Cougars adding depth as they move up in division
Colts Neck opens at Neptune in Federal Division game

BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

JERRY WOLKOWITZ staff Colts Neck quarterback Joe Vrola lets loose with a pass during a recent practice in Colts Neck.

The goods for the Colts Neck High School football program is that it is deeper than ever.

Coach Mike McArthur had close to 60 players vying for positions on the varsity, more than the Cougars have had before. It couldn’t come at a more appropriate time because Colts Neck is coming off its first losing season in the school’s history (2-8).

“We had a lot of kids going both ways last year,” noted McArthur. “The great thing about our numbers is that we are able to develop depth on our offensive and defensive lines, which will help us.”

JERRY WOLKOWITZ staff Colts Neck running back Brandon Emenike hauls in a pass during a recent practice.

The bad news for the Cougars is two-fold. One, the depth is underclass, predominately sophomores and two, the team is moving up to the Federal Division of the Shore Conference where in the first month of the season the Cougars will be going up against powerhouses Neptune (away, Saturday), Wall (home, Sept. 18), Middletown South (away, Sept. 23) and Long Branch (home, Oct. 2).

“We’re young and it shows,” said McArthur. “We’re going to ask our senior leaders to really step up and pull them.”

The good side of so many underclassmen is what it means for the future.

“Of all the kids we have, we’re only going to lose four,” McArthur remarked. “We have the foundation set.

“Our attitude is great,” he added. “There’s no quit in the kids and they are working hard. That will carry over.”

But the future is now and the young Cougars will be getting on the job training in ’04 against the toughest schedule the school has faced.

The Cougars have four returning letter winners on offense, led by quarterback Joe Vrola and wide receiver Alex Covino, and offensive linemen Tom Carpenter and Joe Specchio.

Carpenter and Specchio are the anchors of what could develop into an efficient line that will help Colts Neck play keepaway.

“They’re smart, bright kids who have worked hard in the weight room,” McArthur said of his offensive line. “Our

tackles and center average 235 and our guards are around 205, but are quick.”

Joining Carpenter (guard) and Specchio (tackle), both seniors, on the line are center Steve Patelis, and Steve Echols (tackle) and Mike Kalusz(guard).

In the multipro I formation that the Cougars will line up in, Brandon Emenike will start at fullback with Pat Six and Michael Moore the tailbacks.

Adding depth to the backfield are John Maguire, Dave Murphy, Sean Cotter and Nick Lenzo.

Ed Colligan and Jeff Cook will split time at tight end. They will be a big part of the offense as receivers and blockers.

John Whitely is the team’s

kicker.

Colts Neck’s goal on offense is ball control. The goal is to hold onto the ball and limit the number of possessions for the opposition. To do that, the Cougars have to stay away from mistakes and move the chains.

There is a lot of potential on defense. However, the Cougars are even younger on this side of the ball than offense. Every starter this fall will be returning next year.

Anthony Renner, Ryan Woods and Kirk Guinee are the ends on the D line, with Nick Bibbo (6-4, 25), Lamar Griffin and Richard Renner playing inside at tackle.

The Cougars have changed their defense this fall from the more read-and-react 4-4 to the aggressive 4-3.

“There are less reads in the 4-3,” noted McArthur. “We’ll attack more.”

Emenike, Six and Curtis Anzur are the starting trio of linebackers with Emeka starting in the middle. Pursuit of the ball is a requirement of this position. They will be spelled by Danny Boxman and David Barnett.

Moore and Alex Trevino are the corner backs with Lenzo and Murphy the back-ups. Kevin Kelly, Ray DeRosa, Dominick Hayes and Tom Parisi are the safeties.

The defense is a work in progress with the players still learning their positions. At this point, the strength of the unit has been stopping the run.

Colts Neck opens the 2004 season Saturday against the Neptune Scarlet Fliers. Kick-off is in Neptune at 1 p.m.

The Cougars’ home opener is Sept. 18 with Wall’s Crimson Knights making their call at 1 p.m. in another division tilt.