SPORTS

Johnson turns his attention to gridiron at Dunellen

Greg Tufaro
@GregTufaro

As a three-sport star, senior quarterback David Johnson epitomizes the type of student-athlete Dunellen athletics director and head football coach Dave DeNapoli wants at his high school.

Even though Johnson's offseason commitment to basketball and baseball on some rare occasions conflicted with his ability to attend the gridiron program's summer workouts, DeNapoli said he understands the importance of multi-sport players at a Group I school.

"I try to make it less stressful for these guys that are two- and three-sport kids and make it as easy for them and not put them in a dilemma where they have to choose (one sport)," said DeNapoli, whose Destroyers limit summer workouts to just a couple of days a week so players can pursue other endeavors.

"It's worked well for us. The Johnson kid is a tremendous athlete, very talented in basketball and baseball. He (spends) the summer traveling around on weekends and he's competing, so I know what he's going to bring to the table for football."

Despite being one of the smallest football-playing schools in the state, Dunellen has enjoyed tremendous success, winning the Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division championship five of the past six years.

Rather than restrict his charges to specializing in one sport, DeNapoli wants to share the wealth with the school's other athletic programs, whose teams might otherwise struggle for numbers as the football squad apparently is this season.

"He supports all of us," Johnson said of DeNapoli. "He's always there for you, always on your side. He's one of the most understanding people. He's so easy to work with. He understands not every team has all the numbers that we would like, that (coaches) are always trying to get guys to try out. He doesn't focus on just football. He goes above and beyond, especially as the AD, he understands how critical it is to have the numbers. He wants people to expand themselves and get into more than just one sport, to have experiences and memories with their teammates and friends."

Dunellen has enough talent to compete again for the division title, but can ill afford any injuries, especially to its offensive line.

The Destroyers, whose intricate single and double wing offense amassed 2,715 yards on the ground last season, return almost their entire backfield.

Wingbacks Nassan Anderson (667 yards) and Rob Young (648 yards) complement Johnson (559 yards), while Paul Appleton, another gifted athlete whose three uncles were Dunellen football stars, moves from tight end to succeed the graduated Tim Francisco (536 yards) at fullback.

"I expect big things out of us," said Johnson, noting Dunellen's offense will only be as good as its play in the trenches. "It starts with our line. Without them we are nothing."

Johnson said he sometimes wonders how good he might be in one sport if he ever chose to specialize, but that he could "not picture myself not playing three."

"It's been tough to try and choose one over the other if there is a conflict, but I could never take one away and just stop," he said. "I love to compete, especially in this town. It's something special when you are playing a game in front of all these people.

"All the friends I've made (playing three sports) and all the experiences, I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Destroyers

Coach: Dave DeNapoli, eighteenth season (92-72-1)

Assistants: Jeff Nolan; Howie Horowitz; Chris Osborn

Stadium: Columbia Park (grass)

Colors: Red and white

Classification: North 2 Group I

Offensive formation: Double wing

Defensive formation: Split 4

Last year (6-4 overall, 4-2 GMC Blue): Metuchen 34-18 (W), Point Pleasant Beach 15-6 (L), Mater Dei 49-35 (L), Keansburg 45-16 (W), South River 22-18 (L), Highland Park 44-14 (W), Spotswood 29-19 (L), Cardinal McCarrick (forfeit); Belvidere 39-0 (W), Middlesex 22-13 (W)

2014 schedule: Sept. 13 at Spotswood, 1 p.m.; Sept. 19 Mater Dei, 7 p.m.; Sept. 27 at Metuchen, 1 p.m.; Oct. 3 Shore, 7 p.m.; Oct 10 Point Pleasant Beach, 7 p.m.; Oct. 17 at Highland Park, 7 p.m.; Oct 24 at Asbury Park, 7 p.m.; Oct. 31 South River, 7 p.m.; Nov. 27 Middlesex, 10:30 a.m.

RETURNING LEADERS

Rushing

Att

Yards

AVG

TD

Nassan Anderson

88

667

7.8

11

Rob Young

93

648

7.0

9

Dave Johnson

61

559

9.2

7

THE SKINNY

Returning starters: Ryan McCann (Sr., 5-6, 165, RB-DE); David Johnson (Sr., 6-1, 190, QB-CB); Nassan Anderson (Sr., 5-11, 180, RB-S); Danny Russomanno (Sr., 6-2, 195, TE-DE); Paul Appleton (Sr., 5-9, 200, RB-LB); Robert Young (Sr., 5-9, 215, RB-DT); Jamie Desmelyk (Sr., 5-10, 235, T-DT); Antonio Brito (Sr., 5-9, 200, OL-DL); Conrad Paddyfoot (Sr., 5-8, 250, G)

Key losses: Kieante Lewis (RB-CB), Nick Petrozelli (RB-CB), Tim Francisco (RB-LB), Raekwon Fletcher (OL-DL); George Walters (C); Jay Fitzgerald (OL-DL)

Top newcomers: Jorge Galvez (Sr., T-DT); Adrian Brown (Jr., 6-1, 250, OL-DL); Preston Gibney (Jr., 5-7, 195); Uzoma Ojinnaka (Sr., 5-10, 175, TE-DE)