Standout Middle WR looks to improve on last season’s success

Posted: August 22nd 2023

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

Michael Zarfati enjoyed one of the best seasons for a wide receiver in Middle Township High School football history in 2022.

Then a junior, Zarfati caught 36 passes for 664 yards and six touchdowns. He was no slouch on defense either, intercepting six passes, forcing two fumbles, recovering a fumble and totaling 31 tackles from his defensive back position.

Now a senior, Zarfati is looking to improve upon those impressive numbers.

“I thought I had a pretty good season, but I could have done better,” he said. “But that’s what this year’s for.”

Zarfati put up those impressive numbers despite playing close to half of the season on an injured knee. He tore the meniscus in his right knee in the team’s sixth game of the season against Bridgeton. Zarfati didn’t miss any football games but the standout two-sport athlete was forced to miss the entire basketball season as he recovered from a minor surgery to correct the problem.

“It was tough watching the other kids every day in basketball, especially since they went on to win South Jersey,” Zarfati said. “I was a part of it, but at the same time I wasn’t a part of it. If I could have played it would have been great.”

Now fully healthy, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Zarfati is ready to make his mark on the gridiron once again. Despite last season’s impressive performance, Zarfati said he has not received significant college interest just yet. His head coach, Frank Riggitano, is confident that’s about to change.

“The knee thing and not being able to do anything over the winter hurt him a little bit but he’s on the radar,” Riggitano said. “I think he’s going to get some serious looks this year.”

Riggitano believes Zarfati can play at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level.

“I think he definitely has that kind of ability,” Riggitano said. “He’s going to make some coaching staff very happy, wherever he goes.

“He’s the best receiver I’ve ever coached and it’s not close. He has great hands, and I’ve never seen anyone go after the ball like he does. He goes all out on any attempt. Any ball we throw him, we think he can catch it. In our scrimmage against Haddonfield, there was a play where he had four guys around him and he went up and got the ball on a fourth-and-seven play.”

Zarfati has emerged as one of the best receivers in the West Jersey Football League despite not playing the position full time until he entered high school, starting as a freshman. He often played quarterback in youth football.

“He’s an athlete,” Riggitano said. “He alternated at quarterback and receiver-tight end growing up but we knew he had great hands. He is very good at coverage at defensive back but he’s definitely a receiver, no question about that.”

Zarfati has set lofty goals for this fall for a Middle team that returns a bunch of starters from last season’s 6-4 finish.

“Team-wise, I want to win a state championship,” he said. “I don’t think you should shoot for anything less than a state championship. Let’s win games. Let’s go undefeated.”

Zarfati said he’ll be ready to go Friday for the home opener against Cumberland.

“I’ve been itching to get back into football since November when the season ended last year,” he said. “I love basketball and I love playing it but football’s always been my favorite time of year. I’m ready to play football again.”