WEST ORANGE-The promising signs were definitely there for Seton Hall Prep in its season-opening 14-12 win over St. John Vianney, including an electrifying 92-yard kickoff return for a third-quarter touchdown by senior Bryce Robbins, a TD pass delivered by sophomore quarterback Ty Newcomb, and a critical pass breakup by junior D-lineman Joshua Griffith on a two-point conversion attempt by Vianney which had pulled to within two points with 8:42 remaining in the fourth quarter.
However, it was still a season opener, and the progression and improvement have to be there for the Pirates (1-0) as they move from a bye week (Sept. 5-6) before returning to action hosting Chaminade (N.Y.) 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13, back in the friendly confines of Brendan P. Tevlin Memorial Field inside the Kelly Athletic Complex.
Nothing is ever guaranteed as far as what a season-opening win might mean, especially for a school such as SHP which plays as formidable a schedule as any team in the Garden State, as Top 20 Super Football Conference opponents such as DePaul (Sept. 20), Delbarton (away, Sept. 27), St. Peter’s Prep (Oct. 4), Don Bosco Prep (Oct. 10) and No. 1 ranked Bergen Catholic (Nov. 1) all await on the Pirates’ 2025 slate of foes.
And, even with the fact that seven of its nine games are home contests, there is no relief along the way.
Last year, SHP improved to 2-1 on a still young season with a well-earned 10-3 triumph at Chaminade; however, things went south after that as the Pirates then hit the meat of their schedule and dropped their final seven games of the season.
Still, it’s now a new campaign, and with the time-honored insights from a now veteran head coach there can certainly be the assertion that things can become clearer - and with a sense of accompanying optimism - as a team moves from Game No. 1 to Game No. 2.
“You usually make your biggest improvement between game 1 and game 2,” said SHP eighth-year head coach Bill Fitzgerald. “I was happy with our ability to play complimentary football in Week 0. We got great contributions from all three sides of the ball.
“Against Chaminade we will need more of the same. They are a senior-laden team with good size and coming off a semi-final appearance in their playoffs in the New York Catholic League.
“We must improve in our ability to line up quickly defensively; they offer a multitude of formations. We need improve in getting off blocks and getting to their running back. He is a dynamite football player.
“We also need to make some explosive plays offensively and eliminate penalties. We had a TD called back for a pre-snap penalty that would have put the game out reach late in the fourth quarter.”
Chaminade, located in Mineola, N.Y., began the season with a hard-fought 28-27 loss at LaSalle Academy of Rhode Island. The Flyers, who finished 8-4 last fall, reaching the CHSFL AAA semifinals vs. eventual champion Iona Prep, hosts A. Philip Randolph (N.Y.) Campus High School this Saturday (Feb. 6).
The Pirates will welcome more of the late-game big plays they had vs. Vianney, such as when freshman linebacker Adonis Rabrun knocked the ball out of the hands of a ball carrier creating a fumble that was recovered by junior defensive b ack Jayden Crawford.
The SHP defense was solid for the most part vs. Vianney with strong work from players such as junior linebacker Colin Moore who had 13 tackles, senior linebacker Michael Hug who recorded 10 tackles, and sophomore DB Anthony Vinhal who had an interception.
Offensively, senior Brady Manzo and Newcomb alternated plays at QB as the Pirates continue to look for the right rhythm, and each brings talent to the table with Manzo’s superb knowledge of the playbook and Newcomb’s burgeoning talent starting to come to the surface with his first varsity action in the Vianney game.
He threw his 27-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver Aiden Lockett in the third quarter of the Aug. 29 season opener.
SHP won’t be able to welcome junior transfer Jaylin Bullock as a viable QB until the Oct. 4 St. Peter’s Prep game since he is in the midst of his mandatory 30-day sit-out period following his second transfer in high school after starting his scholastic career at St. Peter’s Prep and then spending his sophomore season in 2024 at nearby Montclair.
Robbins, who led the Pirates in rushing last season, leads a promising ground attack that also features talented sophomore Leonard West
NOTES- SHP is a member of the SFC’s United White Division along with Delbarton, DePaul, Pope John and St. Peter’s Prep, but has crossover games with Red Division powers Bergen Catholic and Bosco….the Pirates have a more experienced O-Line with three junior starters back to help pave the way for the ground attack in center Domenic Carratello, right guard Timi Balogun and left tackle Nicholas Danieli….A traditional area of strength for SHP football is the kicking game and the Pirates will have one of the state’s best placekickers and punters in senior Middlebury College commit Declan Farrell, who also handles the punting duties.
Seton Hall Prep 2025 Football Schedule:
Friday, Aug. 29: SHP 14 St. John Vianney 12
Friday/Saturday, Sept. 5-6- bye week
Saturday, Sept. 13: Chaminade (N.Y.), 1
Saturday, Sept. 20: DePaul, 1
Saturday, Sept. 27: Delbarton, 1
Saturday, Oct. 4: St. Peter’s Prep, 2
Saturday, Oct. 11: at Pope John, noon
Saturday, Oct. 18: Don Bosco Prep, 1
Saturday, Oct. 25: Irvington, 1
Saturday, Nov. 1: Bergen Catholic, 1
