Posted Tuesday, September 01, 2009 by All Shore Media

Displayed prominently on the wall in the Middletown South locker room, it’s a firm reminder to the Eagles that they have to execute to the very last second if they want to add their names to the long list of championship teams at one of New Jersey’s top programs.

It’s a photo of a Middletown South ballcarrier being stopped close to the goal line in the fourth quarter of last year’s NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III final, and below the picture are the words “Six Yards.’’ That’s how close Middletown South came to potentially tying the game against Freehold last year but could not punch it in, resulting in the Colonials’ 21-14 victory that denied the Eagles a championship of any kind for the second straight season.

“I think that picture is to make us realize to finish what we’ve started more than a specific thing with Freehold,’’ said senior tight end/linebacker Sean Campbell. “Our coaches have preached that we were this close to a state championship, and we let it go with stupid mistakes, so we’ve got to finish things out strong.’’

“They had an opportunity from six yards to tie a state championship game, and who knows from there, but for a lot of these guys I think the real motivation is that we have guys who are going to be three-year starters with no championships,’’ said Eagles head coach Steve Antonucci. “That is the motivation right now - to get a championship.’’

They certainly have the ammunition to do it this season with their entire offensive line back and nearly their whole defense returning from a team that went 10-2 last year, losing to Freehold in the Federal Division and the state final.

“All through the summer, that’s all we’ve been saying, ‘Six yards short and we would’ve had a ring,’’ said senior right tackle Steve Coluccio. “We all want a ring really bad.’’

Coluccio leads an offensive line that returns intact, with 285-pound senior Robbie Edmonston at center, senior Dylan Zimmerman at left tackle, senior Travis Sodon at right guard, and senior Tyler Diodato at left guard. Campbell is also a returner at tight end, where 6-foot-3 senior Scott Simonson could also see time. There is also depth on the offensive line, as juniors Rick Lovato and Alex Lehr and senior Bobby Jacobs are all capable back-ups.
“I really like Timmy McArdle,’’ Antonucci said. “I think he’s going to be a really good player. He’s very shifty, not real big, but he’s athletic, has some speed and has good hands.’’

“Martino was more power, running people over, but our backs now have more speed as opposed to power,’’ Coluccio said.

Junior Kyle Bunge, the younger brother of All Shore Media first-teamer and former star Chris Bunge, should also see some carries at fullback along with bruising senior Nick Bricker. In addition to Suarez, senior Kevin O’Reilly will be at the other wingback spot, with senior Dave Elkhatib, a returning starter on defense, also getting some time at wingback.

“We don’t have that one banging-type fullback like Martino, but I think we’re going to have some guys who are athletic,’’ Antonucci said.

Simonson will be one of the wideouts along with junior Taylor Rogers and seniors Greg Tognan and Brian Benedetto. The kicker is returning starter Dan Kahn, and Meeker will handle the punting.

While the new skill players integrate with the veteran offensive line, the defense should be on the same page from the outset as seven starters return on a unit that has been the backbone of Middletown South’s success over the years. Bricker is one of the top returning defensive ends in the Shore, and senior newcomer Mitch Yuro will be at the other defensive end spot in the Eagles’ attacking 4-4 scheme. Junior Tom Masi and senior Joe Roibal are both returning starters at defensive tackle.

“We’re going to put a lot of pressure on them to keep us in it until the offense meshes as the season goes along,’’ Antonucci said about the defense.

Campbell is a three-year starter who should be one of the Shore Conference’s top linebackers. He returns at inside linebacker along with junior Matt Saulnier, who is being pushed hard by senior Kyle Tsarksis, who played as a freshman and then did not come back out for the team until this year. Senior Connor Gilbert is a returning starter at outside linebacker, and the other spot is between O’Reilly and sophomore Joe Simone.

Elkhatib is a returning starter at cornerback and Benedetto returns at safety, leaving the other cornerback spot to Suarez and Rogers.

While most schools would gladly take a 10-2 season and a trip to the state finals, the standards are absurdly high at Middletown South. The players wouldn’t have it any other way, while the coaches try to remind the players that football shouldn’t be a job.

“The coaches preach it to us all the time that we’re held to a higher standard than other teams, but I think that motivates us even more,’’ Bricker said. “We know we have to get after it because people are looking after us, waiting for us to fail.’’

“I struggle with it because I think sometimes it takes the fun out of the game because the expectations are so high,’’ Antonucci said. “I’ve even said that to this group that maybe we’ve put so much pressure on them to win that they’re not having fun sometimes playing the game. Hopefully we can get past that.’’

The Eagles are also in a little different position because usually everyone is chasing them, but now Freehold is the team looking to defend a pair of championships.

“It’s definitely a change for us,’’ Antonucci said. “Rightfully so, they (Freehold) have earned it, so now we’ve got to go out and get it back.’’

This group of seniors has yet to win a title during its time on varsity, and now is their final shot to bring home some hardware. There’s also no time to get caught up thinking about Freehold with perennial state playoff teams Lacey and New Brunswick on the schedule in the first two weeks.

“Our coaches always talk about, ‘What is your legacy going to be?’’’ Campbell said. “My three older brothers, they all won something here. Ryan and Pat won state titles, and Dan won a Federal Division title, and they always remind me, ‘How are you going to be the one brother not to win one?’ But I feel confident this year that if we play up to our potential we can accomplish our goals.’’

Head coach: Steve Antonucci, 11th season

Career record: 109-18

Coaching Staff: Al Bigos (asst. head coach/def. coordinator); Joe Critelli (def. backs); Steve Roberts (spec. teams/linebackers/running backs); Joe O’Connor (off. coord.); Matt Walsh (wide receivers); Andy Nicholes (spec. teams/video coord.); Tom Grier (wide receivers); Joe Mirault (off. asst.); Rob Wells (def. asst.); George Barnett (kickers); Rod Murcie, Matt Walsh (freshmen); Stacy White (athletic trainer).

2008 Record: 10-2 (5-1)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Sean Campbell, Sr., LB. Campbell takes over as the leader of the defense from Matt Martino, who was the Federal Division Defensive Player of the Year at linebacker last season. A three-year starter, Campbell certainly has what it takes to be the next All Shore Media first-team linebacker out of Middletown South.

X-FACTOR: The inexperience at the skill positions. Other than junior wingback Andrew Suarez, the skill position players are all new and will have to prove they can get it done in big spots this season.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Tim McArdle, So., RB. The Eagles think McArdle can add a little more speed and athleticism to the running game as he takes over for departed star Matt Martino in the star-making fullback role in the flexbone offense.

PIVOTAL GAME: Freehold at home on Oct. 2. The Colonials have beaten the Eagles three straight times and have developed a nice rivalry. The latest installment will once again have major Federal Division title implications and as well as Central Jersey Group III seeding implications.