By: Bob Badders SSN Managing Editor
THEIR TIME IS NOW Head Coach: J. Price, 11th season Career Record: 61-42
L
ast season, Manasquan’s football team was largely a collection of sophomores and juniors trying to build off a previous season in which they were thrown feet first into the cauldron of Shore Conference football.
Assistant Coaches: Pete Cahill (Defensive Coordinator); Justin Cella (Offensive Coordinator/QB); Jay Price Sr. (DB); Brian Lee (WR); Ed Kapalko (DL); Darrell Falkinburg (RB); Eric Howland (LB); Billy Bertscha (OL); Matt Voskian (DL); Rich Griffith & John Morris (Freshmen); Bruce Bresnahan (Director of Football Operations); Kevin Hyland (Athletic Trainer)
to bring another championship to the most decorated football program in the Shore.
Team Record Last Five Years:
“Many of our seniors were thrown to the fire as sophomores and they took their lumps,” said Manasquan head coach J. Price. “Last year we saw them mature a bit under some strong senior leadership. This year it’s their turn and they alone will determine how far we go.”
2020: 5-3 2019: 4-6 2018: 8-3 2017: 7-4 2016: 10-2
Offense: Multiple-I Defense: 4-3 ____________________________________________ Player to Watch : Brett Patten, Jr., QB Patten had a very good sophomore season with 904 yards passing and 12 touchdowns. He has the capability to develop into one of the Shore’s best quarterbacks, and if that happens Manasquan is going to have a very dangerous offense.
( L- R )
JOEY FRANKLIN (58), COLE KOZLOWSKI (15), DYLAN LEBLANC (47), JJ CAVANAGH (60), R OBERT P ENDERGIST (11), R YAN B URNS (52)
The hope when fielding a very young team is that the experience will pay off when the group learns their lessons and becomes a cast of seasoned veterans. A hefty investment was made two years ago, and now it’s time for
the Warriors’ seniors to cash out. A standout senior class leads a Manasquan team that is loaded with returning starters on both sides of the ball as the Warriors set out
Player Under the Radar:
T OP P OSITION G ROUPS :
B AND
Pat Woodford, Sr., RB/DB
Skill Positions
The statistics page doesn’t do justice to Woodford’s value to Manasquan. Watch him live or put on the film, however, and it’s obvious how much he contributes. He can break long runs and also fight for tough yards inside, and on defense he is solid across the board as a cornerback. Woodford is the type of player championship teams need.
With Patten, Kozlowski, Woodford, Howard, and Pendergist, the Warriors are pretty stacked at the skill positions. There is great potential for the offense to be balanced in a way that will allow it to attack opposing defenses in a variety of ways.
The Burns Family is Manasquan, through and through, and this year’s team will have three Burns brothers stepping foot on Vic Kubu Warrior Field. Senior twins Ryan and Jack Burns are returning starters while sophomore Will Burns is in the mix at outside linebacker and is also a running back.
I MPACT N EWCOMER : Jack Dettlinger, Jr., WR/DB/K There aren’t many spots not occupied by a returning starter but Dettlinger has a chance to make an impact outside of special teams where he served as Manasquan’s kicker last season. At 6-foot-4 he makes for a nice target in the passing game and a big body in the secondary.
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Fri 9/2 @Midd South 6pm Sat 9/11 Red Bank 1pm Fri 9/17 @Ocean 7pm Sat 9/25 RBC 1pm Fri 10/1 @Raritan 7pm Fri 0/15 @TR East 6pm Fri/Sat 10/22-23 Shore Conference Pods TBD Fri/Sat 10/29-30 Shore Conference Pods TBD Thur 11/25 Wall 11am
OF
B ROTHERS
The 2020 season was a strong debut campaign for now-junior quarterback Brett Patten, who is back to pilot Manasquan’s Multiple-I offense that will also have some wrinkles under new offensive coordinator Justin Cella. Patten threw for 904 yards and 12 touchdowns last season and is a very good athlete who can make plays with his legs. Senior Cole Kozlowski is a true Swiss Army Knife type who will line up everywhere and could also see some time at quarterback.
M R . V ERSATILITY Cole Kozlowski has a whopping six positions listed next to his name. Six! The senior is an invaluable piece of the puzzle for Manasquan because the coaching staff can basically ask him to do anything and he will do it well. Kozlowski will see snaps at Y, X and Z receiver, fullback, and quarterback on offense (and maybe even tight end) and will return as the starting strong safety on defense.
