Krimin counted on to help defend St. Joseph's crown

All that remains from a vaunted running game that featured a dominant offensive line and one of the state's best tailbacks is Nick Krimin.

The junior tackle, who has already received scholarship offers from Rutgers and Syracuse, will anchor a St. Joseph High School football team that looks to defend its Greater Middlesex Conference White Division championship with a more balanced approach.

With the graduation of four offensive linemen, behind which tailback Matt Olivo accumulated a league-leading 1,803 rushing yards, the Falcons will rely on the right arm of quarterback Breein Tyree and a committee of running backs.

As a dual threat, Tyree rushed and passed for a combined 1,230 yards and 18 touchdowns, helping St. Joseph finish 9-1 overall and 8-0 in the division as a first-year conference member.

A major Division I college basketball recruit who was a key cog on St. Joseph's reigning Tournament of Champions hoops team, Tyree frequently used his speed as an outside running option while rolling out a year ago.

He enters this season more comfortable in the pocket and having developed the ability to better read defenses.

"He should be the kind of kid who can take over a game," St. Joseph coach Casey Ransone said of Tyree. "Are we going to have to throw the ball a little bit more? Absolutely. We are not going to replace Matt Olivo. He is one of the best high school football players I've ever seen. But we are going to have to come up with other ways to have 35 carries a game."

A workhorse back who led the division with 211 carries and who appeared to get stronger as the game progressed, Olivo will be replaced by committee.

"We are going to have to figure out a way to distribute those carries to other people in different ways," Ransone said. "We've got some young running backs we feel confident about and (St. Joseph will be) giving Breein a couple of more carries per game."

Olivo's heir apparent is sophomore tailback LukeYakeley, who will benefit from running behind Krimin and a revamped but promising offensive line.

Krimin, who also has a scholarship offer from Old Dominion, has "drawn interest from pretty much everybody else in the country," according to Ransone. Krimin plays with an athleticism that belies his 6-foot-6, 270-pound frame.

"It's a big responsibility," Ransone said of Krimin, who transferred from Cardinal McCarrick before the start of last season, being the lone returner up front.

"He's the most experienced guy we have on the line and he's only going to be a junior. I think he has the ability to handle it. I think he's a natural leader by example. I think his experience from last year is really going to help him coming into this season."

Staff writer Greg Tufaro: gtufaro@mycentraljersey.com

ST. JOSEPH

About the Falcons

Coach: Casey Ransone, second season (9-1).

Assistants: Giancarlo Cerrigone (offensive coordinator, quaterbacks, defensive backs); Marc Parlavecchio (assistant head coach, running backs, defensive backs); Rich Hilliard (special teams, offensive line, defensive line); Kevin Mcyntire (defensive ends); Dave Frauenheim (linebackers); Mike Cleary (head jayvee); Joe Capasso (head freshman); Alan Beaty (assistant freshmen), Jeff Ader (assistant freshmen), Eric Marold (assistant freshmen).

Stadium: "The Oval" (grass).

Colors: Green and white.

Classification: Non-Public Group IV.

Offensive formation: Multiple I.

Defensive formation: 4-3.

Last year (9-1 overall, 8-0 GMC White): Carteret 23-14 (W), Colonia 16-7 (W), J.F. Kennedy 40-18 (W), Bishop Ahr 20-10 (W), Perth Amboy 42-3 (W), Howell 42-12 (W), South Plainfield 34-19 (W), New Brunswick 40-13 (W), Woodbridge 35-6 (W), St. Augustine 45-28 (L).

2014 schedule: Sept. 12 at South Plainfield, 7 p.m.; Sept. 19 at Red Bank Catholic, 7 p.m.; Oct. 3 at J.F. Kennedy, 7 p.m.; Oct. 10 at Perth Amboy, 7 p.m.; Oct. 17 at Carteret, 7 p.m.; Oct. 24 at Colonia, 7 p.m.; Oct. 31 at Woodbridge, 7 p.m.; Nov. 7 at New Brunswick, 7 p.m.; Nov. 26 at Bishop Ahr, 7 p.m.

RETURNING LEADERS

THE SKINNY

Returning starters: Breein Tyree (Jr., 6-2, 185, QB); Tafadzwa Sibanda (Sr., 5-10, 150, WR-DB); Matt Van De Sande (Jr., 6-0, 160, WR-DB); Javon Hicks (Sr., 5-10, 175, WR-DB); Michael Horn (Sr., 5-11, 170, WR-DB); Brian Mills (Jr., 6-0, 185, LB); Joseph Papa (Jr., 6-0, 180, TE-LB); Nicholas Krimin (So., 6-6, 295, T-DL).

Key losses: Michael Cintron (K-P), Matt Olivo (RB-DB), Marques Townes (RB-LB), Andrew Cunningham (RB-LB), Jakob Stolzenberg (OL-DL), Kyle Grzesczack (OL-DL), Patrick Conlon (OL-DL), Michael Allen (LB), Jethro Pepe (TE-DL).

Top newcomers: Ryan Starace (Sr., 5-11, 250, OL-DL); J.T. Shorter (Jr., TE-LB, 6-2, 230); Luke Yakeley (So., 5-11, 205, RB-LB); Roderick Carson (So., 5-11, 240, G-DE); Mitchell Epstein (So., 5-9, 180, WR-S); Damien Anderson (Sr., 5-11, 185, RB); P.J. Barr (So., 6-0, 240, T); Danny Ganzoa (Sr., 6-0, 240, C-DL).