Rebels hope experience turns things around

BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

JEFFGRANIT staff Head coach Cory Davies is excited about the potential of this year’s Howell HighSchool football team, which opens its season on Sept. 10 against Red Bank Regional.

Cory Davies and the Howell High School football team will be looking for last year’s youth movement to begin paying dividends in 2004.

Howell struggled through a 2-8 season in 2003, but was a much improved squad by November. There is a great deal of experience on this team on both sides of the ball with all but four graduated starters returning. That has breathed an air of optimism into the squad.

The team has a whole different look in ’04, dominated now by upperclass juniors and seniors who are anxious to turn things around.

"They are much more mature and coachable," said Davies of his 2004 Rebels. "They know what to expect.

CHRIS KELLY staff Anthony Reda is back to help lead the Rebel attack this season as they look to continue the improvement they displayed toward the end of last season

"They worked hard in the off-season and overall are more athletic," he added.

The Rebels have the luxury of possessing two quality quarterbacks in senior Joe Sandomierski and Gus Borden, a junior. Both have different strengths. Sandomierski has the stronger arm of the two while Borden is the better runner. No one has won the job just yet and Davies is looking for a way to utilize both during games.

No matter how it breaks down, the quarterback will be surrounded by quality skill players.

Tailback Ryan McGuinniss, a junior, is Howell’s go-to offensive player. He showed a great deal of promise last year and Davies likes his multipurpose talents. Davies plans on utilizing his talents in a number of ways.

"Ryan is very versatile," said Davies. "He’s a very athletic, slashing type back. We’ll be looking for him to catch the ball in the flat."

Eric Feehan, a sophomore, will spell McGuinniss.

At fullback, an important position in Howell’s option offense, Sandro Fardachi and John Bunnicont will split the time. Fardachi is more of a breakaway threat while Bunnicont is the prototypical power back. Both can block and the position will get 10-12 carries a game.

Brian Smith, now a three-year starter, brings the whole package to the table. The senior has caught more than 60 passes the last two years, including 31 last year. His greatest asset — he makes plays downfield. He has the size (6-2), is sure-handed, knows how to get open and has the speed to stretch defenses.

Joe Blood and Kyle Bukowiec, two ca­pable receivers themselves, are the nu­cleus of the air attack.

Matt Hehner (6-3) adds another target at tight end.

Howell should be able to move the ball on the ground or in the air.

"We want to balance things up this year and take what the defense gives," noted Davies. "We’re looking to move the chains."

Howell has the big-play ability in McGuinniss and Smith, and what Davies would like to see this fall is a team capable of picking up first downs and maintaining possession.

Blood will do the place kicking and punting chores for the Rebels.

Three starters return to what should be a solid offensive line. Center Tyler Crapanzano, tackle Josh Barnhard and guard Mike Caramanica bring a lot of ex­perience with them. One of the keys for Howell’s success on the line is how it func­tions as a unit.

The other starters are guard Jesse Borrell and tackle Joe Rattaccassa (who played fullback last year). Anthony Grimes and Brendan McCarthy provide the line with a lot of depth.

Davies believes the line has the poten­tial to be a very good one.

"Our line is very quick and athletic," said Davies. "We have a lot more speed than we’ve had in the past. They are very good at pass blocking and getting down­field to block linebackers for our option."

The defense starts the season as Howell’s strongest group. It has the most experience and is good enough that two starters from last year are reserves.

It all starts up for Howell with three linemen returning led by tackles Grimes and Ryan Romano and end Jesse Borrelli. Jesse Salvani, a tackle, and Caramanica, an end, provide some flexibility and will allow Howell to keep fresh legs on the field.

Hehner, who started on the defensive line in ’03, is now playing middle linebacker in Howell’s 4-3 defense. Fardachi and Sandomierski are the out­side linebackers. Steve Hering, Feehan and Bunnicont will take turns spelling the starters.

The secondary is the most experienced unit on the defense with all four starters back, led by corner backs Crapanzano and McGuinniss and safeties Smith and Anthony Reda. Frank Mormino and Anthony Bongermino will see time there.

"We have a lot of experience on defense with 10 starters returning," noted Davies.

Despite the experience, Howell still has a lot of underclassmen in the starting line-up and will be a work in progress this fall.

"We are looking to improve each week," noted Davies.

If the Rebels can get some early success things could steamroll for them because, as Davies pointed out, they should get bet­ter each week.

Howell kicks of the 2004 season at home on Sept. 10 against Red Bank Regional at 7 p.m. The Rebels have changed divisions this year and are now in the Shore Conference American Division, where they will reunite with Freehold Regional District rivals Manalapan, Freehold Township and Marlboro.