Hailey's health key to Carteret's success

All the promise Sean Hailey displayed in the Carteret High School football team's 2012 sectional championship victory dissipated with a heartbreaking knee injury on the last day of training camp the following fall.

"We had huge plans for him," said Carteret head coach Matt Yascko, noting Hailey missed all of the Ramblers' 2013 regular-season contests before returning to the field in a limited capacity for a Central Group II playoff game against Long Branch.

"He did everything he could to get back on the field for us but he was a shell of a kid who he could be."

Hailey, who underwent knee surgery during the offseason, has put himself in a position to not only fulfill the promise he displayed two years ago, but to be one of only a handful of Carteret two-way starters.

"He worked hard to get himself back," Yascko said. "Right now he's being a team leader, working his butt off. He's really gone above and beyond to get himself prepared for this season."

Carteret will need Hailey, who will play tackle on both sides of the ball, to recapture his form of that 2012 sectional final as the Ramblers enter the 2014 campaign with revamped offensive and defensive lines.

The Ramblers rebounded from a 1-2 start a year ago to win seven of their last eight games with the lone setback a disheartening 40-0 playoff loss to Lawrence, which ran roughshod over Carteret's defense.

The game stood in stark contrast to Carteret's postseason effort in 2012 when Hailey came off the bench as a sophomore to replace a defensive back when the Ramblers added an extra lineman to stop Weequahic's vaunted running game.

"(Hailey) actually played a ton in the state championship game," Yascko said. "We liked him a lot. He had a good motor, good size and was a tough kid."

Hailey's presence is especially required on the offensive line, where the Ramblers graduated three key starters.

Despite quality in the trenches, Carteret uncharacteristically struggled to run the ball last season, amassing just 1,829 yards or 166 yards per game on the ground.

Nagging injuries to starting tailback Terrell Merricks and the slow start of rookie quarterback Nelson Baez, who steadily improved as the season progressed, forced Carteret to convert lineman Cory Baccarella into a bruising fullback (he finished second on the team with 479 rushing yards).

Rahkeem Bennett moves this year from wide receiver to tailback, a position at which Carteret has a storied tradition, thanks in large part to quality linemen such as Hailey.

"Initally," Yascko said, "my hope, with Sean bouncing back from the surgery, was to try to limit his role (to defense perhaps) and find out where he best fits us. That way, we could protect him a little bit.

"So far, so good. He's kind of forcing our hand to make him be a two-way starter. He needs to be a big player for us."

CARTERETAbout the Ramblers

Coach: Matt Yascko, eighth season (57-29).

Assistants: Keith Kapinos (defensive coordinator); Justin Muniz (linebackers); Dan Farrar (defensive line); John Dolan (wide receivers); Jerry Derillo (offensive line); Rich Martinez (running backs, head freshman); Mahdi Pettus (quarterbacks); Dan Morvay (defensive assistant); Mike Kushner (offensive assistant); Anthony Sanfilippo (freshman); Brian Zimmerman (trainer); Eva Kushner (academic coach).

Stadium: The Pit (grass).

Colors: Blue and white.

Classification: Central Group III.

Offensive formation: Multiple I.

Defensive formation: 4-3.

Last year (8-3 overall, 6-2 GMC White): St. Joseph 23-14 (L), Raritan 13-7 (W), South Plainfield 33-14 (L), New Brunswick 45-14 (W), Woodbridge 33-7 (W), Bishop Ahr 7-6 (W), Colonia 34-14 (W), J.F. Kennedy 19-10 (W), Long Branch 13-3 (W), Lawrence 40-0 (L), Perth Amboy 33-8 (W).

2014 schedule: Sept. 12 Woodbridge, 7 p.m.; Sept. 20 at Long Branch, 1 p.m.; Sept. 26 New Brunswick, 7 p.m.; Oct. 3 at Colonia, 7 p.m.; Oct. 10 South Plainfield, 7 p.m.; Oct. 17 St. Joseph, 7 p.m.; Oct. 24 Bishop Ahr, 7 p.m.; Oct. 31 at J.F. Kennedy, 7 p.m.; Nov. 27 at Perth Amboy, 11 a.m.

RETURNING LEADERS

THE SKINNY

Returning starters: Brandon Gilder (Sr., 6-0, 180, WR-FS); Hassan Williams (Sr., 5-10, 180, WR-CB); Rahkeem Bennett (Sr., 5-9, 185, T-LB); Nelson Baez (Sr., 5-9, 170, QB); Michael Nowak (Sr., 5-9, 170, CB-P); Sean Hailey (Sr., 6-0, 215, T-DE); Elmer Portillo (Sr., 5-9, 195, G-DT); Brandon Williams (Sr., 6-3, 280, T-DT); Carlo Lopez (Sr., 5-9, 205, K); Sam Kamara (Jr., 6-0, 215, DE).

Key losses: Tyler Pitchford (WR-DB), Terrell Merricks (TB-CB), Cory Baccarella (OL/FB-DT), Charles Faulkner (LB), Cory Guzman (G-DE), Justin Rodriguez (T-DT).

Top newcomers: Justin Taylor (So., 6-0, 190, TE-LB); D'Avion Ellington (So., 5-9, 185, TB); Paris Wilson (Sr., 5-10, 225, G); Tim Irving (Sr., 5-8, 190, FB-MLB); Mario Roman (Sr., 5-9, 170, LB); Jaziel Saavedra (Sr., 5-10, 200, C-DT).