Seniors are still the key for Bears football team

The faces may change, but Marcus Borden has never deviated from his philosophy of molding together a football team.

Top: East Brunswick High School’s quarterback is tackled after picking up yards running the ball against Scotch Plains-Fanwood during a preseason scrimmage at EBHS. The Bears were getting ready for Saturday’s season opener at Monroe (7 p.m. kickoff). Above: An EBHS running back finds some running room during the scrimmage. In 28 years as head coach at East Brunswick High School, the formula begins and ends with senior leadership, the kind that led the Bears to their second Central Jersey Group IV championship last December. While it is a daunting task to replenish an offense and defense that saw 22 seniors graduate, six of whom earned All-Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division honors, Borden again turns to his seniors when East Brunswick opens at CJ Group III champion Monroe High School on Saturday night (7 p.m.).

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Borden’s seniors, of course, bring the experience of winning the sectional title. But as the coach points out, “You just don’t walk onto the field and expect opponents to shrink away.

“There are a couple of realities coming into this season,” said Borden, whose team finished with an 8- 4 record last year. “First, we simply do not possess the same quality of athletes we had last year. Our quarterback, for instance, Mauro Tucci, was responsible for nearly 2,000 yards of offense. You can’t replace that production.”

Another key who may be missing initially is tricaptain Julian Quintin. The valuable running back and linebacker was banged up in preseason, and Borden isn’t sure if Quintin (5-10, 190, senior) will be available for Monroe.

Inheriting the quarterback job is Mike Cia (5-9, 165, junior) whose experience has been primarily with the junior varsity. Compounding the issue is that East Brunswick employs a tricky multi-option offense that relies on the QB reading defenses. Cia is learning that going against varsity defenses is not the same as playing JV.

Until Quintin has mended, Donald Urschel (5-8, 155, junior) and Dennis Spinelli (6-0, 167, senior) will see ample playing time. Tri-captain Jared Lynch (5-7, 187, senior), however, returns with the most experience and will likely handle the bulk of the running. Josh Todd (5-9, 200, senior) is the fullback.

John Farkas (6-1, 158, senior) is the primary receiver, with the trio of Nick Gudzak (5-11, 209, junior), Jake Wojtowicz (6-1, 202, junior) and Haydn Warren (6-3, 196, junior) playing tight end.

The offensive line features Jack Young (5-11, 198, senior) at center, Rich Williams (5-8, 220, junior) and tri-captain Joe Quaglieri (6-1, 256, senior) at the guards, and Kyle McSpedon (6-1, 230, senior) and Jim Mullin (6-4, 240, senior) at the tackles.

The defense lines up with Quaglieri, Gudzak, Wojtowicz and Sean Garrett (6-1, 227, junior) on the front four. Quintin is normally a starting outside linebacker, but Young and Spinelli have been filling in at that position. The inside linebackers are Kyle Winters (5-10, 159, junior) and Milton Kohlepp (6-0, 202, senior). Lynch is the free safety, and Urschel and Ugo Anemelu (6-2, 175, junior) are at the corners.

Kohlepp has been designated to handle the punting chores, with Augusto Silva (6-2, 190, senior) facing the difficult task of replacing all-state kicker Tyler Yonchiuk.

“We relied a lot on our seniors last year,” Borden said, “and they were a very talented bunch. This year, five return with quality playing time, so it’s been a challenge getting everybody on the same page.”

When asked if his team was approaching the season with trepidation, Borden balked at the description.

“That’s the wrong word,” he said. “No matter the situation, we always put a game plan into place that gives the best chance to win. That’s going to be how we approach the Monroe game. And then we’ll take one game at a time.”

Following East Brunswick’s visit to Monroe, the Bears will play their initial home game on Sept. 16 against Edison (7 p.m. kickoff). The following Friday night, Sept. 24, East Brunswick is back on the road to meet J.P. Stevens (7 p.m.).