Saint Mark's is well represented on this year's Football All-Conference team, which was released in full today. Ten Spartans were awarded first team honors with Victor Marcelo and Tyler Westergard earning two-way recognition. You can see a complete list of the selections here - Link
Who: Salesianum Sals 7 - 2 (Home 4 - 0, Away 3 - 2)
Media Rank: TNJ: #5 (DI) , WDEL: #5 (DI) National Rank: #1599* State Rank: #5* Conference: N/A, Conference Record: N/A When: Friday November 9th, 7:30 PM Where: Baynard Stadium - Link Series: Salesianum leads the series 33 - 17 Last Played: 2017, Salesianum won 38 - 18 Weather: Game time temps: High of 52, low of 51. Cloudy with 90% chance of rain. 5 to 10 MPH winds. Media Coverage: WDEL Radio Broadcast Coach: Bill DiNardo Schedule: Link Roster: Link * CalPreps rankings. For the fourth straight season Saint Mark's Football team will enter their final game with a possible postseason berth on the line. While the path for this year's team isn't as clear as it was for the previous three, the initial hurdle remains the same. Once again, the Spartans will have to defeat Catholic rival Salesianum if they hope to extend their season. It's a situation Saint Mark's has faced numerous times throughout the course of the series. However since the move to Division II (in 2015) their prospects of succeeding have diminished. Other than a twelve year run of Salesianum dominance (1986 -1997) the series was competitive while the teams were members of the same division. The teams were tied at seven wins apiece when the streak started, with the Sal's holding an eleven to ten edge following it's conclusion. The complexion of the series changed in 2015, with the contest becoming a David versus Goliath match up for the Spartans. Since then Salesianum has went 3 - 0, winning rather easily, though Saint Mark's did give them a scare early in the game last year. Even though it has only been a short time since the Spartans got the better of their rival, it seems like an eternity. With the odds of Saint Mark's winning again, diminishing in the perception of the football community, each and every passing year. Reaching the postseason would make for a special season for the players and staff. But being part of the first team to beat Salesianum, since the move to Division II would be legendary. Whether they realize it or not, nothing short of winning a title would top that. The team that beats Salesianum will shatter the wall of perception, and change the series forever. The team that gets number eighteen will live long in Saint Mark's history whether their record reads 1 - 9 or 10 - 0.
If the Spartans want to be the first and only team to notch number eighteen they will have to play their best game of the year. Salesianum is 7 - 2 and heading into the playoffs on a roll. They have won three straight, including a 35 - 16 win over recent nemesis Smyrna, which likely has their confidence sky high. Their offense averages 23.7 points per game primarily running the ball. The star in their backfield is no stranger to the Spartans. Andrew Watkins (who transferred in the off season) gets the bulk of the carries, and is having a banner year. Fullback Jesse Wheatley will get the odd call. A traditional Salesianum offense, they don't pass often, but can be successful when they do. Quarterback Gabe Puzzangara has returned from injury and taken over for Dylan Mooney. Mooney gained valuable playing time in Puzzangara's absence, providing the Sals with depth at the position. Logon Bushweller and Jack Healy are threats when they do go to the air. Their lines on both sides of the ball are young but have become more cohesive as the season has progressed. Linebacker's Brendan Pacheco and Colin Fowler lead a defense that has only allowed 11.4 points per game. Matthew Scott and Dylan Mooney are standouts in the secondary. Kicker Mitch Sgro anchors solid special teams units. To come away with the win Saint Mark's will have to play a smart disciplined game. They will have to shut the run game down and force Salesianum to the air. The offense will have to be opportunistic and maintain good ball security. In every big upset there are variables that come into play. Some of those will exist in this contest, and could afford the Spartans the means to prevail. But if Saint Mark's wants to win it has to start with the belief that they can.
Who: St. Elizabeth Vikings 4 - 4 (Home 1 - 3, Away 3 - 1) Media Rank: TNJ: #NR , WDEL: #NR National Rank: #7519* State Rank: #23* Conference: N/A, Conference Record: N/A When: Saturday November 3rd, 7:00 PM** Where: Spartan Stadium - Link Series: Saint Mark's leads the series 23 - 9 - 1 Last Played: 2017, Saint Mark's won 35 - 0 Weather: Game time temps: High of 50, low of 46. Sunny with 0% chance of rain. 5 to 9 MPH winds. Media Coverage: N/A Coach: Marvin Dooley Schedule: Link Roster: Link * CalPreps rankings. ** The contest, originally scheduled for 11/2, was moved to 11/3 due to inclement weather. Saint Mark's will take on Catholic rival St. Elizabeth Friday night for the 34th contest in the series between the teams. As rivalries go, it has been more friendly than heated throughout the years. Though that should change with both teams competing in the same division. The series has seen it's share of classic contests, and this year's meeting could join that list. Both squads enter the game at 4 - 4 and are coming off three consecutive losses. Besides overcoming their rival, the squads will have to navigate the emotion and formalities that accompany the contest. It is Senior Night for Saint Mark's, the Muscle Movement Foundation's Sack Muscle Disease Game, and will honor late Spartan gridiron star, and St. Elizabeth coach Matt Janicki. To add a little more intrigue, many of Saint Mark's coaches, and a few players will be going against the team they coached and played with last year. Still, while there are many side stories to the game, when the whistle blows it will be about football, and two teams trying to get back in the win column. Both squads hit the mid-season mark at 4 - 1, and share a degree of disappointment with how the second half has played out. That sentiment though, runs deeper for Saint Mark's, who entered the year with high expectations. Hoping to qualify for the postseason, the Spartans find themselves likely on the outside looking in. For the Vikings, the goal of finishing with the program's first winning record since 2012 is still in sight. Though they are probably still a bit unsettled with the recent turn of events, Friday night will be the last dance in The Graveyard for thirteen Saint Mark's players. It's their moment, and while not the one they had envisioned, it is theirs nonetheless. They can let the past drag them down, or they can live in the moment, making it theirs, and owning it forever. ![]() Saint Mark's 2018 Seniors : #10 Jadin Elliot, #75 Joe Cartwright, #56 Kevin Tobin, #65 William Westergard, #15 Victor Marcelo, #43 Jacob Meisel, #22 Michael Williams, #11 A.J. Poppiti, #2 Ryan Duplessis, #85 Brandon Holmburg, #8 Jelani Bryant, #3 Carter Benham, (missing Eric Ludman). (Photo courtesy of Richard Christians) Coming off a two win season, with a young team, most expected to see improvement in the 2018 St. Elizabeth squad. The Vikings have lived up to that and rewarded first year Coach Marvin Dooley the opportunity to deliver the program's first winning season in six years. They opened strong, but like the Spartans, have struggled with a difficult second half schedule. The Viking offense averages 14.3 points per game. Like Marvin Dooley's teams at William Penn, they run the ball. Their ground and pound attack centers around running back Ray Jones. The senior gets most of the carries and has gained 894 yards on the year and scored six touchdowns. If quarterback Noah Ogbin isn't handing off to Jones, Dashaun Brooks or Cameron Tjaden usually get the ball. Ogbin, who serves mostly as a game manager in the scheme, only throws occasionally and when he does he spreads it around. All three backs along with wide out John Shields and tight end Luke Schiavoni could be on the receiving end. The defense has had their moments but struggled against tougher opponents giving up an average of 25.3 points per game. Jones leads this unit from his linbacker spot, along with Brooks (DB), Tjaden (LB), Jaegar Wesley (DL), Joseph Kindbeiter (DL), Thomas Zatalava (LB), Luke Moyer (LB), Connor Rock (DB ), and Samuel Janicki (LB). Kicker Brian Millard is consistent and anchors solid special teams units. As Ray Jones and his offensive line go, so go the Vikings. With a forecast for rain the game could come down to who can run the ball. But with both teams on extended losing streaks, who is hungrier and wants it more will likely play a bigger role in the outcome. Saint Mark's graduate Matt Janicki (class of 1983), who lost his battle with cancer last June will be honored at the game. Janicki also served as a coach at St. Elizabeth, and the number 33 that he wore while a Spartan player will adorn each sideline in the teams respective colors. While at Saint Mark's Matt was a star fullback under Coach Jack Smiley from 1980 - 1982. In 1982, his senior year, he helped lead the team to a 7 - 3 record, rushing for over a 1,000 yards and eleven touchdowns. His exploits that season earned him All State honors and a spot in the D.F.R.C. Blue & Gold All Star Football game. The 82' squad just missed qualifying for the postseason losing a hard fought 15 - 8 battle to eventual Division II State Champion, and #1 ranked Archmere Academy in the final game of the regular season. Matt was a great football player and even better person. His loss is felt by all in both the Spartan and Viking communities. Our condolences go out to his wife Donna, his children Matthew III, Marissa, and Samuel. Samuel, his youngest son will compete in the game for St. Elizabeth.
Friday night's contest is also the third installment of the Muscle Movement Foundation's Sack Muscle Disease Game. The organization founded by Saint Mark's graduate Rob DeMasi (class of 2009), works to combat the detrimental effects of muscular dystrophy, ALS, and other muscle related diseases. The game which was started in 2016, is held to raise awareness to muscle disease and the MMF's fight to bring an end to muscle related diseases. Sack Muscle Game past results: 2016 - Saint Mark's 35 - 20 2017 - Saint Mark's 35 - 0 If you are interested in the MMF, or would like to help in the organization's fight please visit their website: Muscle Movement Foundation |
On The HillA website dedicated to the historical legacy of Saint Mark's Football and Spartan athletics. Archives
October 2023
Categories
All
|