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.

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