2009 In Review: The Mariners were 7-3, losing to Williamstown in the first round of the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs. They scored 182 points for an 18.2 average, while allowing 63 points, for a 6.3 average, including four shutouts. Wins included Brick Memorial, Southern Regional, Piscataway, and Jackson Memorial.

Departures: LB/RB Steve Barroso - Monmouth, OL/DL Mike Zarycki - Merchant Marine Academy, DLTE Mark Dorsey - Montclair State.

Offense: Toms River North will run a multiple shotgun spread, returning three starters and a couple of others with experience. Senior Demitri Davis (5-foot-9, 190) returns at quarterback and will be one the premier players in the Shore Conference. The running back position is experienced, with returning starter Cody Groves (6-foot-1, 200) and also junior Nick Pizzola (5-foot-11, 190), who saw playing time.

There will be plenty of competition at wide receiver. Junior Scott Buxbaum (5-foot-11, 170) saw action last year and he'll be in the mix with senior Matt Wilkoski (6-foot-3, 210), senior Nick Rahbari (5-foot-9, 160), junior Hunter Mantz (5-foot-7, 160), and a host of others. When a tight end is used, it will be junior Ryan Verdon (6-foot-2, 220).

The one returning starter on the line is senior Steve Franco (6-foot-4, 295), who will be at guard after playing tackle last year. The other positions will have open competition, with the five best playing and being fit in accordingly. Seniors Todd Hardifer (6-foot-1, 220), Allan Singer (5-foot-10, 230), Freddie Tucker (5-foot-11, 280), John Flanagan (5-foot-8, 200), and several others will be competing for those spots.

Defense: The Mariners play a 3-4 and return two starters. Franco, Hardifer, Tucker, sophomores Garrett Kroeger (6-foot-1, 245) and Brandon Kennedy (6-foot-2, 215), and a few others will be battling for time in a six man rotation in the front three.

Groves is a returning starter at inside linebacker and he'll be joined by Verdon, who started once last year and saw other time. Competing at outside linebacker are junior Dan Stout (6-foot-0, 200), junior Evan Sutton (6-foot-0, 220), Wilkoski, and junior Kyle Ellis (6-foot-0, 190).

Davis returns at safety and Pizzola will play next to him, after seeing action last season. The corners are up for grabs, with Buxbaum, Mantz, senior Scott Bestreski (6-foot-2, 175), junior Kevin Fischer (5-foot-8, 160), and junior Kyle Lake (5-foot-5, 140) battling for time.

Special Teams: Junior Mike Borelli and sophomore Charlie Gulla will play at both kicker and punter. Davis is the main return man.

Schedule: Saturday, 9/11 at Howell, 6PM; Thursday, 9/16 Middletown North, 7PM; Friday, 9/24 at Jackson Memorial, 7PM; Friday, 10/1 Toms River South, 7PM; Saturday, 10/9 at Colts Neck, 2PM; Friday, 10/15 at Southern; Friday, 10/22 at Brick Memorial, 7PM; 10/29-20 bye week; Friday, 11/5 Manalapan, 7PM; Thursday, 11/25 Toms River East, 11AM.

Question Marks: Replacing nine starters on defense, including the front three. They have capable replacements, but there's inexperience. On the flip side, this is the first time head coach Chip LaBarca has a starter returning at quarterback.

Recruiting: Davis is getting looks from colleges. Franco has a shot with low level 1-A, plus many 1-AA schools. Groves is a likely 1-AA player.

Verdon is the leading junior at this point.

Coach's Comments: "We're young and we'll have to replace nine starters on defense. We'll have a small nucleus back and we'll build around that nucleus. For the first time since I've been the coach here, I have a starter back at quarterback in Demitri Davis, an exciting player. Cody Groves is a key returning player and we also have lineman Steve Franco back. We usually hang our hat on our defense and we have to shore that up." - Head Coach Chip LaBarca