Football notebook: Spotswood to honor Szatkowski

The Spotswood High School football team will pay tribute to former gridiron star Jeff Szatkowski, who died along with his girlfriend, Nicole Surace, last December in a tragic one-car crash.

“We are going to honor him because it’s the right thing to do,” Spotswood coach Andy Cammarano said.

Szatkowski was a senior and Surace, a former Spotswood cheerleading captain, was a Monmouth University freshman at the time of the accident, which occured on Dutch Road, near Fresh Ponds Road, in East Brunswick.

The Chargers will wear lime green helmet stickers, reflecting Szatkowski’s favorite color, with his jersey No. 7 in black on the center.

“It was kind of emblematic of his personality, which was energetic and lively and kind of wild and fun,” Cammarano said of Szatkowski’s favorite color.

“We’ve got to go out and play the game with him in mind and play the way he played. Have fun. You don’t have to let what happened bring you down. It should push you forward.

“I’m no psychologist, but that’s the way I’m going to approach it.”

Pigskin Preview

Our special 32-page high school football preview section will appear in The Home News Tribune and at MyCentralJersey.com on Thursday.

Look for our preseason GMC Top 10 rankings, with a detailed synopsis of those teams, in the Home News Tribune’s main sports section and at MyCentralJersey.com on Thursday, as well.

Miller time (again!)

Don’t expect Metuchen’s Devin Miller to live in the shadows of his brothers for long.

The younger sibling of current Rutgers offensive lineman Dorian and former Oklahoma star receiver Dejuan will play tight end and defensive end for the Bulldogs.

According to Scout.com, “With two older brothers sent to BCS schools, Miller projects to get significant interest of his own heading into his sophomore season.”

Both of Miller’s brothers starred at Metuchen. Devin, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 220 pounds, appears to be a hybrid of both, possessiong the great hands of Dejuan and the strength of Dorian. Metuchen coach Bob Ulmer said he beleives Devin could play either as a tight end or a linemen at the next level.

“Wherever they decide to go, he can go either way,” Ulmer said. “He’s a big strong kid and has a great motor. He’s still very young. We’re hoping for some great things from him offensively and defnsively.”

Road Warriors

Defending Greater Middlesex Conference White Division champion St. Joseph, which hopes to soon begin installing artificial turf on its home field, will play all its games on the road this season.

“I just think it adds to the toughness of, not only our schedule, but what the boys are going to have to go through this year,” St. Joseph Atheltics Director Jerry Smith said. “Usually, when you are the defending champion of your division, you have to watch your back anyway. On top of being the defending champion and being St. Joseph High School and playing on the road, I think these boys are in for a monumental task as far as how competitive their season is going to be, and I hope they are prepared for it.”

St. Joseph could recevie permission to break ground on its new facility this week, depending on the outcome of a Metuchen planning and zoning board meeting, scheduled for Thursday night at the borough’s municipal complex.

North Brunswick, South Brunswick, Colonia and J.F. Kennedy are the latest to switch to artificial surface, making the transition this season. North Brunswick will have a field dedication ceremony at Steve Libro Field prior to Friday’s home opener.

Only eight of the GMC’s 24 football-playing schools, four each in the White Division and Blue Division, still play on natural grass.

Game film

Dunellen’s Dave DeNapoli and South Plainfield’s Gary Cassio recently took their entire teams to watch “When the Game Stands Tall,” a sports drama film about the 151-game winning streak of the De La Salle High School football program.

The movie is an adaptation of a book by the same name, which DeNapoli said is one of the best he’s ever read.

Transfer wire

Edison’s loss is South River’s gain.

Khaliyl Everett, a promising middle linebacker whose offensive versatility allows him to be utilized at many skill positions, has moved to South River.

His arrival before the start of the school year couldn’t come at a better time for the Rams, who lost star running back and safety Doug Ryan to a season-ending broken leg in a tri-scrimmage last month.

Edison coach Matt Fulham spoke highly of Everett, who would have started for the Eagles at linebacker.

All-American Barnwell

Following a phenomenal rookie campaign, in which he set Piscataway’s freshman rushing record with 1,221 yards, Elijah Barnwell was named to MaxPrep.com’s Preseason Sophomore All-American team.

Barnwell, who will play linebacker, was selected for his defensive prowess. He is the younger brother of current Rutgers cornerback Nadir, who also starred for the Chiefs.

Rookie runner

East Brunswick will likely have to wait at least one week, perhaps two, to get a look in game action at talented freshman running back Zahir Jackson.

He has been sidelined with an upper body injury but is expected to return soon. Coach Bob Molarz said Jackson has instinct, cutback ability, strength, power and breakaway speed.

Eagles have landed

After suspending its program midway through last season due to declining numbers, Cardinal McCarrick, which was down to 16 healthy players at one point, is competing this fall as an independent. The diminutive parochail school, which is the only from Middlesex County to have already played a game, opened the year with a 41-6 loss at Newark Academy on Friday.

The plan is for the Eagles to spend this season and next competing against like-size foes and to return to the Blue Division for the next two-year cycle, which begins in 2016.

PRESEASON ALL-GMC OFFENSE

PRESEASON ALL-GMC DEFENSE