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SPORTS

Lange tasked with turning things around at Cardinal McCarrick

Matt Gentile
@MattyGents13

It has always been a numbers game when it comes to Cardinal McCarrick football.

For the better part of the past three seasons the Eagles have almost gone on a week to week basis as to whether it will have enough players to field a full squad. But they were always able to get by and finish out its season.

Until last season.

Midway through last year Cardinal McCarrick was forced to forfeit its remaining schedule and shut down the program.

Times had certainly been tough for a while, but they hadn't hit rock bottom.

That's where first-year head coach Mike Lange comes into the picture as he is faced with the task of trying to turn around a program in disrepair.

"When you come into a spot like this it's all about changing the culture of the way things were before," Lange said, who was a part of the coaching staff two years ago. "You're battling with the fact of a situation where kids were not accustomed to any type of routine or things of that nature. We're just trying to change the way things were."

Cardinal McCarrick has seen its number rise a bit this summer, with 16 players in total at practice. That is music to the McCarrick coaches ears given the fact numbers were as low as five at one point last year.

A player the Eagles will look to lean on will be its junior tailback Alonzo Green.

Green missed the first four games of last season due to an ankle injury, but the only thing on his mind is to put last year behind him and go out and have fun.

"I think we can turn a lot of things around," Green said. "We just want to win some games and have fun''

Coach Lange's attitude has been real positive and that's one of the reasons why we have more kids out here this year."

With no expectations to speak of, the Eagles will look to teach and build team character for the time being.

"As long as we have a positive mindset anything can happen," Green said. "I have two more years here, and when I go to college I want to look back at McCarrick and see kids that are committed. We can change McCarrick history. Why not start it up?"

CARDINAL McCARRICK

About the Eagles

Coach: Mike Lange, first season.

Assistants: Jason Rutan (receivers, defensive backs); Paul Muttillo (line); Rob Moccio (quarterbacks, defensive backs).

Stadium: Waterfront Park (grass).

Colors: Navy and gold.

Classification: Non-Public Group I.

Offensive formation: Spread.

Defensive formation: 4-2-5.

Last year (0-9 overall, 0-6 GMC Blue): Point Pleasant Beach 41-6 (L), Mater Dei 38-16 (L), Keyport (forfeit), Metuchen 49-0 (L), Spotswood (forfeit), Middlesex (forfeit), South River (forfeit), Highland Park (forfeit), Dunellen (forfeit).

2014 schedule: Sept. 5 at Newark Academy; Sept. 13 Sussex Tech; Sept. 19 Newark Collegiate; Sept. 27 Moyer Academy; Oct. 4 St. Elizabeth; Oct. 9 at Bergen Tech; Oct. 18 at Perkimen; Oct. 25 at Montclair-Kimberly.

THE SKINNY

Returning starters: Alonzo Green (Jr., 5-9, 175, RB-FS); Jaylen Correa (Sr., 6-0, 180, QB-DB); Kyle Chaney (Sr., 6-0, 210, FB-LB); David Taylor (Jr., 5-10, 200, FB-LB); Josh Arthur (Jr., 5-10, 220, OL-DL).

Top newcomers: Andrew Shumny (Fr., 6-1, 220 OL-DL); Matt Lopez (So., 5-9, 165, WR-DB).