Questions to ponder as practice begins

The countdown to the start of the 2017 scholastic football season is underway in earnest after the start of official NJSIAA-sanctioned practice on Monday. The regular season in the Shore Conference begins on Sept. 1 with three games. Southern will be at Central. Ocean will be at Monmouth and Holmdel will travel to Brearley. The other 38 teams in the Shore Conference will begin their season the weekend of Sept. 8-9. Here are some general preseason questions. 1. Could Manalapan be the best team in the Shore? There is a very good chance of that. The Braves, who were 11-0 last season before they were defeated 34-13 by Piscataway in the NJSIAA Central Group V championship game, return most of the key players on both sides of the ball. With Piscataway being reclassified to North II Group V under the NJSIAA's annual reclassification, Manalapan begins the season as the favorite in Central V. The Braves should have one of the Shore's most explosive offenses with senior quarterback Luke Corcione and senior running back Naim Mayfield leading the way. The defense, led by senior linebacker Sal Tardogno, should also be one of the Shore's best. Manalapan's toughest obstacles to an unbeaten regular season could be home games against Howell on Oct. 13 and Piscataway on Oct. 27. 2. Can Mater Dei Prep go unbeaten again? There is a reasonable chance of that, although the road could be a little tougher this time around because the nonconference schedule is beefed up. The Seraphs, under head coach Dino Mangiero, have become a powerhouse due to an influx of players from other schools. They did sustain some graduation losses, but they still do have standout quarterback George Pearson, who has made a non-binding oral commitment to Central Michigan University. Mater Dei Prep figures to have too much firepower and talent for the teams in its division - Shore Conference Class B Central - even though that division did have the two finalists in Central Group I last year in champion Asbury Park and Keyport and has solid programs in Shore Regional and Point Pleasant Beach. The Seraphs nonconference schedule is significantly tougher this season with always tough Delbarton and Lincoln, which has been good in recent seasons, being added as well as Canada Prep. 3. Can Howell become a top 10 team? Absolutely. The Rebels, who went 6-5 last season, advanced to the NJSIAA South Group V semifinal and scored 34 points in a 41-34 loss to Manalapan and 67 points in two losses to Toms River North, will have the firepower on offense, led by senior quarterback Eddie Morales and senior receiver Nasiem Brantley. The Rebels will have to improve defensively/ They allowed 231 points in their five losses last season, including 120 in the two games against Toms River North, which will not have the firepower on offense this season that it did last season. 4. Will Toms River North take a step back? One would think the Mariners can not be as good as they were last season due to the fact they sustained massive graduation losses. They had one of the most dynamic offenses in Shore Conference history last season. Toms River North scored 532 points in 12 games - the second most in Shore Conference history behind the 543 Red Bank Catholic scored in 2014. Among those who graduated were quarterback Mike Husni, who was the Asbury Park Press' Male Athlete of the Year for the 2016-17 scholastic season, game-breaking wide receivers Darrion Carrington and Bryce Watts and running back Parker Day. However, do not expect the Mariners to fall off the face of the earth. They have been good on the freshman level in recent seasons and they do have a very good all-around player in senior defensive end/linebacker Daryn Blackwell.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER AS PRACTICE BEGINS

STEVEN FALK

Ashbury Park Press | 8/7/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bank Catholic Athletics