By:
Kevin Williams SSN Director
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET Head Coach: th
Jeff Rainess, 6 year Career Record: 28-19
Assistant Coaches: John T. Principe (Asst. HC, Defensive Coordinator/LB); John Kaye (QB/RB); Drew Piscatelli (WR); Mike Dorsi (DL); Charlie Marsh (DB); Steve Leo (P/K); David Sherman (Quality Control); Thomas Manning (Strength & Conditioning); Colin Hart & Scott Cannon (Freshman); Jeff Scenna (Athletic Trainer).
T
he Shore Conference did Holmdel High School no favors when it announced the realignment for the 2021 season. The Group 3 Hornets were placed in the Colonial Division with two Group 5 schools (Southern and Manalapan) and a pair of Group 4 programs (Jackson Memorial and Middletown South). Is being in the second of the Shore’s eight divisions based on factors including recent success and school size a penalty or a reward? In the case of the Hornets, it might be a little of both.
Jaden Gallo, Sr., RB/DB Gallo will be one of the top returning running backs in the Shore but he won’t have the experienced hogs up front like he did last year to lead the way. Opposing defenses will focus on stopping him so how he handles being a marked man is something to watch.
Holmdel was a perennial door mat for years going 18-61 from 2008-2015. Enter Jeff Rainess, who took over beginning in 2016, a season in which they went 2-8. However, since then the Hornets have put together four consecutive winning seasons (26-11) including a 6-1 record during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign which culminated with a win over Manasquan in the season finale and a No. 9 finish in the Shore Sports Network/Jeep Store Final Top 10. The move up among Shore Conference elite is overall a compliment for the prog ram but presents a host of challenges this fall, especially with the g raduation of many of their top players. That g roup included Shore Sports Network All-Shore first-team offensive lineman Joey Mancino and thirdteam selection C h r i s t i a n Donnelly, who did an outstanding job running the Hornets’ triple-option attack from under center.
X-Factor-1:
However, retur ning
Team Record Last Five Years: 2020: 6-1 2019: 6-4 2017: 6-4 2016: 2-8
2018: 8-2
Offense: Triple Option Defense: Multiple _________________ _____________________________ Big Shoes To Fill: O ffensive Line Replacing five seniors from a group that helped the run-heavy Hornets pile up nearly 2,500 yards on the ground in just seven games will be a huge challenge. How quickly players like Podesta, Calcaterra, Brew, Kim and Raheb come together will be the key to Holmdel’s success against bigger and stronger opponents than they have faced in the past.
Player To Watch:
Jared Battaglia, Sr., QB/DB After being a part-time starter as both a sophomore and junior it’s Battaglia’s time to run the show and spearhead the tripleoption attack.
X-Factor-2: A Daunting Schedule When you realign 42 teams there are some that will not be happy and if any team has a legit complaint it’s Holmdel. Yes, they have had four straight winning seasons but they are a small Group 3 school taking a huge leap being in a division with the likes of Southern, Manalapan, Middletown South and Jackson Memorial. Just three years ago their schedule included the likes of Keansburg, Keyport, Asbury Park and Point Beach when they were part of the small-school National Division. I guess it’s the price you pay for success but it’s tough to see the Hornets repeating their recent winning ways.
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Thur. Sept. 2 Fri. Sept. 10 Fri. Sept. 17 Fri. Sept. 24 Fri. Oct. 1 Fri Oct. 15 Fri/Sat. 10/22-23 Fri/Sat. 10/29-30
St. Joseph by the Sea (NY) 6 p.m. @ Midd. South 7pm @ Manalapan 7pm @ Southern 7pm Jackson Mem. 7pm @ Raritan 7pm Shore Conference Pods TBD Shore Conference Pods TBD
seven starters (three on offense and four on defense) there is talent starting with senior running back Jaden Gallo, who ran for over 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns last season and was a second-team All-Shore selection. Taking over at quarterback will be Jared Battaglia, who saw action as both a sophomore and junior. The 5foot-8, 150pound senior
despite just
J A D E N G A L L O (11), L U K E D U P O N T (20), J A R E D B A T TA G L I A (12), T H O M A S S A R D O (27), G A V I N R A H E B (7) A N D J O H N F A N Z I N I (2)
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