take it one game at a time and live up to high expectations.”
Speaking of high expectations, All-Division quarterback Luke Corcione, who was handed the starting job as a sophomore before an injury derailed that season, returns for his senior season after a brilliant junior campaign. He threw for 1,699 yards and 26 TDs with just three interceptions while completing 112-of-188 passes.
“We’re expecting nothing but the best, obviously,” Corcione said. “I expect us to come through and get the job done this season.”
He’ll be handing the ball off to first-team All-Shore senior running back and Fordham University commit Naim Mayfield, who torched opposing defenses for 1,785 yards on 199 carries and 23 touchdowns while averaging a whopping nine yards per carry. Junior Ronnie White looks to have won the job of backing up Mayfield.
All-Shore selection senior Chris Maksimik (26-143-6) is back at fullback and aside from being a bruising runner at 5-foot-11, 240 pounds; he’s also a devastating blocking back for Mayfield.
“We feel Maksimik is the best fullback in the Shore,” said Gurrieri. He’s the best one we’ve ever had here and we’ve had some good ones at that position. We’re going to try to keep him fresh but he will play linebacker too.”
Corcione will have two of his top targets from a year ago to throw to again this season with third-team All-Shore senior wideout Scott Scherzer (40-690-7) back along with senior Symir Blacknall – brother of Penn State starting wide receiver and former Manalapan star Saeed Blacknall. Seniors Eli Avivi and Chris Pisano and junior Kyle Spilsbury are in the wide receiver mix as well.
As usual, the offensive line is made up of a bunch of road graders and brings back two starters including third-team All-Shore pick senior Trevor Radosevich (6-3, 270) at right tackle and senior right guard Jack Mclaughlin (5-10, 250). Sophomore Nick Cavallaro (5-11, 280) gets the starting nod at center while senior Josh Grinberg (6-0, 250) will be at left guard and senior Matt Mazza (6-5, 270) at left tackle.
“It definitely puts a lot of pressure on us to block him up and get him going,” Radosevich said about opening holes for Mayfield. But every year we pull through and last year we had a good year on the offensive line and expect the same results this season.”
“Every year our offensive line never let us down,” said Mayfield of his blockers up front. “They do a great job of opening holes and protecting Luke. They just do their job, listen to coach and get the job done.”
It looks like junior Alan Presler (6-2, 210) will be the starting tight end, but juniors Alex Claro and Matt Sieczkowski – whose older brothers John and Ben were standouts at Manalapan – will see time there as well.
First-team All-Shore selection Sal Tardogno (120 T, 5 TFL, 3 SKS, 7 PR) is the defensive leader at inside linebacker but he’ll move around depending on formations and game situations. He’ll be joined by outstanding junior linebacker Tommy Pearce, who recorded 97 tackles, including 60 solo tackles last season. Claro (6-0, 205) and Sieczkowski (6-0, 190) will join Maksimik (51 T, 4 TFL) on the outside with Maksimik seeing time on the inside as well.
The defensive line returns its two starting defensive ends in junior Da-shon Taylor (44 T, two sacks, six pressures) and Antonio Deieso (6-0, 230), who posted 47 tackles including a sack a year ago. Senior Joe Ciraola (5-9, 230) gets the start at nose tackle after recording 24 tackles and two sacks last season in a backup role.
Avivi and Blacknall return at cornerback giving the Braves solid experience at the corners. Avivi – an All-Division selection – is a sure tackler and a lockdown corner who recorded 84 tackles and a sack and intercepted three passes last season, while Blacknall posted 37 tackles with one pick.
Seniors Patrick Jurczuk and George Lombardi step in at the safety spots and according to Gurrieri, they’ve distinguished themselves in 7-on-7 competition this summer and have looked strong in camp.
“We’re going to be a force to be reckoned with,” Tardogno said about the Braves defense.
On paper, Manalapan is one of – if not the – top teams in the Shore Conference and is the Jersey Sporting News preseason No. 2 team. However, like the team ranked in front of them (Saint John Vianney), anything less than a state title would leave unfinished business on the table.
“The goal is the same every year, it’s to go 12-0 and get that state championship ring,” said Tardogno. “That’s all we think about. We’re looking to be the only undefeated team to win a state championship in Manalapan history.”
- 2023 JSN Awards Finalists Announced - December 18, 2023
- Sunil Sunder Raj Recaps Day One of State Football Finals With OnNJ (VIDEO) - November 27, 2023
- Mental Health and Exercise: Finding Balance in New Jersey's Fast-Paced Life - November 27, 2023
