MIDDLETOWN – Coaches always respect their opponents. But Middletown South head man Steve Antonucci is taking it to a whole other level. When asked on an information sheet who the teams were to beat in the American Division, the answer was simple: All of them. Sometimes you can glance at a schedule and circle a likely win, but the Eagles are well aware there are no gimmees when it comes to the 2019 slate.
Head Coach: Steve Antonucci
(22nd Season)
2018 Record: 8-3
Offense: 21.36 points scored per game
Defense: 14.45 points allowed per game
Yet a team with seven starters back on offense and six starters on the defensive side is ready to take on a big challenge.
“Training camp is going well so far,” senior RB/DB Chris Lotito said. “Our coaches are on top of us every day working us hard and everybody knows what we have with our schedule. We are bonding as a team really well and everybody is buying in. We are all pumped for the season and everybody is working hard to make sure we’re ready.”
Seniors Tyler Cuccia and Vin Bonavita are battling for the starting quarterback job and both players will contribute no matter what the outcome is. The Eagles are going to be able to run the football with a seasoned offensive line and a stable of senior backs in Lotito, Vinny Condito and Matt Krellin who have proven they can make big plays under the Friday Night Lights. Lotito, a Seton Hall baseball commit, and Krellin will be part of a deep secondary that also features Cuccia and junior Luke Albrecht.
Last year’s group is accustomed to playing against high profile opponents and a 14-7 win over Rumson-Fair Haven (a team that went on to win a sectional championship and a bowl game) showed that Middletown South is more than capable of rising to the occasion and gaining statewide attention with quality wins.
MIDDLETOWN SOUTH EAGLES
KEY RETURNERS:
Brendan Bigos, Junior, DL/TE
Chris Lotito, Senior, RB/DB
Matt Krellin, Senior, RB/DB
Vinny Condito, Senior, FB/DT
Tyler Cuccia, Senior, QB/DB
Nick Bonfiglio, Senior, OL/DL
Tom Mielnikiewicz, Senior, OL/DL
TJ Latore, Senior, LB/OL
Luke Albrecht, Junior, WR/DB
Ian Rahill, Junior, OL/DL
KEY NEWCOMERS:
Tyler Kline, Senior, OL/DL
Jake Williamson, Sophomore, OL/DL
Vin Bonavita, Senior, QB
Tom Schork, Sophomore, WR
Jack Prancl, Senior, DL/FB
Joe Stanzione, Junior, LB/TE
Liam Murphy, Junior, LB
Shane Murphy, Senior, LB
Alex Higgins, Junior, OL/DL
MIDDLETOWN SOUTH
2019 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 6 vs. Manalapan
Friday, Sept. 13 at Saint John Vianney
Friday, Sept. 20 at Red Bank Catholic
Friday, Oct. 4 at Long Branch
Friday, Oct. 11 vs. Toms River North Friday,
Oct. 18 at Rumson-Fair Haven Friday,
Nov. 1 vs. Brick Township Thursday,
Nov. 28 vs. Middletown North
GAME TO WATCH
FRIDAY, SEPT. 13
ROAD GAME AT SAINT JOHN VIANNEY
Coach Antonucci isn’t exaggerating about Middletown South’s schedule. The Eagles begin a three-game gauntlet on the road with a trip to Holmdel and Saint John Vianney. The Lancers got a long TD run from Kavon Chambers that was the difference in a 7-0 win at the Swamp last year. With RBC and Long Branch around the corner, a good effort against SJV will be important considering the rest of the slate.
PLAYER TO WATCH
VINNY CONDITO
SENIOR FB/DL
Photo by Rich Chrampanis
Every coach in America would love to have a guy like Vince Condito on their roster. When he carries the ball, you better bring a whole bunch of bodies on defense to try and bring him down and he’s simply disruptive on the defensive side of the ball. His blocked extra point against Toms River North clinched a division title for Middletown South.
