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SPORTS

John F. Kennedy looking to fill huge void left by Roberts

Mike Becker
@realmikebecker

Last season Anthony Roberts was a workhorse for the John F. Kennedy football team, taking a Greater Middlesex Conference-high 238 rushing attempts for 1,512 yards and 20 touchdowns as the Mustangs won their first playoff game in 20 years.

Second-year coach Andrew Maurizio and his staff this season have the ever-so-large void in their offense to fill.

They're hoping senior wide receiver Terrence Young, who made 22 receptions and caught two touchdowns last season, and his playmaking abilities on the outside can fill some of that punch on the offensive side of the football and also be a weapon for the defensive unit.

"Terrence Young is so dynamic," Maurizio said. "When you give him the ball – he can do so many things. Like he can jump all over you, he can run around you, he can make you look silly, but with just a little move. Defensively he'll come up and he really loves to hit. If he wants to, he'll go for the ball and snatch it out of the air. He is just a very dynamic football player, he's very aggressive, and he just wants to play the game, he really does. He's just a very good football player."

Roberts played all over the defense last year, and similarly the athletic Young will do so as well as Maurizio says he's capable of lining up outside at cornerback or playing at safety as well.

"Depending on who we play, if they have a few good receivers we'll put him out at cornerback and we'll say 'ok Terrence, that's your man,' " Maurizio said. "If we're playing a running football team, we'll say, 'Terrence, ok you're going to be in the box and you're going to come up and now you're going to lay the wood.' He's a player that can really do a lot for us defensively and offensively."

Young will look to increase his rapport in his second year with his junior quarterback Andrew Roberts, the younger brother of Anthony.

The Mustangs are also in their second year running a pro-style offense after making the change from the triple-option last season under Maurizio, who says they'll also add some spread elements to their attack this season.

Young forms a solid 1-2 wide receiver punch with fellow senior wide out Stepp Oziegbe as it's a matchup J.F. Kennedy will hope to exploit.

"Us two together on one side, it's kind of hard to guard," Young said. "You have to put the safety over the top of both of us."

The void of Anthony Roberts out of the backfield is slated to be filled by senior Ari King, who broke his hand in the third game of the season and missed the majority of the remaining games.

King's a player Maurizio says he has a lot of confidence in as the Mustangs also drew a favorable home schedule this season – they'll play six of their nine games at home, including against 2013 playoff teams St. Joseph, Carteret, and South Plainfield.

Staff writer Mike Becker: mbecker@mycentraljersey.com

Mustangs

Coach: Andrew Maurizio, second season (5-6).

Assistants: Joe Riggi (defensive coordinator, running backs); Bobby Herre (offensive coordinator, quarterbacks); Jay Parry (offensive line, defensive line); Alex Iachetta (linebackers, half backs); Frank Tedesco (freshmen); Scott Messler (freshmen).

Stadium: Louis M. Bartha Field (turf).

Colors: Green and white.

Classification: North 2 Group IV.

Offensive formation: Pro/Spread.

Defensive formation: 4-3.

Last year (5-6 overall, 4-4 GMC White): Colonia 35-7 (L), Bishop Ahr 20-14 OT (W), St. Joseph 40-18 (L), Ocean Twp. 42-7 (L), New Brunswick 60-13 (W), Perth Amboy 44-6 (W), Woodbridge 38-0 (W), South Plainfield 23-9 (L), Carteret 19-10 (L), Irvington 14-12 (W), Phillipsburg 42-14 (L).

2014 schedule: Sept. 12 New Brunswick, 7 p.m.; Sept. 19 at Colonia, 7 p.m.; Sept. 26 South Plainfield, 7 p.m.; Oct. 3 St. Joseph, 7 p.m.; Oct. 10 at Bishop Ahr, 7 p.m.; Oct. 17 Monmouth, 7 p.m.; Oct. 24 at Perth Amboy, 7 p.m.; Oct. 31 Carteret, 7 p.m.; Nov. 7 Woodbridge, 7 p.m.

RETURNING LEADERS

Passing

Comp

Att

TD/INT

Yards

Andrew Roberts

50

87

5/4

696

Rushing

Att

Yards

AVG

TD

Andrew Roberts

30

166

5.5

0

Receiving

Rec

Yards

AVG

TD

Terrence Young

22

344

15.6

2

Stepp Oziegbe

14

231

16.5

2

THE SKINNY

Returning starters: Mike Hogan, (Sr., 5-11, 205, G-MLB), Conner Aston, (Sr., 6-0, 235, T-DL), Christian Cardoza, (Jr., 5-10, 260, OL-DL), Stepp Oziegbe (Sr., 6-0, 175, WR-DB), Terrence Young (Sr., 5-9, 187, WR-DB), Mario Morales (Sr., 5-7, 200, C-DT), Anthony DeLeon (Sr., 6-2, 230, T-DE), Andrew Roberts (Jr., 6-0, 165, QB-CB), Ari King (Sr., 5-8, 175, RB-DB-KR).

Key losses: Anthony Roberts (RB-DB), Brandon Wood (FB-LB), Carl Buttitta (DB), Matt Williams (WR-OLB-K).

Top newcomers: Matt Scalia (Sr., K), Jerry Mott (Sr., 5-9, 165, FB/TE-LB), Mark Rudolf (Jr., 5-9, 165, WR-LB), Andrew Allen (Sr., 5-9, 170, WR-DB-PR).