A Brave Face

Senior Craig Peterson quietly put up stellar numbers in 2006. Back under center, Peterson and the Braves look to make another playoff push.

By – Scott Clayton – Senior Staff Writer

     Every practice, as soon as warm-ups and stretching ends, it’s right into the guts of whatever is going to be accomplished that day. Every drill, players are expected to be at their best on the first rep. That’s the way it as at Manalapan simply because no one wants to find themselves in the position they have been in the last two years.
     In both of those campaigns, the Braves have started off the season 0-2. Fortunately, the team was able to turn things around and win five out of six to qualify for the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs in both 2005 and 2006.
     “Everything we’ve done in the off-season and in practice is about getting off to a good start,” new head coach Tom Gallahue said. “The kids are picking up on it. They’re young, but I hope they realize we have to compete again.”
     While Gallahue is taking over the head coaching reins, the Braves staff remains entirely intact as former head coach Ed Gurrieri stayed on in an assistant’s role. Also staying the same as last year is the Braves’ schedule, which means an opener against defending Constitution Division and South Jersey Group III champion Lacey and a road game the following week against Central Jersey Group IV finalist Howell.
     “If you have your quarterback, fullback, running back and a secondary guy that’s the quarterback of your defense that’s a good start,” Gallahue said. “We’re hoping by the time it gets to September 7 and the kickoff against Lacey that they’ll be ready to go and that the whole team will be ready to go.”
     In senior quarterback Craig Peterson, the Braves have a good building block on the offensive side of the ball. Peterson quietly threw for 1,565 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first year as a starter in 2006. Peterson topped the 200-yard mark against Lacey, Jackson and Middletown North.
     “Last year I came in with not a lot of experience at all, and the seniors picked me up and helped me out,” Peterson said.
     This year, that leadership role will fall on Peterson’s shoulders as a new receiving corps will look to make up for the losses of Joey D’Amadeo, Jordan Whitehead and tight end Billy Dokouslis. Junior Chris Pellicano is the only returning receiver who saw action in 2006 (six catches, 115 yards, two touchdowns). Sophomores Kevin Cruz and Tezzy Thorpe might see time opposite Pellicano. Junior Andrew Hegel, whose brother Adam was a standout in 2005, is expected to start at tight end.
     “It’s a little frustrating for (Craig) because he’s so good and the receivers are inexperienced,” Gallahue said. “But we do have Chris Pellicano coming back, and he had a couple of touchdowns last year. Those guys are on the same page.”
     “They’re doing a great job stepping in and they’re helping me out,” Peterson said.
     Manalapan also returns its leading rusher in David Presby, who hit 1,000 yards on the nose in his first year as a starter. Jimmy Gilburn, the Braves’ top defensive returner at safety, gained 405 in limited action spelling Presby. Fullback Sean Burns returns to open holes and also provide a safety valve on passing plays for Peterson.
     The offensive line is in rebuilding mode as senior tackle Tom Sozzi is the only starter back. Expected to fill the remaining spots are Anthony Frizalone, Chris DeMauro, Tim Frueh and Steve Harold.
     “We were working hard in the off-season, and we’re working hard in practice every day trying to tighten up that offensive line,” Sozzi said. “We’re getting our assignments right and getting our blocking right and it looks pretty good.”
     Defensively, the loss of Dokouslis might hurt even more as the now Lehigh University freshman terrorized quarterbacks throughout the division from his end spot. Gallahue is extremely high on sophomore Cameron English to grow into that kind of player, but to ask him to fill Dokouslis’ shoes might be asking too much at this point. The Braves should be stout up the middle with tackles Anthony Zaharakis and Jacob Morricone anchoring the line. Freuh will line up as the other end.
     In the linebacking corps, the Braves will boast Mark Zelinski, Justin Dattolo and Matt Salerno in the middle of their 4-4 alignment and Chris Essner and Bryan Tamalone on the outside. Justin Mazor and Jimmy Falcone are expected to be the starting cornerbacks for Week One with Gilburn patrolling centerfield as the lone safety.
     “I think we’re doing pretty good,” Gilburn said. “We have a big loss on the corners, but we’re doing pretty good.”
     If we really want to know how good Manalapan is doing, we’ll have to wait until after Week Two.
     “We’re already up to speed, I feel,” Presby said. “We’re going to do great this year.”

Head coach
Tom Gallahue, first season

Assistant coaches: Ed Gurrieri (Asst. head coach/Def. coordinator); Joe Tetley (Off. line); Dom Pollifrone (Linebackers); Justin Fumando (Def. line); Steve Vella (Secondary); Jimmy LaCugna (Receivers); Jay Lagomarsino, Andy Sliowski (Frosh); Shannon Tomasula (Athletic trainer).

2006 record
6-4 (3-3)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Sophomore defensive end Cameron English will not be expected to match the 12 sacks put up by last year’s Constitution Division Defensive Player of the Year Billy Dokouslis, but half that total would be nice.

X-FACTOR: How quickly can the receivers get up to speed (pun intended)? Peterson throws a great deep ball and with a yards-per-completion average of 18.4 yards, the downfield pass is a big part of Manalapan’s game.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Junior defensive tackle Jacob Morricone’s skills at plugging the middle are going to be a major factor against division rivals such as Lacey, Colts Neck, Brick and Toms River South.

PIVOTAL GAME: It is less than a week away at this point, as the Braves get to play host to defending state and division champs Lacey, where head coach Tom Gallahue used to be on the coaching staff.