Wildcats have lofty goals

THG/Dan Russoman

Pat Casey (25) spearheads a tenacious St. Joseph defense that will be tough to score upon in 2010.

by Dan Russoman

HAMMONTON—After failing to bring home a state title two seasons in a row, St. Joseph High School’s football team returned to the top last year, winning the State Non-Public II championship.
The Wildcats surprised some last season, but with nearly every starter from a year ago returning, the Wildcats won’t be able to sneak up on anyone in 2010.
“We have high expectations every season. This year is no different. Our goals are to win our league and to win a state title. We were very young last year, and hopefully, that experience will pay off this year,” head coach Paul Sacco said.
For almost 30 seasons, Sacco’s St. Joseph teams have used a combination of a strong running game and a stifling defense to bring home countless championships. The formula won’t change this season, as the Wildcats will feature a strong defensive unit as well as one of the most talented running attacks in the region.
Leading the ground game will be senior fullback Gordon Hill. St. Joe wasn’t sure what to expect from Hill a year ago, but he emerged as the team’s best back. Blending power and speed, Hill runs hard up the middle and is fast enough to both break long runs and catch the ball out of the backfield.
Joining Hill in the backfield is junior Kaheem Reynolds. One of the Wildcats’ fastest players, Reynolds will carry the ball often this season and should enjoy a breakout season.
Also starting will be sophomore Zach Grant, another fast runner who has been a top receiver as well in the preseason.
Adding depth in the backfield are junior Eli Pogue and sophomore Buddy Brown.
“We have some very good running backs. If they play as well as I think they can, we should win a few games this year,” Sacco said.
Guiding the offense again this season is quarterback Darryl Smith. A junior, Smith turned in a solid season a year ago, and once again adds a multi-talented threat to St. Joe’s backfield.
Smith is as good a runner as any quarterback in the Cape Atlantic League, and has also shown the ability to be a strong, accurate passer.
“Darryl’s come a long way. He’s really shown a lot of improvement. We threw him into the fire last season, and he responded well. Now he has to be a leader for us,” Sacco said.
Smith’s targets this season include tight end Pat Casey, a senior who returns to the starting lineup, as well as wide receivers Max Valles, Phillip Paulhill and Todd Bockarie.
Casey is a strong blocker who has good hands. At 6-foot-4, Valles is a big target on the outside, and could give the Wildcats their best receiver since Norman White, who now plays at Villanova University.
Paulhill and Bockarie are among the fastest players in the area, and provide the Wildcats with the option to throw deep on defenses that load the line of scrimmage to stop the run.
Up front, St. Joe returns several offensive linemen, and welcomes some new starters as well.
Michael Mazzeo returns at guard this season and brings strong skills and a veteran presence to the front line. Also returning is tackle Nick O’Brien, a strong run blocker and pass protector.
On the other side of the line are guard Josh Moore, a returning starter, and tackle Mike Adams, a transfer from Ocean City. Moore is a strong blocker, and Adams has looked solid in preseason scrimmages.
Delonce Hargrave earned the starting center job, and gives St. Joe another strong blocker up front. Corey Litton, Roy Lucas, E.J. Melton and Matt McCoy provide depth up front.
One of the trademarks of any St. Joe team is its stellar defensive play, and this season the Wildcats should once again sport one of the Cape’s top units.
Leading the way is junior defensive end/linebacker Kaiwan Lewis, a top Division I recruit. Lewis has already received scholarship offers from Rutgers and Tulane Universities, and has more than a dozen top schools interested in him.
A punishing tackler, Lewis is a relentless pass rusher who could garner All-State honors this season.
Joining Lewis are linebackers Casey and Moore. Casey has also drawn the attention of college scouts and is one of the top linebackers in the area. Moore gives the Wildcats another solid run stopper and pass defender.
On the end opposite Lewis will be Valles or Brown. Both are solid pass rushers and are equally adept at defending the run.
On the inside of the line, Mazzeo, O’Brien, Litton, Lucas and Adams will rotate in and out of the lineup, providing fresh legs to anchor the defense.
Earning starting nods in the secondary this season are safeties Hill and Grant, as well as corners Reynolds and Paulhill.
Hill covers well and provides strong run support, while Grant has the speed to chase down receivers who may break free in the secondary. Reynolds is a solid cover man, and Paulhill has the talent to be one of the top defensive players in the Cape Atlantic League this season.
Handling the punting duties this season will be Valles, while Bockarie returns as the Wildcats’ placekicker.
“We want another state championship. When you play at St. Joe, you know that is the goal every season. We won it last year, and we want to win it again. As a senior, I know I want to go out on top,” Hill said.