Pats frosh created gridiron excitement
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
Freehold Township's freshman football team has generated excitement about the Patriots' gridiron future.

In what was a tough 1-9 season for the Patriot varsity, the frosh provided a silver lining. They came up with the best record in school history (8-1), but more importantly than the record was their collective attitude. attitude.

"They play together and they know how to win," said Patriot head coach Dominick Lepore. "They expect to win games, and that's a plus. We're excited."

After dropping the first game of the season to Toms River East, the Patriot ninthgraders ripped off eight consecutive victories. They didn't just win those games, they dominated. The defense racked up five shutouts and only allowed six points at home the entire season. The offense, powered by a solid running game, scored 142 points.

What was impressive about this team was that it didn't rely on just a few stars, it was a team in every sense of the word.

"We had a lot of depth," noted Lepore.

It was the lines on both sides of the ball that were the team's strength, and what pleased Lepore the most was their toughness.

Running back Matt Intile and quarterback Joe DeFranco benefited from a physical line that wore teams down. D.J. Callahan, Mike Luongo, Scott Bjuchanan, Joey Devlin and Ryan Kiernan made up the offensive line. Fullbacks Andrew Glantz and Kevin Borden contributed with their blocking.

Kiernan and Glantz were the defensive ends with inside Richie Horrigan, Adam Rihacek and Blakes Resnik.

Borden, Gene Blanco and Mark Pivinski played at linebacker.

The secondary was Mike Mullen, Ramir Wright and Intile.

Lepore brought six players from the frosh up to the varsity

for the team's finale against rival Howell on Thanksgiving

Day. Luongo started at center,

Borden at linebacker and Intile

on special teams and the secondary.

"We gave them the opportunity

to show what they could do," said Lepore, who added that he was more than pleased with the result.

Mike Antonio, the coach of the Freehold Township freshmen, noted that for a team whose players came from the Howell, Freehold and Colts Neck Pop Warner organizations, they took little time to blend together.

"These kids just jelled early in the summer, and they had the will to win," said Antonio.

It's that will to win that has the Patriot coaching staff so excited about the class of 2011.