McGuinness, Mujica, Six top All-District Football
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

The 2005 season will be remembered as perhaps the Freehold Regional District’s finest on the gridiron.

A record three teams — Howell, Manalapan and Colts Neck — qualified for the state playoffs this fall.

Howell and Manalapan won thrilling playoff games that will long be remembered. The Rebels edged Sayreville in overtime, 32-31, in registering the school’s first-ever playoff win. Manalapan rallied in the second half and beat Old Bridge, 24-21, on a field goal in the waning second by Dave Sarner.

It was a record-setting season for Cory Davies’ Rebels, who sparked by the versatility of Ryan McGuinness and the passing of Sean O’Reilly, put a 1-9 2004 campaign behind them. The Rebels went 8-3, setting a school record for wins in a single season to go along with the historic first playoff win.

Ed Guirrieri’s Braves were also 8-3 and for the second straight season were a testament that it’s how you finish a season and not how you start it. Manalapan started the season 0-2, but won eight of its last nine games, falling only to eventual Central Jersey Group IV champion Jackson in the semifinals. An experienced offensive line allowed running back Anthony Mujica and quarterback Nick Scardelli to rank with the Shore Conference leaders.

JEFFGRANIT staff Manalapan’s Rocco Lamagna helped lead the Braves to a stellar season this fall, one that included a win in the state playoffs.

The year’s biggest turnaround belonged to Mike McArthur’s Colts Neck Cougars. Winless in 2004, the Cougars got off to good start winning the first game of the season. But when their record slipped to 1-3, it seemed like it was the same old Colts Neck. But behind the running of Pat Six, the Cougars won four straight games to make the Central Jersey Group III playoffs, where they fell to a fourth-quarter comeback by the top seed, West Windsor South. Colts Neck finished the season 6-4.

There were outstanding players who suited up for the rest of the District as well, led by Freehold Borough’s multifaceted Danny Matthews, Freehold Township wide receiver Brett Caprioni and Marlboro offensive lineman Bryan Tiscia.

The News Transcript’s 2005 All-Freehold Regional District Football Team is one of the deepest squads ever. Leading the way on offense are quarterback O’Reilly and Scardelli. The running backs are Six, Matthews, Mujica and Manalapan’s Rocco LaMagna. The wide receivers are Freehold Township’s Brett Caprioni, Howell’s Kyle Bukowiec and Gus Borden, Freehold Borough’s Steve Hodge and Marlboro’s Perry Plevretes. Manalapan’s Adam Hegel is the tight end. The offensive line features Tiscia Freehold Borough’s Bryce Carter, Manalapan’s Mike Mendez, Mike White and Pat Burns, Howell’s Joe Rattacasa and Mike Caramanica, and Colts Neck’s Nick Bibbo. The return specialist is McGuinness, and the place kicker, Sarner.

One defense, the All-District linemen are: Colts Neck’s Mike DeFazio, Freehold Borough’s Mike Priolo, Freehold Township’s Matt Hardison, Howell’s Josh Barnhard and Chris Tash, Manalapan’s Billy Doukouslis and Marlboro’s Rob Clarizio. The linebackers are Colts Neck’s Mike Moore, Freehold Borough’s Robert James, Freehold Township’s Bill August, Howell’s John Bunnicont and Steve Hering, Manalapan’s Corey DeCastro and Marlboro’s Jordan Giallanzo. The defensive backs are Colts Neck’s Ashton Jackson, Freehold Borough’s Sam Quinones, Freehold Township’s Jesse Shenker, Manalapan’s Cody High, and Marlboro’s Joe Levine and Chris Kauffman. The punter is Howell’s Chance Carrick.

The biggest difference maker in the District this year was Howell junior O’Reilly. He played briefly in ’04, but became the focal point of the offense when Davies went from the option to a spread offense, throwing the ball at will. O’Reilly responded by passing for 1,633 yards, completing 152 of his 267 attempts. Seven of his passes went for TDs.

As the season progressed and teams began to defend the Rebels differently, the quarterback draw became a huge play in the offense. It was so huge that he led the team in rushing with 421 yards on 92 rushes. He ran for six scores. His total offense for the year was 2,154 yards.

No one did more on the gridiron than McGuinness, who put together one of the great all-around seasons by any District football player. He rushed for 382 yards and four touchdowns this year, and caught 33 passes for 390 yards and two more scores. Defensively, as a back, he led the team in total tackles (85) and in pass interceptions (six).

But McGuinness’ biggest impact was as a kickoff and punt returner. He was so dangerous that teams kicked the ball away from him or out of bounds. McGuinness returned three of his 13 kickoffs for touchdowns, including one of 90 yards. He averaged 30.8 yards a return. On punts, he averaged a 11.3 yards a return. His combined all-purpose yards wee 1,239 and he scored nine touchdowns.

Bukowiec benefited the most from the offensive change. His talent for finding a hole in the defense made him a leading receiver in the Shore throughout the season. He pulled down 46 passes for 388 yards and three touchdowns.

Borden, who quarterbacked Howell until an injury last year, fit perfectly into the slot as a big-play receiver. The Rebel offensive goal was get the ball into the hands of its playmakers and let them make something happen. Borden caught 38 passes for 420 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Veteran Scardelli weathered the storm of losing his top receivers for a part of the season and still ended up throwing for 1,422 yards and 12 TDs. He completed 93 of his 162 attempts.

Mujica was Manalapan’s constant from the start of the season. When the passing game was struggling, the Braves could always count on Mujica for his 100 yards. He carried the team to the postseason, rushing for 1,233 yards and averaging 5.5 yards per carry. He scored 17 touchdowns and also picked up 198 yards on 13 pass receptions.

A late-season leg injury slowed Six, who was headed for a big season. It didn’t take the Cougars long to figure out that their best offense was pounding Six into the line. The District’s 100-meter dash champion in track could break the long one, as defenses soon discovered to their chagrin. Six still rushed for 1,076 yards and nine scores. He’s just a junior.

Matthews was Freehold Borough’s offense this year. The senior quarterback accounted for more 1,100 yards, rushing for 700 yards and passing for 400. He ran for eight touchdowns and passed for three more. The two-way star pulled down two pass interceptions.

LaMagna was the prototypical fullback for Manalapan, a rugged, hard-nosed blocker. He was a big factor behind Mujica’s big season. LaMagna managed to gain 330 yards from scrimmage in his limited touches and scored three touchdowns.

Hegel was a huge part of the Manalapan offense. The tight end used his 6-foot-2 fame to be an inviting target for Scardelli. He pulled down 25 passes for 491 yards, a 19.6 average, which is almost double what you expect from the position. He had a long gain of 95 yards and scored three TDs. Hegel was equally effectively as a blocker.

It was a tough year for Freehold Township, not the least of which was the loss of Caprioni to a broken hand for four games. Despite the lost games, the senior pulled down 18 passes for 283 yards an two TDs. He was the team’s big offensive threat as his 15.8-yards-per-catch average attests.

Speaking of “big plays,” no one could claim to be close to the 26.2 yards per average of Plevretes, which established a new Marlboro single-season record.

He only pulled down 16 passes for the season, but they accounted for 418 yards. The senior scored four touchdowns.

Hodge was another master of the breakaway score. The senior scored two touchdowns on kickoff returns and led the run-dominated Colonials in pass receiving. His ability to stretch defenses with his deep pass patterns opened up the running game. The Colonial receiver caught a pair of TD passes.

There was a reason that the Braves had one of the most productive offenses in the Shore. It started up front with a veteran line that jelled quickly and a dominating unit. The great news for the Braves is that Mendez, White and Burns are all juniors.

Rattacasa and Caramanica were prime movers of the Rebel offense because of their ability to block the run and the pass well. That made the spread offense work.

While teams were getting plenty of Pat Six during the season, it was because up front, 6-foot-4, 280-pound Bibbo was moving people back.

The same at Freehold where Carter, a 6-4, 320-pound mountain, helped forge a young offensive line. The center made the “pancake” block a part of the Colonials’ vocabulary.

The District’s other formidable lineman was 6-4, 285-pound Tiscia. When the Mustangs needed yards, they pushed the cart behind him.

To say McGuinness did it all for the Rebels would be an understatement. He opened things up for other receivers because teams were focusing their defenses around him. He ran, caught passes and was a linebacker. As a return man, he brought fear.

What separates place-kickers is what they can do when the game is one the line. None was better at it than Manalapan’s Sarner. He kicked two game-winners for Manalapan, including the one that beat Old Bridge in the state playoffs. He was one of the leading scorers among kickers in the Shore with 32 points.

Defense wins games and in the District, there were plenty of playmakers on that side of the ball.

DeFazio led the Colts Neck defensive charge with 68 tackles, including three quarterback sacks and six stops for losses.

Dokouslis, nicknamed “the Hulk” was that on the line, making 60 total tackles and coming up with 11 quarterback sacks. He recovered two fumbles.

Clarizo had 38 total tackles and a blocked extra point for the Mustangs.

Tash and Barnhard were Howell’s playmakers up front. Barnhard had six quarterback sacks and Tash, five. Tash had eight tackles for a loss, and Barnhard, five.

Hardison was a lineman that made teams game-plan around his presence. He had 65 total tackles this year with two quarterback sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries.

Priolo had a solid two-way season for the Colonials, contributing offensively at tight end and on the defensive line, where he was the player who pressured quarterbacks. He had eight quarterback sacks.

A good linebacker’s job is to make plays and that’s what everyone on the All-District team did this year.

DeCastro had 121 total stops this year, including four quarterback sacks. Giallanzo was in on 86 tackles including two quarterback sacks.

August was one of the shining lights of the Patriots campaign. The junior emerged as a play-maker and someone the coaches can build next year’s defense around. He had 70 total tackles including 10 behind the line of scrimmage. He recovered three fumbles and had two quarterback sacks.

Bunnicont and Hering were focal points of a Howell defense that was stronger than anticipated. The bend-don’t-break formula worked for the Rebels as Hering (47) and Bunnicont (49) came up with big plays to stall drives. The combined for eight tackles for a loss.

Of Moore’s 49 tackles, five were for a loss and he blocked two kicks as well.

Giallanzo recorded 86 total tackles in ’05 including a pair of quarterback sacks. He also intercepted a pass for the Mustangs.

James is just a sophomore, but showed the same instincts on the field as this brother, Josh James, who went on to play at Monmouth University. Before an injury shortened his season, he has firmly established himself as a budding star.

In the defensive backfield, teams went to Levine’s side of the field at their own risk. An outstanding cover back, he picked off a school-record six passes this year and made 73 tackles.

Kauffman provided the Mustang secondary with a sure-tackler who could support the run defense. He made 57 tackles, and had one quarterback sack and one pass interception. He returned one turnover for a touchdown.

High made 50 total stops for the Braves and came down with four pass interceptions.

Look out for Cougar sophomore Jackson next year. He had 51 tackles this year and four interceptions. One of those picks he returned 67 yards for a touchdown. When Six was out with his leg injury, Jackson admirably filled his shoes. Next year, the Cougars could have one of the most dynamic backfields in the Shore.

Veteran Shenker provided the Patriots with another strong season as both a coverage man and in support of the run. He had 95 total tackles including 50 solo stops. The senior was again among the leading pass thieves in the Shore with three pass interceptions.

Quinones played safety for the Colonials and his sure-tackling made him an additional linebacker against the run. When called on he was outstanding as a cover back.

It’s not often that kickers are a major part of the team’s offense, but Carrick was just that for Howell. He brought the field goal into play for Howell, kicking one of the longest in the Shore this year (37 yards). But Carrick’s biggest contribution may have been as a punter, where he had a knack for kicking the ball out-of-bounds well inside the 20 with his directional kicks. When the Rebels needed a long punt, he could deliver that as well.

Those earning Honorable Mention in 2005 are: Chris Pedersen, Kevin Kelly, Danny Boxman, Sean Cotter and Darren Barnett, Colts Neck; Brian Greenberg, Brandon Carter and Kyshon Richardson, Freehold Borough; Joe Carlino, Derric Harris, Ahmir Martin, John Rihachek and Zack Carroll, Freehold Township; James Sullivan, Anthony Bongermino, Alex Killian, Mike Bonfig and Eric Feehan, Howell; T.J. Toto and Dan Marash, Manalapan; and Mike Pontoriero, Rob Boyce, Ahmed Fayed, Drew Nutter, Fred Fox and Joe Baldino, Marlboro.