SPORTS

Schillaci remains a cornerstone for Tigers

Greg Tufaro
@GregTufaro

Following a recent scrimmage, in which the South Plainfield High School football team appeared sluggish, usually reserved captain Brian Schillaci echoed the sentiments of the Tigers' coaching staff on a bus ride home.

"He was reinforcing what we were saying," said South Plainfield coach Gary Cassio, who was concerned about his team's conditioning. "He put his own spin on it. Whatever we say, Brian has our back and he will make sure the message gets across to the team."

Schillaci, who Cassio describes as "extremely quiet," commands the respect of his teammates, who know that when the senior tackle speaks, he means business.

"He's not that rah-rah guy in the middle with everybody yelling and screaming, but when he's with the players, he's a great leader," said Cassio, noting Schillaci is "highly intelligent" and "knows the playbook better than a majority of the coaches."

Schillaci was the cornerstone of a line that blocked for one of the Greater Middlesex Conference's most balanced and potent offenses.

Recently graduated quarterback Kyle Moroney and recently graduated running back Roemello Monroe passed and rushed for 1,657 and 1,101 yards, respectively.

The Tigers (6-4) averaged 31.4 points over the first eight games, but the offense struggled following a couple of late-season injuries to guard Sam Persad and tight end Jason Lee, scoring just 12 points in the final two contests, both losses.

Mike Abreu, a raw and undersized (5-foot-9, 185 pounds) sophomore at the time, filled in admirably for Persad, lining up alongside Schillaci, from whose tutelage he benefited.

"(Abreu) didn't know all the calls," Cassio said, "but we were confident because we knew he was standing next to Brian. It was like he had a coach on the field next to him. We told him, 'Whatever Schillaci tells you to do, you do it.' "

With Lee moving from tight end to quarterback, where he is battling with converted wide receiver Kyle Dickerson for the starting spot, the Tigers have another hole to fill up front.

Cassio feels confident the newcomers on the line will benefit from Schillaci's presence.

Tigers

Coach: Gary Cassio, third season (10-10).

Assistants: Mike Jakubik (defensive coordinator); Andrew Miller (offensive coordinator); Tory Russell (runnning backs, linebackers); Scott Dickerson (offensive line, linebackers); Derek Eatman (quarterbacks); Lloyd McNelly (defensive line)

Stadium: Jost Field (grass)

Colors: Green and black

Classification: Central Group III

Offensive formation: Spread

Defensive formation: 4-3

Last year (6-4 overall, 6-2 GMC White): New Brunswick 47-13 (W), Carteret 33-14 (W), Woodbridge 40-21 (W), Bishop Ahr 18-17 (W), Colonia 24-21 (L), St. Joseph 34-19 (L), J.F. Kennedy 23-9 (W), Perth Amboy 32-8 (W), Parsippany Hills 26-0 (L), North Plainfield 14-12 (L)

2014 schedule: Sept. 12 St. Joseph, 7 p.m.; Sept. 19 at New Brunswick, 7 p.m.; Sept. 26 at J.F. Kennedy, 7 p.m.; Oct. 10 at Carteret, 7 p.m.; Oct. 17 Bishop Ahr, 7 p.m.; Oct. 24 at Woodbridge, 7 p.m.; Oct. 31 Perth Amboy, 7 p.m.; Nov. 27 North Plainfield, 10 a.m.

RETURNING LEADERS

Rushing

Att

Yards

AVG

TD

Kyle Dickerson

4

62

15.5

0

Bernard Gonzalez

7

41

5.9

0

Receiving

Rec

Yards

AVG

TD

Kyle Dickerson

37

457

12.4

5

Johnny Chillemi

28

426

15.2

5

THE SKINNY

Returning starters: Mike Abreu (Jr., 5-11, 210, T-DT); Zaire Cone (Sr., 5-11, 190, RB-LB); L.J. Scarpitto (Sr., 5-9, 170, WR-CB); Jason Lee (Jr., 5-10, 185, QB/TE); John Garcia (Sr., 5-10, 160, K); Johnny Chillemi (Sr., 6-4, 195, WR-DB/LB); Kyle Dickerson (Sr., 6-0, 170, QB/WR-FS); Trey Martinez (Sr., 6-1, 202, TE/DE); Brian Schillaci (Sr., 6-0, 260, OL-DL); Xavier Wilson (Sr., 6-1, 230, OL-DL)

Key losses: Kyle Moroney (QB-LB), Roemello Monroe (RB-LB), Malik Cisson (WR-DE), Sean Cullen (LT), Sam Persad (G), Jarret Agee (DB), Collin Lynch (DB), Scott Quiroga (LB)

Top newcomers: Jean Sapini (So., 5-11, 220, LB); Justin Counts (Jr., 6-3, 225, LB/DE); Kevin Adams Jr. (Jr., 6-3, 185, WR/DE); Josh Siegenthaler (Jr., 6-1, 180, WR-LB/CB); Hunter Higgins (Jr., 6-0, 260, T/NG)