Cougars football looking at state playoff run

Just because Ashton Jackson has graduated doesn't mean the action is gone from the Colts Neck football team.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Above: Colts Neck High School's Brendan Cotter takes the ball to the outside during a preseason scrimmage against Howell. Below: Colts Neck's Sean Smith maintains ball control during the scrimmage. The Cougars take on Manalapan in the season opener. Head coach Mike McArthur has a number of quality players returning as the Cougars, 6-4 last fall, look to get back to the state playoffs. The Cougars gave last year's Central Jersey Group IV champion Howell its stiffest test of the postseason, falling 27-21 to the Rebels.

McArthur's team will be the same prepared and competitive team that the Cougars always have been. Colts Neck may not have the game-breaker it had in Jackson, but that doesn't mean the team will be challenged offensively. Junior quarterback Chris Chiarelli is now in complete charge of the offense. Last year, as a sophomore, he displayed a penchant for making big plays with his arm.

"Chris has progressed," said McArthur. "He has a great arm and good touch. He's stronger and faster, and he's a competitor. He makes things happen."

Chiarelli, who has a strong arm, has the luxury of throwing to a very talented trio of receivers. Sean Smith, Gerard Mc- Cloud and Chris Leroy are all 6-2 or 6-3 and get into the air. They can beat defenses vertically or horizontally.

Colts Neck can run the ball, too. In Ryan Moore and Brendan Cotter, the Cougars have an ideal running back combination.

"Ryan is a hard-nosed kid who runs downhill, and Brendan is a slashing back," said McArthur.

Between them, they give the Cougar offense balance. Moore can move the chains and keep the clock running while Cotter can make big plays.

Colts Neck has an added weapon in kicker Eric Spillane. He was 7-10 in field goals, including five that were 40-plus yards. That's a real plus.

Like any offense, it goes as far as the offensive line takes it. The Cougars look to Chris Echols (tackle) and Kyle Ingram (center) to anchor a solid unit.

Kevin Gaul, Kevin Weissman and Mark Kalusz are the linemen who will rotate at guard while Joe Lepore and Mark Kapnick are vying for the other starting tackle position.

McArthur likes the way the line is playing as a team and said its strength is the ability to move defenses off the ball. Running the ball remains a priority for the Cougars, and they should be able to do it behind this group.

The Cougars have a trio of tight ends — Josh Weber, Chris Leroy and Jimmy Grech. All three can block and catch the football.

Defensively, the Cougars are loaded at linebacker with Richie Foligno, Cody Bello, Smith and Gaul all returning. They fly to the football and make plays. They are bolstered by the addition of Tom Reilly and Joe Ferraro to the rotation.

On the defensive line, Weber, Grech, Weissman and Chris Bohm make up the unit that will line up on the outside, with John Schiermeyer, Echols, Vin Visconi and Ingram on the inside. The Cougars have plenty of depth here, which McArthur hopes will keep the team fresher in fourth quarters as the season progresses. He expects his defensive line to be able to put pressure on quarterbacks and collect a number of sacks.

Leroy and Moore are the safeties with Artie Teeter, Billy Spataro, Kevin Gilyani and Brandon Dinkin completing the secondary. McArthur has plenty of flexibility here.

The Cougars still play in the Shore Conference Constitution Division. Lacey Township, Brick Township and Toms River East and South are the contenders.

Colts Neck begins what it plans to be another state playoff appearance Friday night at Manalapan (7 p.m.).

The Cougars' home opener is a division game against Brick Township on Sept. 20. Kickoff is 1 p.m.