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Expectations run high for North Arlington gridiron team

Photo by Jason Bernstein

North Arlington Football Captains: Dante San Giacomo, Devin Rivas and Kyle Villani with head coach Joe Borkowski.

By Jason Bernstein

jason@theobserver.com

Joe Borkowski knows all about the history of North Arlington’s football program and the limited success it has enjoyed over the years. But as the second year head coach looks around his locker room and sees the amount of experience and talent back, he sees a team that not only has the potential to defy recent history, he fully expects it.

“We’ve only made the state playoffs four times in the history of the program,” Borkowski said of the Vikings, who have qualified for the postseason just once in the last 25 years. “And there’s no reason why this unit can’t be special and be number five.”

This group of seniors have made history already. As eighth-graders, they won the Meadowlands Football League Super Bowl. As sophomores and juniors, they went a combined 7-9, more wins than the previous four years of Vikings football.

Now, North Arlington returns eight starters on offense and nine on defense from last year’s team, which closed the season with wins over St. Mary’s of Rutherford and Roselle Park.

“My goal as a first year head coach was to get them to buy in and do the little things right,” Borkowski said. “We did the little things right and we definitely bought in because we had a phenomenal off-season. A lot of these guys really transformed their bodies, they worked hard, they got stronger, they got faster and we do have experience all over the field.”

Highlighting the veteran group is quarterback Devin Rivas (6-0, 195), who emerged as one of North Jersey’s breakout signal callers after throwing for 1,917 yards and 16 touchdowns a season ago.

As impressive as those numbers were — they were among the best in the state last year — Borkowski anticipates Rivas to show off even more of his talents as a runner this fall after rushing for 310 yards and six touchdowns last season.

“He’s gotten a lot stronger in the offseason and we really focused on making him a better runner this year than last year,” said Borkowski, noting college coaches wanted to see Rivas improve in that area. “Devin is phenomenal. The offense is going to live and die through him. He can run, he can throw, he’s extremely strong and he’s a great leader.”

Top target Jaivon Aquino graduated after a remarkable 836 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, but Rivas will get to once again work with two of his top receivers in senior Kyle Villani (24 catches, 423 yards) and junior Ian Crudele (24 catches, 216 yards).

The tandem brings different styles to position as Crudele, a junior, is the shiftier of the two. Villani, a senior, brings

Belleville looks to build off 6-4 record of last season

By Jason Bernstein

jason@theobserver.com

As a top assistant coach under Jermain Johnson, Brian Antab has seen firsthand the progress that has been made by Belleville’s football program over the past four years.

But with Johnson having departed to take the head job at Montclair this spring and several key graduations from last year’s 6-4 team, both Antab and his young roster have tried to build up as much experience as it could this summer before Friday’s season opener against Passaic.

“A lot of the changes were based on trying to get a lot of reps for these young kids and getting them as much experience as we can,” said Antab, a former offensive lineman at Bishop Ahr (now St. Thomas Aquinas) and Montclair State University. “A lot of them don’t have a lot of experience and are first year starters this year. We’ve tried to maximize the amount of reps we can get to the 1s and really try to utilize their talents to the best of our abilities.”

Antab’s Buccaneers will be relying on several sophomores to fill big roles on both sides of the ball this season.

Of that group of sophomores, one in particular who is poised for a big season is running back Jeremiah Cook, who brings a physicality that goes beyond his listed size of 5-7 and 175 pounds as well as big-play ability.

Cook flashed some of that ability as a freshman, rushing for 179 yards and two touchdowns on just 30 carries, but it set to be the lead runner this year.

“We’re really hoping to see some big things from Jeremiah. He’s a really talented young kid,” Antab said. “He’s got good balance, very good cutting ability and he has some breakaway speed. He’s pretty tough to tackle in the open field. He’s somebody that we’re really hoping for some big things out of.”

Senior Johan Rivas and junior Moses Dorleon are also going to get some carries at running back as well as junior fullback Adrian Rodriguez.

Cook is sure to be helped out by a veteran left side of the offensive line with senior guard Melrich Amante (6-0, 305), a three-year starter on the line, and Tayshaun Holland (6-0, 245), who kicks outside to tackle after starting at guard last year.

“They’ve taken the lead, especially with that line group. They’ve shown those guys the way a little bit,” said Antab. “We’re looking to utilize them a lot and try to get the ground game going, especially with the talented running back we have in Jeremiah Cook. I think he’ll do a good job running behind those two.”

Junior Isaac Aguilar (6-2, 265) takes over at right tackle with senior Jericho Perez (5-8, 247) at right guard. Sophomore AJ Clenaghan (5-8, 205) will start at center for a group that Antab believes will be a strength of the team.

Another sophomore starter will be found at the most important spot on the field as Anthony Torres (59, 140) takes over at quar-