Cougars better prepared for 2010 grid campaign

Greg LaCava and the Colts Neck High School Cougars are no longer playing catch-up. At this time last year LaCava and the Cougars were getting familiar with each other after LaCava had recently been named the football program’s new head coach.

The football teams from Colts Neck and Marlboro high schools tangled in a football scrimmage on Sept. 2 in Marlboro as they continued their preparations for this week’s season opening games. The Cougars are trying to bounce back from a 3-7 campaign in 2009. More photos at gmnews.com. JEFF GRANIT staff That is not the case as the Cougars look ahead to the 2010 season.

“I’ve had a full year of contact with the players in the weight room” said LaCava. “They have spent the whole summer together. It puts us ahead of the game compared to last year.”

LaCava noted that last year without weight room supervision, the Cougars’ biggest offensive lineman weighed 210 pounds. This year he’s 260 pounds, the result of the players being in the weight room every day.

With a full year to digest LaCava’s coaching style, the Cougars know what to expect and LaCava is much more familiar with the skills of the players he has on his squad.

“They are buying into the program,” he said. “Our kids understand our expectations and they are meeting them.”

The 2009 season went downhill fast for the Cougars as veteran starting quarterback Chris Chiarelli played only five quarters before suffering a season-ending injury.

The upside of Colts Neck’s 3-7 season was that a lot of sophomores got game experience.

“We have only 12 seniors,” said LaCava. “We’re still young, but the experience they (the underclassmen) gained last year is invaluable.”

Offensively, the Cougars are approaching the 2010 season differently because they do not a have a veteran quarterback to build around.

“We’ll be more multiple this year,” said LaCava. “Last year we played to our strength which was our quarterback and his season ended in the fifth quarter (second game). We had to dramatically change our philosophy. We are looking to be more balanced.”

LaCava likes the fact that his team has had competition for starting positions everywhere, including quarterback. Senior Nick Maldari and junior Dylan Cottrell are vying for the starting assignment. Both players started games in 2009.

Through the team’s scrimmages and practices it has been a dead heat between Maldari and Cottrell for the starting spot. Because the two are so close in ability, La- Cava said he is looking for which one can display the intangibles. If the QB competition remains too close to call, the Cougars’ coach said he would not rule out using both signal callers in a game.

“We want our quarterback to manage the game, be efficient, not turn the ball over and score in the red zone,” said LaCava.

The Cougars’ backfield will have Pat Murtha at fullback and Vic Scalici at tailback. They will share the ball-carrying duties.

John Andl, a sure-handed possession receiver, and sophomore Tim Vangelas, who makes plays, lead the receiving corps that also includes Kevin Baker and Corrado Cina. Mike Maguire and Ryan Oros are the tight ends.

For the Cougars to make plays and move the chains, the offensive line has to win the battles up front.

“We need a big year from our line,” said LaCava.

The Cougars have three players returning to the offensive line in seniors Mark Kapnick, Matt Kemp and Stefan Gaszynski. Andrew Margiotta, Dave Nahum and John Fierro complete an offensive line that is bigger and stronger than a year ago.

“They are working hard and getting better,” said LaCava.

The Cougars graduated a big weapon in kicker Eric Spillane, who is now at Monmouth University. Murtha, Jared Kleinberg and Reiner Smit are vying to replace Spillane.

Inside linebacker Tyler VanWagoner is the heart and soul of the defense. He makes plays all over the field and provides veteran leadership as a senior.

Mike Wagner, a junior, gives the defensive line energy, Tackle Mynor Rodriguez and Kapnick at defensive end strengthen the line.

Adam Schatzmann lines up alongside VanWagoner at inside linebacker. Andl and Scalici lead the secondary.

The goal of the Cougars’ defense is to “get off the field,” said LaCava. The Cougars need to improve on their ability to hold opponents from converting third downs into first downs and get the ball back to the offense, the coach said.

The Cougars are moving to the Shore Conference B North Division this fall and will face some new rivals.

Colts Neck will kick off the 2010 season at home at 1 p.m. Sept. 11 against one of their new division rivals, Long Branch, and the Green Wave’s heavily recruited Miles Shuler-Foster.

The Cougars’ new Thanksgiving foe is Howell. The teams will play in Howell on Nov. 24 at 6 p.m.