TEAM PREVIEW: Bergen Catholic

2013 In Review: The Crusaders were 2-7 with one of the toughest schedules in the country. They scored 171 points for a 19.0 average, while allowing 261 points for a 29.0 average. Wins were against Friendship Academy (Washington DC) and Jordan (Utah). Losses came to John Curtis (La.), Bishop Gorman (Nevada), St. Joe's (Montvale), St. Peter's Prep, DePaul, Don Bosco, and Paramus Catholic.

Departures: OL/DL Kurt Holuba - Princeton, TE/DE Garrett Dickerson - Northwestern, DB Cameron Queiro - Northwestern, QB Colin McGovern - Wagner, C Mario Farinella - Delaware, LB Jake Campbell - Gettysburg, DB/RB JP Garcia - Tufts, LB Isaiah Powell - Albany, WR Kyle Vadis - Pace

Offense: Bergen Catholic runs a multiple spread and returns four starters. The quarterback will be junior Jarrett Guarantano (6-foot-3-1/2, 195), who shared the job last year. Returning at running back is senior Corey Russo (5-foot-9, 205). Also expected to get carries are senior Jelani Garvin (5-foot-9, 165) and junior Kyle Ellerson (5-foot-10, 180). Garvin started in the secondary last year.

The receivers will be mostly new, with senior slot receiver Corey Gaarn (5-foot-9, 170) and senior tight end Mike Aniello (6-foot-2, 205) seeing some action last year. The wide receivers will be juniors Gene Coleman (5-foot-11, 190), Zach Hawkins (6-foot-0, 180), Danny Halligan (6-foot-1, 175), and Manny Appiah (6-foot-1, 170), a transfer from Lodi. Also seeing action at tight end will be junior Korab Idrizi (6-foot-3, 220).

The two returning starters on the line are senior tackles Mike Adzima (6-foot-3, 275) and Joe Woerner (6-foot-4, 260). The guards will be senior Tim Andrelczyk (6-foot-5, 290) and junior Joe Cruz (6-foot-1, 240), with both seeing action. At center, it will be junior Frank Jerkovich (6-foot-2, 260). Also in the mix will be senior Jack Koch (6-foot-1, 265) and junior Bobby Finstra (6-foot-3, 270).

Defense: The Crusaders run a 4-3 and return three starters. Returning to the line is senior Connor O'Brien (6-foot-1, 235), where he will play both end and tackle. Junior transfer Sal Mauro (6-foot-3, 245) will also rotate between end and tackle, with junior Frankie Feaster (6-foot-1, 235) in the rotation at end. One tackle will be senior Sebastian Calixte (5-foot-10, 270), while the other tackle will be between seniors Evan Dougherty (6-foot-0, 240) or Santos Norales (6-foot-0, 205).

At linebacker, senior Kyle Cook (5-foot-11, 215) returns to the middle and senior Jack Riley (6-foot-1, 200) will man the strong side. The weak side has a battle among senior Jack Painter (6-foot-0, 205), senior Hunter Ordukhanyan (5-foot-9, 205), and junior Danny DeLorenzi (6-foot-2, 205).

The secondary brings back Garvin at one corner and the opposite corner will be either Appiah or junior Ryan McCarthy (5-foot-10, 185). The safeties will be junior Nick Tighe (6-foot-0, 195) and senior Matt Sherlock (6-foot-0, 190).

Special Teams: The kicker will be senior Joe DeFilippo and the punter will be senior John Bowers. The return game is open with Garvin, Appiah, Gaarn, Ellerson, and McCarthy in the running.

Schedule:

Saturday, 9/6, LaSalle (Pa.) at Palisades Park, 4:40PM

Thursday, 9/11, at St. Peter's Prep, 8PM

Friday, 9/19, at Bentonville (Ark.), 7PM CST

Saturday, 9/27, St. Edward's (Ohio) at Palisades Park, 7PM

Saturday, 10/4, at Paramus Catholic, 4PM

Saturday, 10/11, DePaul at home, 2:30PM

Saturday, 10/18, at St. Joe's (Montvale0, 1PM

Saturday, 10/25, Don Bosco at home, 1PM

Bye week, 10/31-11/1

Friday, 11/7, at Ridgewood, 7PM

Concerns: A lot of inexperience: there is talent, but not live action.

Recruits: Garvin has an offer from Army and Monmouth, plus interest from the Ivy League. Adzima has an offer from Army and interest from the Patriot League, while Russo has Ivy interest. Cook and Aniello have Ivy and Patriot interest. Ellerson has interest from Yale and others. Woerner has CAA and NEC interest. Gaarn may walk on somewhere and has good quickness. O'Brien is a good high school player who will play somewhere, while Andrelczyk will play somewhere. Bowers is a 1-AA/D2 prospect. Riley and Sherlock can play somewhere with a good year.

In the junior class, Guarantano has numerous 1-A offers and narrowed it down to Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson, and Auburn. Appiah, Mauro, Coleman, Idrizi, Hawkins, and McCarthy will have offers.

It's too early to tell with the sophomores.

Coach's Comments: "We have a lot of potential with very good talent. There are some very good seniors and they're showing good leadership. We have a tough schedule and our goal is to get back to where we expect to be: competing for a state title." - Head Coach Nunzio Campanile