Raritan team eager to face challenging schedule
By doug mckenzie
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY Raritan sophomore Andrew Mandeville is back to the lead the Rockets against one of the Shore Conference’s toughest schedules this fall.

Raritan High School football coach Derek Sininsky admits that his team may be a year away from being a state championship-caliber team.

But that hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm about this season’s possibilities.

"We’re really looking forward to playing," he said. "We’re tired of just talking about getting to the state tournament. We’re ready to do more than that."

After a successful 5-5 season last fall, when the Rockets advanced to the state tournament before bowing out in the first round to eventual Central Jersey Group II runner-up New Brunswick, the Rockets have plenty of reasons to feel optimistic as they approach their Sept. 12 opener against Point Boro. Although they are young at spots, particularly on the offensive line, they have a number of returning starters on both sides of the ball, starting with the quarterback spot, where the highly regarded Andrew Mandeville returns for his sophomore campaign.

Raritan’s Mike Stoeffers runs with the ball during a scrimmage with Rumson-Fair Haven on Aug. 23.

Mandeville entered his freshman season facing enormous expectations, as the son of Kenny Mandeville, a star tailback at Matawan who went on to play at Syracuse. The younger Mandeville had made a name for himself as a Pop Warner player, leaving Raritan fans to anticipate his arrival in high school. And he did not disappoint, enjoying what his coach called an "outstanding freshman year."

"Going right from Pop Warner to varsity football, he was somewhat limited with what we wanted him to do, in terms of staying in the pocket, scrambling and running the option," Sininsky said. "This year we’re going to look for him to do a little more. We didn’t want him to get hit too much last year, but this year he’ll be running a lot of option, and will be staying in the pocket a little longer.

"He’s really matured, both physically and mentally, and we feel like he’s going to be able to run with the ball effectively this year," he noted.

But the coach added that the coaching staff is still grooming the talented sophomore, with confidence that he will become the type of standout player the community has envisioned.

"He’s definitely matured, but he still has a lot to learn," Sininsky said. "He’s only 14 years old, which is something we coaches forget sometimes. But he seems like he’s ready to step up and be that leader that takes control of the offense."

Much of Mandeville’s success will rely on the play of his young offensive line, where only one starter returns from last year. Left tackle Rob Steiner, a senior, is back, and will look to help groom a quartet of newcomers to the line, which includes junior Tommy Mahon at left guard, junior Joe Fabian at center, senior Nick Green at right guard, and junior Matt Dempsey at right tackle.

"The O line is probably our weakest area because of its overall inexperience, but we’re hoping they’ll progress as the season goes along," Sininsky said.

Sophomore Rick Jaeger is also new at the tight end position.

The Rocket backfield is also new, starting with sophomore tailback Matt Fitzpatrick.

"He’s a big kid, about 5-11, 180 pounds," Sininsky said. "He’s a north/south, downhill type of guy who can take a hit and keep going, and he’s got natural instincts for the game. He’s run very well for us so far, but he’s still got some things to learn, too."

Sininsky is hoping that one of his squad’s deepest positions will help the Rockets overcome its overall inexperience on offense, as they will feature a trio of wide receivers with game-breaking abilities in juniors Shane Meyer, Jeff Papcun and A.J. Hill.

"These guys are like clones of each other," Sininsky said. "They’re all about 6-3, 165 to 175 pounds, and are great athletes with good jumping ability. We’re hoping to get some mismatches with them, and take advantage of them."

While the youth of the offense is a concern, the Rockets face no such problem on the other side of the ball.

"We have basically our whole defense back," Sininsky said. "We’re hoping that our D will really keep us in games this year."

At defensive end, the Rockets have a duo that their coach calls "one of the top pairs in the Shore" in seniors Greg Fitzpatrick and Mike Niedbala.

"They’re both big guys who are great athletes," he said.

Senior Ed Skowronski is back at defensive end, as is junior Matt Sheldon.

Junior Anthony DePompa is back at his middle linebacker position, while juniors Chris Carrol and Mike Plagianakos fill the other linebacker spots.

Senior Chris Luciano is back at his cornerback position, while junior Mike Stoeffers will line up across the field at the other corner spot.

Junior James Bunk is back at one of the safety spots, where he is joined by senior Mike Nunes.

The Rocket defense will have its work cut out for it this season, as the schedule includes a number of teams that are expected to be among the tops in the Shore Conference.

"Our conference is the best in the Shore, with Manasquan, Wall and Matawan," Sininsky said. "All three of those teams will be among the top five teams around."

One thing the Rockets have in their favor is the fact that they face all three of those powers at home this year.

"We play better at home under the lights, so we think that gives us an advantage," Sininsky said.

But the Rockets’ schedule doesn’t get any easier from there, as they will also have to face an improved St. John Vianney team, a pair of up-and-coming teams in Point Boro and Red Bank Catholic, and two difficult out-of-conference games against Middletown South and Long Branch.

"Coach [John] Amabile will obviously have those guys better at Vianney, and both Middletown South and Long Branch have just about everybody back," the coach said. "There are no breaks in our schedule."

But despite the challenging schedule, optimism remains high among the Rocket faithful.

"We’re hoping to play for a conference championship against Matawan on Thanks­giving Day," Sininsky said.