2010 In Review: The Spartans were 8-2, losing to DePaul in the first round of the Non-Public Group 3 playoffs. They scored 313 points for a 31.3 average, while allowing 167 points for a 16.7 average. Wins included Elizabeth, Westfield, and Bridgewater-Raritan. Their other loss came to Linden.

Departures: RB Ish Mack - Kean, TE/DE Dallas Whitaker - Rutgers as a walk on, LB Steve Wright - East Stroudsburg, FB/LB Kevin Albert - Rutgers for lacrosse, C Brandon Harper - Wilkes, T Andrew Goodberlet - Allegheny, RB/DB Ralph D'Agostino - Syracuse for lacrosse, WR/DB Alex Leo - Fordham, DB Sal DeNick - Gettysburg, DL Shawn Dwyer - Kean

Offense: Immaculata has switched to a spread offense and returns five starters. Returning at quarterback is junior Antonio Natale (6-foot-1, 195) and he'll be ably supported by junior Sean Palen (6-foot-1, 185). The lone running back will be a returning starter in senior Kellen Sperduto (6-foot-1, 205), moving from tight end. Pushing for time will be senior Jake Evanko (5-foot-10, 190) and sophomore Michael Johnson (6-foot-0, 201).

The lone returning starter at wide receiver is senior Shayne Jones (6-foot-0, 180). Competing for the other three positions are promising sophomore Wade Baldwin (6-foot-2, 170), senior Tyler Scott (5-foot-10, 175), junior Trevor Soccaras (5-foot-10, 180), sophomore Chandler Vanderbeek (5-foot-8, 175), sophomore Connor Vanderbeek (5-foot-8, 175), senior Ed Hopek (5-foot-8, 165), senior Rich Ferguson (5-foot-7, 165), senior Jake Eisenstodt (5-foot-10, 175), senior Nick Riga (5-foot-11, 175), senior Blair Cook (5-foot-10, 175), and junior Chris Marrie (6-foot-0, 180).

Two starters return to the line in senior tackle Jon Hoffman (6-foot-4, 285) and senior guard Greg Rommel (6-foot-3, 275). Competing at the other tackle are junior Matt Cherneski (6-foot-1, 230), junior Pat Rooney (6-foot-1, 210), and sophomore Kole Schleimer (6-foot-2, 220). The other guard and center will come from senior Michael Onderko (5-foot-10, 185), junior Joe Nowitzke (6-foot-2, 230), junior Jake Sniscak (6-foot-2, 245), and senior Pierce Frauenheim III (6-foot-3, 238).

Defense: The Spartans run a 4-3 and return four starters. Returning on the line are junior Tashawn Bower (6-foot-5, 235), Logan Whitaker (6-foot-2, 200), and Sperduto. Bower will be an end, while Sperduto may be an end or linebacker, and Whitaker may line up at end or tackle. Also in the mix are Cherneski, Nowitzke, Sniscak, Schleimer, and Rooney.

At linebacker, Evanko will start, while Cook, Johnson, and junior Erik Perrotta (6-foot-0, 190) will fight for the other two spots. As mentioned, Sperduto could end up here.

Jones is the lone returning starter in the secondary at cornerback. Battling for the other spots will be Scott, the Vanderbeek twins, and Riga. Soccaras, Hopek, Ferguson, Eisenstodt, and Marrie, will also battle for time.

Special Teams: The punter and kicker have juniors Matt Kassebaum and Mike Confuorto competing for both spots. Baldwin and Jones will be the return men.

Schedule:

Friday, 9/9, Ridge, 7PM

Saturday, 9/17, at Governor Livingston, 1PM

Friday, 9/23, Union, 7PM

Friday, 9/30, Watchung Hills, 7PM

Thursday, 10/6, at Bridgewater-Raritan, 7PM

Friday, 10/14, at Linden, 7PM

Friday, 10/21, Plainfield, 7PM

Friday, 10/28, Elizabeth, 7PM

Saturday, 11/5, at Westfield, 2PM

Schedule courtesy of www.highschoolsports.net

Question Marks: Coming together as a team and how soon do they jell with the new offensive system?

Recruits: Jones has an offer from Buffalo and will be a 1-A/1-AA prospect. Sperduto, Hoffman, Rommel, and Whitaker are 1-AA/D2 prospects. Evanko is a D2 prospect. Others can go D3 with a good year.

In the junior class, Bower has nine 1-A offers. Natale is a 1-AA/1-A prospect.

Baldwin is the leading sophomore at this point.

Coach's Comments: "Although I have been a five yard and a cloud of dust coach all my life, I look forward to our new offense: the spread. With our opponents being two, three, four, and five times our size, I feel we cannot play a compressed game any more. As always we hope to have a strong and stingy defense. We want to be quick and aggressive and attack the offense." - Head Coach Pierce Frauenheim