Despite graduating a pair of all-time great offensive performers, Cedar Grove does return starters at 10 of 22 positions and has plenty of depth in the program for a Group 1 school so why not take on as formidable a schedule as possible in the new season?
The Panthers, fresh off a 13-1 campaign in which they won a North 2, Group 1 sectional playoff championship and reached the overall Group 1 state final vs. powerful Glassboro at MetLife Stadium, will open the new campaign vs. a solid Group 4 program in Wayne Valley, 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug 30, at West Point Prep on the historic and picturesque military academy property in New York.
“Wayne Valley had reached out to me a while about the possibility on playing a Week 0 game at West Point when we were both looking for opponents,” said Cedar Grove veteran coach and Athletic Director Rob Gogerty. “I was having a hard time finding an opponent our size and was really only getting larger Group 3 and 4 programs that wanted to play. After thinking about it briefly I thought it would be a great experience for our players to play a game at West Point.
“We try to do something each year for the Week 0 game to challenge our program in a special game and location. Then, about a month later they hired (former West Essex) Coach (Chris) Benacquista whose Essex County roots and success makes the game even more interesting.
“Wayne Valley has a rich tradition of success as a large group football program and it will be a great challenge for our program to start the season, but with that being said I have a great belief in our program, our coaching staff, and most importantly the players in our program to accept the challenge.”
The Panthers, moving on from last season’s enormous success with record-setting quarterback Stephen Paradiso (Salve Regina) and wide receiver Jackson Morrice (University of Rhode Island), certainly have the makings of what might be the most strenuous slate of foes facing any small school football program in the Garden State.
“There is not a Group 1 team in the state that would sign up to play our schedule this year which includes two Group 4ś, a Group 3, and three Group 2 programs,” added Gogerty. “We will have our work cut out for us, but we have a belief within the program that as long as we make the playoffs that we can beat any Group 1 school in the state!”
Cedar Grove should have a solid ground attack with veteran senior Tom Cannataro (6-1, 210) and junior James Policano (5-7, 170) boosting the running back positions, while senior Pierce Asfaig (6-2, 185), a veteran starter on defense, is slated to be the team’s QB this season.
Among the wide receivers to watch are returning starters in seniors Xavier Andujar (6-0, 180) and Michael Ruggiano (5-1, 165), while the O-Line returns three starters in seniors Jake Saraiva (5-10, 240) and Chris Ferrera (5-10, 215) at center and right tackle, respectively, and junior Evan Skabich (5-10, 220) at right tackle.
Defensively, Cannataro is a returning starter at inside linebacker while fellow senior Michael Cantarelli (6-0, 205) is a veteran starer at outside backer.
Seniors Jerry Targia (5-9, 175) at safety and Nate Masson (6-1, 175) return in the secondary, while Saraiva is a returning starter at noseguard to lead the Panthers’ forces in the trenches.
