After posting a 2-7 record in his third season as the head football coach at his high school alma mater Ferris, Juan Garcia is optimistic that better days are ahead, now that the Bulldogs are in the more competitive Ivy League-Red Division of the North Jersey Super Football Conference.
The new Ivy League was designed for programs that had been struggling in terms of participation numbers and wins on the field to get a more competitive schedule. The teams in the Ivy League are not eligible for the NJSIAA state playoffs, but that’s not such a big loss this season, because the pandemic eliminated the state playoffs for 2020.
Garcia applauds the move to the new Ivy League. Like other Ivy League participants, Ferris has given the idea a two-year commitment, meaning this season and next.
“I think the schedule now is more competitive,” Garcia said. “I think we will be able to compete every week. If we had a full offseason, things would have been better, but I can’t complain because we’re on the field again. We’re way better off than we were last year.”
Garcia was for the Ivy League process a few years ago when Garcia was the head coach at Marist, which was also a struggling program. Marist has since closed its doors.
“It has a crumbling effect to the program,” Garcia said. “When you lose all the time, kids don’t want to come out to play football.”
But Garcia has 42 kids on his roster, the highest total in his four-year stint.
There’s no question that 2020 has been a very trying year for Garcia, who is first and foremost a Jersey City firefighter.
Somehow, some way, Garcia contracted the COVID-19 coronavirus in April.
“I had no symptoms and no fever,” Garcia said. “I was with the whole fire department on March 30 and I tested positive April 3.”
Immediately, Garcia had to comply with the self quarantine rule. He locked himself in his son Jason’s room and stayed there for the 14-day quarantine stay.
“I watched a ton of film,” Garcia said of his quarantine. “It was the toughest two weeks of my life. I have four kids (ages 15, 11, five and four) and not being able to do anything with them was crazy. I locked myself in that room and had to take care of it. My wife is asthmatic and she couldn’t be exposed to it. It was a really scary time for us. I didn’t want to put anyone in jeopardy. There was a lot at risk.”
However, Garcia was cleared after the quarantine – which saw his wife place the daily meals on a tray in front of the door and came back after Juan was finished – and resumed his duties as a firefighter and a football coach.
“I think we’re blessed to have a football season,” Garcia said. “I’m glad to be back with the kids and give the kids something positive to do.”
The Bulldogs’ starting quarterback is junior Khyjohn Camacho (6-foot-1, 140-pounds), who moves from wide receiver to quarterback this season.
“I just wish he would take the role more seriously,” Garcia said of Camacho. “He has to manage the game.”
Sophomore Jayden Colon (5-10, 160) will also see time at quarterback.
“Jayden has a better arm than Khyjohn,” Garcia said. “Khyjohn has been around the program longer. Jayden is a baseball player who just joined the program. He didn’t play last year.”
At one running back is junior Nahsir Bryant (5-7, 150). And at the other running back slot is that young man who had to give up his bedroom for his ailing father, none other than sophomore Jason Garcia (5-5, 135), who scored the game-winning touchdown in the closing seconds of the Bulldogs’ win over Dickinson last year.
Garcia said that he thoroughly enjoys coaching his kid.
“This year has been even more of a pleasure,” Garcia said. “I’m watching him grow into a leader. Even though he’s only a sophomore, the leadership role he’s taken this year has been tremendous. He’s telling other kids to run harder. It’s amazing to watch. The kid works hard and runs hard. And I never give the kid an inch. He’s doing it all on his own.”
Especially after the kid didn’t have a bedroom for two weeks.
At fullback is junior Keowone Muldrow (6-0, 195). The Bulldogs utilize a lot of Wing-T offensive formation but can also split out into the spread from time to time.
At wide receiver, the Bulldogs have senior Rafael Victoria (5-11, 170) and sophomore Quasean Jackson (5-9, 130).
The Bulldogs have two players who line up at tight end in senior Demetris Ramos (6-1, 250) and junior Brandon Cain (6-0, 185).
The offensive line features four players who started for the Bulldogs last season.
Junior Avonte Dawson (6-2, 220) and sophomore Zaymir Bordeaux (6-3, 275) are solid bookends with good size at tackle.
Junior Nahjiwuan Pearson (5-11, 240) returns to his starting position at guard, where he’s joined by junior newcomer Omar Hicks (6-0, 260).
And junior Alejandro Perez (5-10, 250) is the returning starter at center.
“We will go as far as they take us,” Garcia said of his line. “I feel like that should be our motto.”
The Bulldogs will use a 4-2-5 defensive formation, with many of the offensive personnel turning around to play defense as well.
The defensive ends are senior Ethan Merced (5-10, 185) and junior Kenneth Harris (6-3, 245), who is a true physical specimen.
Dawson is another to see time at defensive end.
The defensive tackles are Ramos and Bordeaux, with sophomore Quadel Jordan (5-10, 190), a transfer from Marist, and junior Jeremiah Salgado (5-10, 215) at linebacker.
The secondary consists of Bryant and Victoria at cornerbacks, with Colon and junior Jordan Jerez (6-0, 170) at safety and Muldrow playing more of a rover back position in the secondary.
Although the Bulldogs began their season with a loss to Fort Lee, they were poised to get into the win column Friday night Oct. 9 against Memorial. The Bulldogs play Dickinson on Saturday, Oct. 17.
Garcia is enthusiastic about the season.
“It’s a great feeling to be able to be with the kids on the field again,” Garcia said. “I can’t imagine how boring it was for them doing nothing. This may be the only time they get outside and be with their friends. This is my school. It’s where I went. I’m now coaching the kids of my former classmates [the mothers of Camacho and Bryant went to Ferris with Garcia]. I know these people and it’s pretty cool. I grew up their parents and I know how they feel.”
It’s safe to say that everyone will feel better with a few wins this fall from the Ferris Bulldogs. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at OGSMAR@aol.com
