RED BANK CATHOLIC FOCUSED ON ONE GOAL – STATE CHAMPIONSHIP By Mike Ready

RED BANK – It’s been three years since Red Bank Catholic last won a playoff game when they beat Pope John, 21-14, in a 2015 Non-Public Group III first-round game before falling to Saint John Vianney in the semifinal round.

This year’s group of seniors, who were only freshmen at the time, are not only eager to break their playoff losing streak, but hungry to bring Red Bank Catholic its first state title since 2014 when that team won the program’s first championship in 38 years and second in program history.

“Of course it’s our goal to win a playoff game, but it’s a state championship all the way,” said senior dual-threat quarterback Steve Lubischer. “That’s our goal; it’s always been our goal.”

Lubischer, who has already committed to Boston College, returns under center where he was a third-team All-Shore selection a year ago after a breakout junior campaign. He threw for 1,810 yards and 18 touchdowns with only five interceptions while rushing for 496 yards and seven touchdowns for an average of 9.9 yards per carry. The multi-dimensional Lubischer has the ability to take over games with his arm or his legs.

He guided an offense that averaged 39.8 points per game and 427 yards per game a year ago and with his blossoming talent and the weapons he has at his disposal, there’s reason to believe that this year’s offense will surpass those numbers – a scary thought for the rest of the Shore Conference. 

And the fact that the 6-foot-3 Lubischer grew two inches and added muscle to his frame over the offseason should keep opposing coaches up at night.

“We’ve had a pretty good camp so far and we’re working really hard,” Lubischer said. “Now we’re anxious for our first game. It’s just really exciting having a lot of people back. We’ve got a great group.”

That first game is shaping up to be a doozy, pitting the Caseys against Saint John Vianney – the Shore Conference preseason No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams, respectively, entering the season – on Friday, Aug. 31 in Holmdel. In the NJ.com preseason Top 20, Red Bank Catholic is ranked 15th and the Lancers one spot back at No. 16.

If that’s not enough fanfare for you, the game gives Red Bank Catholic an early opportunity to avenge last year’s 35-17 loss to the Lancers in week seven.

Lubischer did lose his top receiver from last season, Brandon Lombana, now a freshman receiver at Stonehill College, but the Caseys have an ace in the hole in senior wide receiver Jaden Key.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Key finished second on the team in receiving with 19 catches for 512 yards and five touchdowns and you can expect those numbers to go way up this season.

“We’ve had a strong connection for a couple of years now and it’s only grown bigger,” Lubischer said of his familiarity with Key. 

Junior M.J. Wright, who caught a touchdown pass in the Caseys playoff loss, is back as a returning starter and senior starting free safety Anthony Romano will slide over to offense at wide receiver this year when the Caseys have the ball, transferring his ball-hawking skills on defense over to offense with junior Kevin Degnan is another option at wide receiver.  

Second-team All-Shore tight end Kevin Bauman, one of the top juniors in the state, returns and will be another big target Lubischer will benefit from. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Notre Dame commit recorded 19 catches for 380 yards and five touchdowns last season and with his size and strength at times can be unstoppable – picture the Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski.

Also at tight end is 6-foot-5, 225-pounder Charlie Gordinier, giving the Caseys a pair of bookend tight ends that most teams won’t be able to match-up physically with, whether on the line of scrimmage or in open space. 

 

When All-Shore running back Zach Bair went down with an injury towards the end of last season, junior Billy Guidetti stepped in and burst on the scene rushing for 579 yards and seven touchdowns on 66 carries for an 8.8 yards per carry average.

The relatively unknown Guidetti should be even more dangerous this year as he takes his game to the next level and establishes himself as one of the top backs in the Shore. Junior Elijah Jules is another name to keep an eye on at running back behind Guidetti.

RBC boast two veteran fullbacks in senior John Columbia – one of the top returning linebackers in the Shore (85 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 TFL, FF),  and senior Steve Cmielewski, who started there a year ago before breaking his ankle in week one knocking him out for the season.  

Senior offensive lineman Tommy Smith – a 6-foot-2, 285-pound three-year starter – is the lone returner on the offensive line, but the Caseys always have a stable of big-bodied offensive linemen in waiting and they just plug them in and never seem to miss a beat.

This year’s crop of road graders vying for starting jobs include: seniors Ian Sullivan (6-foot-1, 225 pounds), Nate Mansfield (6-foot-1, 235 pounds) and Ambrose Richards (wrestled at 195 pounds) and 5-foot-11, 225-pound sophomore Jake Louro, who saw time on the defensive line a year ago as a freshman. Sophomore guard Luke Guidetti, who was a varsity call-up at the end of last season, and freshman Matt Cody are in the O-line mix as well.

Defensively, the Caseys look to improve on the 21.3 points per game they surrendered last season. Up front, Smith and Louro will start at tackle with Bauman and senior Gino Tartamella, who stated at linebacker a year ago, at the defensive end spots. Tartamella is coming off a standout junior season which saw him record 84 tackles, five TFL, two forced fumbles and a sack.   Mansfield, Richards and J.J. Lodato will be in the D-line rotation as well.

The back seven returns six starters. Columbia (91 T, 3 TFL, 5 SK, 11 QP, FF) was an All-Division linebacker last season and he returns in the middle with Cmielewski as the weakside linebacker. Gordinier, who had a breakout sophomore campaign is back as strongside linebacker after posting excellent numbers (69 T, 1.5 SKS, 2 INT, 4 PD, 2 TFL) in his first year as a starter. Seniors Steve Smielewski and Jack Zenkert (27 T, 3 TFL, SK, FR) will be in the linebacker rotation as well.

Key, Wright and Romano will spearhead the secondary for the Caseys. Key is a shutdown corner while Romano is a ball-hawking free safety that can really lay the wood. Key was a first-team All-Shore selection after leading the Shore conference with 13 pass breakups while Romano tied for the team lead with three interceptions and had five pass breakups with 66 tackles.  Key and Wright will start at cornerback with Romano at free safety. Junior Kevin Degnan and sophomore Anthony Borriello are in competition for the starting strong safety position.  

All-Division pick, Ryan O’Hara, will handle the kicking and punting chores again this season giving the special teams a big boost.

UPDATE: No. 1 Red Bank Catholic 41, No. 2 Saint John Vianney 14

Lubischer completed 9-of-12 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 64 yards on 10 carries and two scores as the Caseys bolted out to a 27-0 third-quarter lead and never let up. Cmielewski, Guidetti and Degnan each scored rushing touchdowns and Wright hauled in a 9-yard scoring strike from Lubischer. Bauman caught four passes for 50 yards, Wright three for 35 yards and TD and Key two for 23 yards. Guidetti carried the 16 times picking up 79 yards and a score. The defense recorded five sacks, including three from senior Adam Demurjian and one each from Smith and Tartamella. With the win, the Caseys snapped the Lancers’ 38-game Shore Conference winning streak.

TagsFall