Middletown South Ready For Another Strong Season

By Sean Simmons

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP - The Middletown South football team finished last season with a very impressive 10-2 record and with a strong nucleus of players coming back this season, the sky is the limit for head coach Steve Antonucci and his talented Eagles squad.

The key returning players for the Eagles this season are running back/ defensive back Andrew Suarez, offensive linemen Dylan Zimmerman, Travis Sodon and Steve Coluccio, wide receiver Taylor Rogers, running back/ linebacker Kevin O'Reilly, free safety/wideout Brian Benedetto, defensive back/ running back Dave Elkhatib, linebacker/tight end Sean Campbell, linebackers Connor Gilbert and Matt Saulnier, defensive end Nick Bricker, defensive tackle Tom Masi and center Rob Edmonston.

The best of the newcomers are quarterback Scott Meeker, running back Kyle Bunge, running back/ linebacker Tim McArdle, linebacker Joe Simone, wide receiver Scott Simonson and defensive end Mitchell Yuro.

Highlights for the Eagles last season included a 10-game winning streak and five shutouts against Jackson Liberty, Wall, Neptune, Lakewood and Lacey. The Eagles also defeated cross-town rival Middletown North, 38-21 on Thanksgiving Day. South's only losses of the season were against Freehold Boro, 22-7 in their season opener and Freehold Boro again by the score of 21-14 in the Central Jersey Group III final at Rutgers University.

The Eagles will run a spread offense and their key losses from last season are running back Chris Bunge, fullback Matt Martino, quarterback Ryan Mullan and wide receiver Mike Farrell. The Eagles defense will be a Multiple Even Front and their key loss is Martino at linebacker, who was a tackling machine.

They will open up their season at home on Sept. 11 against the Lacey Lions and will be looking to shut down linebacker/ defensive end Mike Stuppiello, who is one of the top returning pass rushers in the Shore Conference. Prior to the game there will be a 9-11 flagpole dedication ceremony.

"We have a good group coming back on the offensive line and we need to stay away from the penalties and play good defense," Antonucci said.