Camp Confidential: Red Bank Catholic

Camp Confidential: Red Bank Catholic Caseys Conference/Division: Shore Conference B North Group Classification: Non-Public, Group 3 Coach: Frank Edgerly, 12th season (59-48) Offense: Multiple Pro Defense: 3-5 Returning starters: Offense: 11. Defense: 5. Last year: 5-5. Injuries at quarterback haunted the Caseys throughout the campaign. Yet, RBC bounced back from a 49-14 loss to Middletown South to open the season with three straight wins against Middletown North, Ocean and Colonia. The schedule closed with three losses over the final four games, including a 48-21 setback at Pope John in the opening round of Non-Public, Group 3. Top returning players: Matt Ansell (Sr. DB/WR 6-2, 210); Zach Bair (Sr. RB/SS 5-10, 195); Kevin Bauman (So. TE/DE 6-4, 225); Tahj Berardesco (Sr. CB/WR 5-11, 175); Nick Brusca (Sr. RB.QB/LB 5-9, 200); Rich Christie (Sr. OL 6-3, 275); Steven Cmieleski (Jr. LB/FB 5-11, 210); Mike Griggs (Sr. OL/DL 6-3, 275); Jaden Key (Jr. WR/DB 6-3, 190); Steve Lubischer (Jr. QB 6-1, 190); Emmett McNamara (Sr. DE/OL 6-6, 255); Ryan O’Hara (Jr. K/P 6-1, 205); Conor Smith (Sr. OL 6-5, 270); Tommy Smith (Jr. OL/DL 6-2, 270); Gino Tartamella (Jr. LB/TE 6-2, 215); Logan Whelan (Sr. WR/QB/DB 5-8, 175). Key newcomers: Gunnison Bloodgood (Jr. RB/WR/DB 5-11, 185); Charlie Gordinier (So. TE/LB 6-5, 225); Billy Guidetti (So. RB/LB 5-9, 185); Anthony Romano (Jr. WR/DB 6-2, 180); Sean Rossback (So. WR/DB 5-9, 175); MJ Wright (Jr. WR/DB 5-9, 180). College commitments: Emmett McNamara (Virginia); Conor Smith (Harvard). Drawing college interest: Matt Ansell; Zach Bair; Kevin Bauman; Rich Christie; Charlie Gordinier; Mike Griggs; Jaden Key; Brandon Lombana. Player to watch: Steve Lubischer. Lubischer was not immune to that injury cloud that hung over the quarterback position last year. He completed three of his first four attempts for 34 yards and ran for a score after stepping in for injured starter Tommy Lang in a Week 1 loss to Middletown South before being sidelined himself in that contest. However, he was back under center for the final three games, showing limitless potential. He finished the season with 641 passing yards, six TDs through the air and two on the ground. Player to watch, Part II: Emmett McNamara. Strong in nearly every facet that comes with the job of relentless interior combat along the line of scrimmage, McNamara entertained offers from numerous schools, settling on Virginia. His work rate at defensive end reaped 40 tackles and 2.5 sacks. An absolute handful to contain through his combination of size (6-6, 255), speed and power. Player under the radar: Zack Bair. Zack Bair, you say? Didn’t he run for 1,129 yards and eight TDs last year? Doesn’t sound like a guy that qualifies for this particular category? Amid a field of highlight reel runners in the Shore, Bair is the lunch pail guy, tough and physical between the tackles but just as capable of devouring hash marks with his underrated quickness in space. With the Caseys at full strength, he, senior Nick Brusca and possibly junior Gunninson Bloodgood as well as sophomore Billy Guidetti will supply the ground work to complement an improved aerial game. Air strikes: Red Bank Catholic can deploy junior Jaden Key (14 receptions for 349 yards, 4 TDs) and senior Brandon Lombana (21 receptions for 399 yards, 4 TDs) to establish some offensive presence downfield. Both are athletic and fitted with reliable hands. Key is the Swiss Army knife of the offense. Not only does he pose breakaway speed on the jet sweep, he can also pull up and fire, which he proved with a 36-yard TD pass to Lombana against Wall last year. Matt Ansell, Logan Whelan and Tahj Berardesco and dangerous tight end Kevin Bauman can tax and overload a secondary. Sophomore TE Charlie Gordinier (6-5, 225) and sophomore slot Sean Rossback, a transfer from Ocean, along with juniors Anthony Romano and MJ Wright make this group even more robust with playmakers. Tradition intact: Over the years, one of the signatures of Red Bank Catholic has been its offensive line and this year’s group will continue that string of excellence. Seniors Rich Christie (6-3, 275), Mike Griggs (6-3, 275), Conor Smith (6-5, 270), who is heading to Harvard, Tommy Smith (6-2, 270), McNamara and Bauman (6-4, 225) at tight end bond to form the type of unit that could be downright dominating through its pounding physicality. Anticipate improvement: The Caseys surrendered an uncharacteristic 25.1 points per game in ’16 while scoring 25.3, not exactly a margin for error. The former number should see a notable decline. Ansell (85 tackles, 3 INTs), Berardesco (26 tackles, 1 INT), Key and Lombana are all veterans in the secondary. Junior Steven Cmieleski (43 tackles, 5 TFL) bloomed at linebacker along with classmate Gino Tartamella (57 tackles) and McNamara and Tommy Smith (51 tackles, 4 TFL) comprise two thirds of the defensive front. Kicking game: That falls on the foot of junior Ryan O’Hara. As a sophomore, he converted 28 of 30 PATs and booted a 26-yard field goal. Could be a lot more active this fall. Schedule Sept. 8 at Middletown South, 7 Sept. 15 Middletown North, 7 Sept. 23 at Ocean, 1 Sept. 29 at Colonia, 7 Oct. 6 Wall, 7 Oct. 13 Long Branch, 7 Oct. 20 St. John Vianney, 7 Oct. 27 at Red Bank Nov. 4 at Manasquan

CAMP CONFIDENTIAL: RED BANK CATHOLIC

GREGG LERNER

MSG varsity | 8/31/2017