Rams being billed as one of GMC's top teams
Veteran team expects to make a run at a state title
BY RICHARD JEROME Staff Writer
The prospects look promising for this year's South River High School football team, as Rich Marchesi's Rams have a strong veteran group back from last fall's 8-4 squad, which made it to the Central Jersey Group I sectional finals before losing to Florence.

PHOTOS BY ANDREW MILLER staff Above, South River starting quarterback James Angley throws to a teammate during a recent scrimmage in South River. Below, tailback Jarvis Crandall catches a lateral from teammate Eric Seawright, resulting in a touchdown on the play.

"We're especially happy to have seven or eight guys back on defense," said Marchesi, whose club opens the season Friday night at Carteret. "And there's experience on offense - a lot of the kids play both

ways. We can run the ball and we have a good kicking game. We nitpicked in preseason, and the team worked very hard on refining our game."

The ground game is paced by tailback Jarvis Crandell, a 5-11 190-pound senior, who led the county in rushing yards with more than 1,500 and scored 18 touchdowns. As Marchesi points out, it was a "quiet" 1,500, with few gaudy long gains, but plenty of 8-, 10-, 15-yarders that added up. Helping Crandell out with excellent blocking support is fullback Matt Dezarlo, a 5-11, 200-pound 12thgrader.

The Rams have a new quarterback this year in senior James Angley (6-2, 175) who got in some time spelling Markeith Dobson last season, and managed to throw a couple of touchdown passes.

"So he's been thrown into the fire," noted his coach. "He's got a good arm and he's getting better with every day. And of course, he has that good running game behind him."

As for the rest of the Ram offense, senior Tyler Christiana (5-11, 195) is the tight end, while big (6-7, 365) Lee Beirnacki is the senior left tackle. At left guard is another senior, Dan Litz, who stands 5-11 and weighs in at a solid 275 pounds. The center is Brian Fodor (5-11, 195), while his brother, Ray Fodor (5-11, 225), is at right guard. Matt Yost (6-2, 210) plays right tackle. The spread end is 5-10, 170-pound Eric Seawright, and Joe Drum (6-0, 175) is at flanker. All of the preceding are 12thgraders.

Again, many of the same faces double on the strong defensive unit. Yost and Brian Fodor are the ends, Litz and Ray Fodor are the tackles, 5-11, 260-pound Mike Muccino is at nose guard, with Dezarlo at middle linebacker, Crandell on the outside and a duo of junior Robert Benson (5-9, 170) and Michael Wilson (5-10, 180) at the other backer slot. Christiana is at safety, Seawright at halfback and sophomore Steven Moore (5-10, 180) at the other halfback.

High as his hopes are, the realistic Marchesi is focusing on Carteret, a formidable opponent.

"They're well coached, and very physical," said the Marchesi who is assisted by Jim Mackiewicz, Mike Lepore, Bob and Joe Young, Matt Musante and Anthony Colon. "It'll be like a playoff game."