Playoff hopeful Middle will have to navigate difficult schedule

Posted: August 22nd 2023

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

The Middle Township High School football team enjoyed some success over the past two seasons with a relatively young roster.

The team qualified for the Group II playoffs and won 14 games combined in 2021 and 2022, the first time the program has won that many games over a two-year stint since the late 1950s.

Now, the Panthers feature close to 20 seniors, many of whom are multi-year starters, and are looking to continue a trend of playing very competitive football.

Middle has vast experience and depth at the skill positions. The Panthers are led by junior RB Remi Rodriguez, who rushed for 1,030 yards and six touchdowns and also returned a kickoff for a score in 2022 despite missing two games and almost never truly being healthy due to an early-season ankle injury.

“He’s definitely the best runner we’ve had,” Middle coach Frank Riggitano said. “We’re going to try to extend the ball to him a little bit more throwing the ball, too. Teams are going to key on him so we have to find different ways to get him the ball.”

Senior Michael Zarfati (WR/DB) caught 36 passes for more than 600 yards and picked off five passes defensively last season. Other skill position players expected to contribute include senior Tyree Moore (RB/LB), senior Zamar Wakefield (RB/DB), senior Troy Murray (RB/LB), senior Jeremiah Jones (RB/LB), senior Jerry White (RB/LB), junior Shawn Watkins (RB/LB), sophomore Chase Moore (WR/DB) and sophomore DaiZjohn Blackman (WR/DB).

“We like the fact that we’ve got multiple skill-position players we can use on a regular basis,” Riggitano said. “We can rotate a lot of them in there. We haven’t had that kind of depth there before.”

Starting senior quarterback Mark Oliver (845 yards passing, 7 TD passes) returns but he’s being pushed by junior Micah McAnaney, a transfer from St. Augustine Prep. Riggitano is confident in both.

“Right now, it’s somewhat even,” Riggitano said. “Mark clearly knows the system. When Micah slips up it’s been because he’s just not totally familiar with what we’re doing yet. Mark throws better and Micah runs better. It’s something we’ll figure out as we go. But they’re both going to help us.”

Most of the starters are back along the offensive and defensive lines, led by senior Marco Salgado and junior Maurice Matthews, both West Jersey Football League all-stars last season. Others along the fronts – or at linebacker on defense – include senior Nik Cruz, senior Zack Steelman, senior Sean Brannon, senior Austin McGraw, senior Brian Juzaitis, senior Mike Camp, junior Ryan Broughton and junior Michael Harpel.

It is a group with size.

“All the starters are back, but we’re not as deep,” Riggitano said. “We need to stay healthy there.”

Others expected to start or contribute heavily on at least one side of the ball include senior Dan Brady (OL/DL), senior Nasir Serrano (RB/DB), junior Jason McGaha (TE/LB), junior Mason Flick (OL/DL), junior Javier Juarez-Abarca (OL/DL) and sophomore Geovani Beaman (RB/DB).

Junior Justin Verity will handle the kicking duties.

Middle’s schedule is not easy. The Panthers will play three 2022 playoff teams on the road (Oakcrest, Glassboro, Wall Township) and also host improved Bridgeton and 2022 WJFL Patriot Division winner Pleasantville.

“We have to make sure we get better each day,” Riggitano said. “What we can’t have happen, is like what happened at Oakcrest last year – three turnovers and a botched punt snap. You do that and you can’t beat many people. We’ve been pretty diligent in trying to emphasize things like that. 

“We’re rotating people in and making sure they understand their roles. We have a tough road against us with our schedule, but that’s going to help us in our improvement toward the end of the year. We just have to make sure we get enough wins to get in the tournament.”

Riggitano, in his 22nd season as head coach over two stints (104-107 career), is assisted by Ryan Freyer, Sam Caraballo, Gavin Leipe, James Marcheski, Nick Eidenberg, Larry Eames and Chris Lewis.