NJ Football: Week 1 Big Central Camp Caravan 2022 Notebook
Week One (August 8 -13) of the Caravan was exciting and with the weather cooling down significantly by the end of the week as it was a refreshing 61 degrees Saturday morning in Metuchen!
Monday morning, I kicked off the 2022 preseason at Sayreville which finished the 2021 campaign as the number one team in our final Middlesex County top 10.
The Class of 2022 looks to be excited about their season opener versus New Jersey’s winningest football program Phillipsburg on Friday, September 2. With All-Area returners Zaimer Wright at tailback, athlete Caidan Holmes lining up at multiple spots in the offense and returning quarterback Mike Colonnello having a better feel for the offense, the Bombers are confident. Aidan Gilbert and Connor Walsh will anchor the offensive and defensive lines which have plenty of talent.
Monday’s 3 p.m. practice at Highland Park was canceled due to the extreme heat. The temperatures were hovering near the 100 degrees mark.
As the caravan rolled into the parking lot behind the school, the park and playing field were closed due to the turf field replacement and work on the lights.
The Owls open their season on Saturday, August 27 at 1 p.m. in Metuchen.
Tuesday’s 9 a.m. practice at North Brunswick started at 8:30 as the heat wave continued with the temperature in the mid-eighties by 8 a.m.
Their well-orchestrated practice schedule which focused in on the offensive side of the football, emphasized individualized drills, inside run, route running, skeleton pass and a full-team offense running plays against the scout defense.
With three-year starter and All-Area Frankie Garbolino back at the helm directing the Raiders offense, North Brunswick is focused on finishing the job by capturing a championship. With FCS offered Jared Tynes at defensive end and running back, Tamir Jenkins stuffing the run and sharing carries with Tynes, the offense feels good about running the ball a bit more in 2022.
When the Raiders do throw the ball, you can bet speedster Zahmir Dawud will be the deep threat while sure-handed Jack Garbolino will be hauling in his brother’s underneath throws. Senior William Wilson wants to let everyone know they are laser-focused and not to forget about their defense as they are ready to get things started.
Wednesday’s 8 a.m. stop just off Route 28 in Middlesex was held on the grass practice field behind the home side of the stadium bleachers. Whereas the stadium field looked green from being regularly watered by the inground sprinkler system, the practice field was brown due to this summer’s lack of rain.
Nevertheless, the Blue Jays new head coach Phlip McGuane had no problem getting down and dirty while coaching the offensive line on the finer techniques of blocking their newly installed Wing-T offense.
Seniors Anthony Gonzalez and Mehki Parks are adapting well to the new offense as it has many similarities to their triple option offense which utilizes deception when running the ball. Parks hopes to get back to form after missing much of the 2021 season while Gonzalez has his sights on improving his chances to play ball at the next level.
Thursday morning‘s 7:30 practice at East Brunswick was not delayed by the steady overnight rain which we desperately needed as we have been experiencing moderate drought conditions in Central Jersey.
The Bears began pre-practice focusing on special teams while those not involved worked on individual position skill work.
East Brunswick’s returning quarterback Ben Solimini has an experienced offensive line which bodes well for a team hoping to make a return trip to the playoffs. The offense starts with the athletic signal caller who knows how distribute the ball in the triple option. The Green and White offense will need to milk the clock as its defense matures. Their preseason scrimmage schedule will be critical in their development as they open on the road September 2 at Hillsborough, the reigning 2021 South Group 5 Regional Champions.
Thursday’s p.m. stop at Monroe started around 6:15 with the Falcons practicing on their turf field behind the fieldhouse and home bleachers of Hugh Walsh Stadium. The field and track are under construction and hopefully will be ready for their second game versus East Brunswick on September 9.
With the return of senior Riley Piscitelli at quarterback and a solid nucleus of playmakers like Aidan Lane, Christian Updale and Chris Chaves, the Falcons’ multiple spread offense is a formidable weapon.
The offensive team moved up and down the field effortlessly in situational sequences using a fast-paced no-huddle system which utilizes all their weapons.
The only question needing to be answered is whether the Monroe defense can keep pace with its prolific scoring offense. Their first test will be on the road versus the ball-controlled Wing-T offense of Ridge on Friday, Sept. 2.
Friday morning’s practice at St. Joseph’s of Metuchen commenced at exactly 9 a.m. and moved at a pace very similar to a Delaware Valley or an Old Bridge’s choreographed schedule which squanders no opportunity to get better.
Every individual drill period, kicking period and offensive or defensive sessions were well-organized and up-tempo. Not a minute was wasted, and the enthusiasm by players and coaches was electric.
Two-way performer JoJo Huntley, an outstanding track performer too, was athletic and focused. Linemen Rodney Fanning and Jake Tulli moved with great athleticism and quickness for two players of their size. Juniors Jeremy DeCaro and Christian Magliacano showed great intensity and talent after a successful sophomore campaign.
The best drill of the day was the picture below where former J.P. Stevens head coach Joe Riggi explained the importance of leverage and how the low man wins the battle.
Saturday morning the Camp Caravan visited Metuchen for an 8 a.m. session which included a period in the middle of the practice called the “Bulldog.”
Rookie head coach Jordan Leitner, a player and disciple of his former coach Bob Ulmer, brought back a series of stations dedicated to conditioning the team for the heat of battle and that fourth quarter reserve energy needed to win a close game.
In less than two weeks, Metuchen will host Highland Park on Saturday, August 27 in a one o’clock contest which most certainly will test the stamina of both teams.
Expectations are high for seniors Connor Larson (WR/DE), Aidan O’Leary (WR/LB), Patrick Miller (OT/DE) and Jacob Manley (C/T), who relish the opportunity to bring back that Metuchen toughness and commitment their new head coach experienced in his playing days at his alma mater.
WEEK TWO CAMP CARAVAN SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Monday Aug. 15 at J. F. Kennedy 8 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 16 at Spotswood 9 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 16 at South Plainfield, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 17 QUAD Scrimmage at Woodbridge with Edison, Old Bridge, Jackson Memorial 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 18 at Dunellen, 8 a.m.
Thursday, Aug 18 at Carteret, 1:00 p.m.
Friday, Aug 19 at Piscataway, 8 a.m.
Friday, Aug 19 at St. Thomas Aquinas, at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug 20 Scrimmage at Union with Sayreville
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Football: Week 1 Big Central Camp Caravan 2022 Notebook
