TEAM PREVIEW: St. Joes of Hammonton

2012 In Review: The Wildcats were 10-1, winning the Non-Public Group 1 championship by beating St. Mary's, after beating Hudson Catholic. The scored 354 points for a 32.18 average, while allowing 107 points for an 8.92 average, including five shutouts. Wins included Holy Spirit, Atlantic City, Millville, Absegami, and St. Augustine, while their lone loss was to Hammonton.

Departures: WR/DB Robert Thompson - Old Dominion, QB Anthony Giagunto - Gettysburg, OL/DL Charles Cade - Gettysburg, DL Kevin Goldsmith - D2 college, 2010 player DB Philip Paulhill - Old Dominion (was at junior college)

Offense: St. Joe's (Hammonton) runs the Wing-T and returns one starter. The quarterback will be junior CJ LaFragola (5-foot-10-1/2, 185) and he has been pushed by sophomore Salaam Horne (5-foot-11, 160). Returning at halfback is senior Cody Sampson (5-foot-10, 180) and the other halfback will be junior Rocco Ordille (5-foot-10, 175), who saw action. The fullback is junior Michael Merlino (5-foot-9, 205). Pushing hard for time will be sophomore Alaam Horne (5-foot-11, 165).

Splitting time at wide receiver will be senior Chris Gabor (6-foot-2, 175) and junior Ricky Quirindongo (6-foot-1, 175). The tight end will be senior Laquay Brown (6-foot-4, 210).

No starters return to the line. The center will be sophomore Derek Lomax (6-foot-4, 245), while the guards will be junior Joseph Greer (6-foot-3, 220) on the right side and junior Christian Snowden (5-foot-10, 215) on the left side. The tackles will be junior Knikeem Lewis (6-foot-3, 260) on the left side and the frontrunner on the right side is junior Justin Kennedy (6-foot-4, 220). Pushing for time at tackle is senior Sky Glenn (6-foot-3, 250).

Defense: The Wildcats play a 5-2 and return one starter. The ends will be Kennedy and junior Chris Carey (6-foot-2, 200). Merlino will be the nose guard, with Snowden at left tackle and junior Max Buerklin (5-foot-9, 190) at right tackle. Lewis and Greer will rotate along the line.

The linebacker positions are still open with junior Robert Coursey (6-foot-0, 205), LaFragola, and junior Zach McGuckin (5-foot-10, 175) in the lead.

In the secondary, Sampson will be a returning starter at safety, moving from linebacker. Ordille will play next to him and started a few games. The cornerbacks will be Salaam Horn and Alaam Horne, with Alaam Horne starting several games.

Special Teams: Returning at kicker is sophomore Jonathan Riker and Quirindongo is back at punter. In the return game Ordile and Alaam Horne will be on the kickoffs and Salaam Horne will return punts.

Schedule:

Friday, 9/13, at Absegami, 7PM

Friday, 9/20, at Holy Spirit, 7PM

Saturday, 9/28, Millville at home, 12PM

Friday, 10/4, at Egg Harbor, 7PM

Friday, 10/11, at Oakcrest, 7PM

10/18-19, bye week

Saturday, 10/26, Atlantic City at home, 12PM

Friday, 11/1, at St. Augustine, 7PM

Saturday, 11/9, Mainland at home, 12PM

Saturday, 11/30, Hammonton at home, 12PM

Question Marks: Inexperience at all positions, especially in replacing a three year starter at quarterback and the entire offensive line.

Recruiting: Sampson is 1-AA/D2/D3. Clay Brown is talented and also long snaps.

In the junior class, Ordille is 1-A/1-AA with speed and grades. Lewis and Kennedy are talents that need to mature - Lewis is the younger brother of former Wildcat Kaiwan Lewis. LaFragola is 1-AA and Greer is also I-AA.

Both Hornes are the top sophomore prospects.

Coach's Comments: "We're a very young team with two or three senior starters and we lost our entire offensive line. If we get better each week, we will surprise people." - Head Coach Paul Sacco