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The Glen Ridge offense is trying to get its timing down in the Wing-T attack as the experienced gridiron squad prepares for new season during recent practice session at the George Washington School's field in Montclair. (Sideline Chatter photos)

Glen Ridge's head coach Duke Mendez discusses a play with his offensive unit

Glen Ridge works on its ground attack during a recent pre-season practice session

Glen Ridge assistant coach Keith Bucher instructs the team's defensive unit

The Ridgers' linemen go through the familiar sled drill in front of coach Bucher

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“That was rough, but our kids remain committed to what we always aim for, and that’s continuing to work hard in order to be as good a football team as we can be,” said Mendez. “Hopefully, the playoffs are in the mix for us this fall. I know we’re going to work our tails off to try and get to that point, that’s for sure!”

Glen Ridge lost to Cedar Grove (23-0), Caldwell (22-0) and Orange (18-15) last fall, and also had impressive wins over both Weequahic and Verona (29-14).

“That Orange game still bothers me because I really felt we should have won that one, but, hey, that’s football and we have to do a better job the next time we meet them (Friday, Oct. 8, at Bell Stadium in Orange),” said Mendez. “This group is firmly focused on continuing to work hard in the pre-season and getting ready for Cedar Grove in our opener.

“That’s the only game that matters right now!”

To perhaps enhance Glen Ridge’s chances of qualifying for the playoffs, the school has switched its traditional Thanksgiving Day game with Immaculate Conception to the first eight weeks of the campaign, hosting the Lions on Saturday, Oct. 2, at Hurrell Field, with a chance to pick up much-needed, regular-first-eight-weeks-of-the-season power points.

Six of the Ridgers’ nine regular-season games are of the “home” variety, in the spruced-up confines of Hurrell Field, which added a new, all-weather track last year while also enhancing the grass surface to be in better shape this fall.

Glen Ridge’s football team has been practicing at the nearby George Washington School off of Baldwin Street in Montclair.

As far as the personnel fitting the mission itself, the 2010 Ridgers’ diversified Wing-T offense could be an intriguing package, what with the ever-improving Conte (6-1, 170), who started five games last year, airing it out to top-notch receivers such as the strong and fleet-footed Castor (6-2, 185) and big and powerful tight end McMahon (6-4, 190).

The ground game is bolstered by the return of athletic senior halfback Jerome Anderson (6-2, 175), who will be surrounded by the sturdy Rollo brothers, senior halfback Mike (5-10, 190) and rugged junior fullback Frank (5-9, 160).

Up front, solid blocking is provided by the likes of powerful senior center Lucas Bullock (6-2, 230) and very capable senior guard Sean Clary (5-10, 220).

Defensively, operating out of the 5-2 alignment, the Ridgers’ strong suits are the secondary, spearheaded by Castor at safety and Alexander at cornerback, and the D-Line, with Clary at tackle and McMahon at end.

“Shhh, we don’t want anybody to talk about us too much,” said Mendez with a sly grin. “Let people talk about other teams. We’re just going to go out and play and see what happens.”

But, truth be told, when you talk to people who follow the small-school football scene in the Super Essex Conference, Glen Ridge always pops up in the conversation. Cedar Grove graduated a ton off a great 11-1 team and Verona should be strong with a solid line heading a potentially improved unit that finished 6-4 last fall.

Glen Ridge meets both Grove (Sept. 11) and Verona (Friday, Sept. 17) back-to-back at home over the first two weekends of the season, which should tell a lot of how the three teams’ fortunes might proceed in 2010 and maybe who winds up winning the SEC Independence Division title.

“I don’t care how many players Cedar Grove lost, they’re still awfully tough with the type of program they have and the talented kids they keep putting out there each year,” said Mendez. “We also know Verona will be a physical and very challenging team, and that’s just the way it should be.

“I like the kids we have and they have a lot of athletic talent. Hopefully, that translates into a cohesive team-oriented approach and a big season for us!”

RIDGER RUMBLINGS- Glen Ridge head boys lacrosse coach Carl Houser is on the Ridgers’ football coaching staff…Mendez has actually had two tours of duty as the head football coach at Glen Ridge, serving 11 seasons at the helm before leaving for seven years when he was an assistant to Rich Shello at Livingston, John Liberato at Hanover Park and Frank Bottone at New Providence (the town where he resides) before returning to Glen Ridge as the head man eight years ago. Mendez, a 1976 graduate of Green Brook High School, played his scholastic football under the great Don Smolyn, who has gone on to have a coaching career at Lenape Valley that is approaching 40 years. “I learned so much from coach Smolyn, who is just a great person along with being a terrific football coach,” said Mendez….Past great Glen Ridge football coaches include the late Bill Horey and Rich San Fillipo. A former NFL quarterback out of Glen Ridge High School is former Minnesota Vikings standout Gary Cuozzo.

Glen Ridge 2010 Schedule:

Saturday, Sept. 11: Cedar Grove, 1 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 17: Verona, 4 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 24: at Newark Central (Untermann Field), 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 2: Immaculate, 1 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 8: at Orange ( Bell Stadium), 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 16: Caldwell, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 23: Weequahic, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 30: MKA, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 6: at Newark Academy, 1 p.m.