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.
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.
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
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