Hudson Catholic lost four football games in 2016. Three were to perennial state powers Pope John of Sparta, Delbarton and DePaul.
With many of the same players back again this season, head coach Lou Zampella makes no bones about what he expects from the Hawks this fall.
“My expectations are simple,” said Zampella, who begins his sixth season as the head coach at his alma mater. “We want to win the division (the New Jersey Super Football Conference-United Blue) and win the first state championship in the school’s history.”
Gee, that’s all?
“I know, easier said than done,” Zampella said. “But we’ve set a standard that we have to live up to now.”
Zampella has a point. Since he took over the reins as head coach in 2012, the Hawks have yet to endure a losing season. Three coaches came and went before Zampella took over. None came close to a winning campaign. Now, Zampella has achieved winning for five straight years.
And Zampella feels like the Hawks are ready to make the next step.
“I feel we have a chance to win the state championship,” Zampella said. “We played that schedule last year with eight sophomores starting. Now, they’re a year older and more talented. I feel we have a host of game breakers. It’s the biggest offensive line we’ve had since I’ve been the head coach. We just need to develop some senior leadership. If the seniors don’t lead, then we’re in trouble. But if we play well along both lines [offensive and defensive], we have a legitimate chance to reach our goals.”
Leading the way for the Hawks is junior quarterback Jonathan Bates (6-1, 185).
“He’s now in his third year as a starting quarterback,” Zampella said of Bates. “He’s more battle tested than most of the juniors in the state. I think he’s just beginning to show what he can do. He has started to become more comfortable with being a true running threat. He has a big upside to his game.”
Junior Aziz Wilson (5-10, 200) is the premier running back.
“I feel he’s one of the best running backs in his class in the state, if not the best,” Zampella said of Wilson, who is already being recruited by Rutgers, Penn State and Temple. “He’s in the same line of [former Hudson Catholic running backs Jason] Hendricks and [Justin] Kinney. He has that kind of potential.”
Both Hendricks (Pitt) and Kinney (Kean) went on to play college football.
The Hawks have depth in the backfield in sophomore Jaheir White (5-7, 160).
“He has tremendous speed and the ability to get to the outside,” Zampella said.
Freshman Christian Rodgers (5-10, 180) is also in the mix at running back.
The fullback position is being shared by senior Yasin Peppers (5-10, 210), a transfer from now-closed Queen of Peace, and junior Hasan Dominick (5-11, 200). Peppers is the cousin of Cleveland Browns rookie do-everything Jabrill Peppers.
The receiving corps is loaded and deep. Seniors Kanen Hickman (5-10, 185) Jy’ell Higgins (6-1, 185) and Marcus Chambers (6-2, 185) are all excellent targets for Bates to throw to. Junior Angel DeJesus (5-10, 170), sophomore Isaiah Decias (5-7, 165) and freshman Amarrie Bolden (6-1, 165) comprise the rest of the packed rotation at receiver.
The tight end is senior Nasir Adams (6-2, 240).
The tackles are juniors Jaden Rolling (6-5, 310) and Savion Herring (6-6, 300). One would have to search far and wide to find a bigger pair of bookend tackles in high school football – anywhere.
Seniors Kalif Hurt (6-1, 295) and Joshua Mercano (6-1, 235) are the guards and senior Resheed Wallace (5-11, 270) at center. Sophomores Jowan Jones (6-2, 260) and Sebastian Rivera (6-1, 270) fill the needs as backups.
“They’re big and they’re pretty strong,” Zampella said of his offensive line.
Defensively, the Hawks will look to Marcano and Adams at defensive end, along with sophomore Anthony Jones (5-11, 220) and freshman Tim Worrell (6-1, 195). Adams will get his fair share of college looks this season.
Senior Rajohn Jones (5-8, 290) and junior Khaleem Lawson (6-1, 340) are the defensive tackles. The Hawks are definitely not lacking in either size or kids with the last name of Jones along the line of scrimmage.
Peppers is one outside linebacker and Dominick is the middle linebacker. The other outside linebacker will be from senior Elijah Hampton (5-6, 160) and juniors Stephen Payne (5-11, 180) and Justin Williams (5-10, 170).
White is at one cornerback with junior Darnell Adams (5-11, 170) at the other corner. Sophomores Zakee Swan (5-7, 155) and Ibrahim Nasim (5-9, 160) are in the mix at corner.
Higgins, Wilson, Bolden and Hickman are all sharing time at safety.
The Hawks open the 2017 season at Montclair Immaculate on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m.
“We do feel we have good depth and we have talent,” Zampella said. “Some of the depth is young, but that’s fine. It’s just a matter of them getting experience.”
The Hawks did suffer a big blow in the preseason when senior Quinn Kieselowsky (5-11, 185), slated to be the backup quarterback to Bates as well as the team’s punter and place kicker, suffered a knee injury attending a football camp at Cornell University. It’s not known how long Kieselowsky will be out of action.
But that’s the only bad news the Hawks have endured thus far. This team is loaded and should be a strong contender for state honors come December. – Jim Hague.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.
