New coach, same goals for Manalapan football
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
When a new coach takes over a football program, there is usually an adjustment period.

CHRIS KELLY staff Senior Craig Peterson is back to lead the Manalapan offense, as the Braves look to emerge as a contender for the division title this fall.

Players have to learn a new system and likewise the coach has to become familiar with his players and what they do best.

Manalapan High School avoided this scenario earlier in the year when Tom Gallahue was elevated to head coach. Gallahue was on Ed Gurrieri's coaching staff last year as the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Gallahue needs no introduction to the Braves and neither does his staff.

The Braves maintained their continuity with Gurrieri staying on as the defensive coordinator and everyone else staying in place. The Braves will be hearing familiar voices, and their goals will remain the same, a trip to the postseason. That's something that has become routine for the Braves (four playoff appearances in the last five years).

"The expectation of Manalapan football is to make the playoffs," said Gallahue. "That's our goal."

To get back playoffs this year is no given, however.

"It's a great challenge," Gallahue said of the '07 campaign. "This team is young. We've lost seven starters on offense and seven starters on defense.

"We've had senior teams the last two years," he added. "Our approach is different this year. We're going slower because of the younger kids. We want to make sure they're learning."

The biggest education for the Braves is learning how to respond to adversity. Veteran teams that have experienced success before, like Manalapan the last two falls, know how. This team must learn that.

Gallahue said that leadership role of team captains Craig Peterson, Dave Presby, Jim Gilburn and Tom Sozzi will be more important than most years because of Manalapan's youth. They are all battletested he pointed out.

Although they lost seven starters on offense, Gallahue has three quality players to build the team around in quarterback Peterson, tailback Presby and fullback Sean Burns.

"When you have these three, you always have a shot to win," he said.

Peterson, a senior, is coming off a sea- son in which he passed for 1,656 yards and 14 touchdowns. He's the consummate QB combining leadership, managerial skills and a strong arm.

"Craig is a tremendous athlete," said Gallahue. "He's a big strong kid who is mentally and physically tough."

In addition to quarterbacking, he is the team's place-kicker and punter.

Presby is a difference maker. What separates him from the other backs is that he scores touchdowns, he finishes off drives. Despite missing three games with an ankle injury, the senior ran for 1,004 yards and a healthy 4.8 yards per carry in 2006. While he has the speed to turn the corner and make the big gain, Presby is a workhorse who can wear defenses down.

"Teams get tired tackling him," said Gallahue.

Fullback Burns is the unsung hero of the offense. His blocking clears the way for the running backs and protects the quarterback.

"We're committed to running the football," said Gallahue, but he knows the team has to pass the ball as well.

Chris Pellicano is the Braves' deep threat, and tight end Andrew Hegel is an inviting target.

Kevin Cruz, Tezzy Thorpe and Lane Grifffin are vying for the other wide receiver spots.

Up front, the Braves' offensive line has the potential to be very physical, moving the defensive line back.

Sozzi, a tackle, is the lone returning starter. Anthony Frizalone, the other starting tackle, does have some experience having started a couple of games in '06.

Steve Harold is the center with Chris De- Mauro at one guard and Tim Freuh and Alex Pasternak platooning at the other guard spot.

"They're all big and fast and learning their position," said Gallahue.

Defensively, the Braves are more settled. Gilburn is pound for pound the team's best player. Only a junior, he's good enough to be a team captain as an underclassman. Offensively, the Braves will try and get him the ball on occasion, but it's on defense where he excels. He plays free safety, but he hits like a linebacker.

"He's the one who holds it all together," said Gallahue. "He's the heart of the defense."

Tackle Anthony Zaharakis, end Freuh and outside linebacker Bryan Tamalone, along with Gilburn, are the solid nucleus the Braves are building their defense around.

Jake Moricone, a tackle, and cornerback Justin Mazor are newcomers who have made an impact already. Chris Essner, Justin Dattolo, Mark Zelinski and Matt Salerno make up the linebacking corps.

They will play a very aggressive, physical defense.

"Good things happen when you go to the ball," Gallahue pointed out.

Manalapan kicks its season off Friday night hosting Lacey High School, last year's South Jersey Group III state sectional champions at 7 p.m. in a Shore Conference Constitutional Division game.

On the Sept. 15, the Braves visit Howell (6 p.m.) in another division tilt against last year's Central Jersey Group IV finalist. On Sept. 20, the Braves will host a veteranladen Brick (7 p.m.).

It's a tough way to start a season. The last two years the Braves turned 0-2 starts into playoff runs. But Gallahue knows it's very important for a young team that could be lacking confidence to win early.

"Our focus the whole offseason has been getting off to a fast start whether it's in the weight room or practice," said Gallahue.