It is a schedule filled with one challenge after another.
"Our schedule's brutal. It's going to be difficult to navigate, no doubt,'' said Middletown South head coach Steve Antonucci.
The Eagles have been one of the Shore Conference’s best programs since the late 1980s. They have won 10 NJSIAA sectional championships under four head coaches during that span, including six in Antonucci’s 22 seasons.
Last year, the Eagles faced a similar difficult schedule while playing the ultra-competitive Shore Conference American Division and won four of their final five games to finish 5-5.
"We can be a team, very similar to last year's team, where we can play with just about anybody if we're healthy,'' Antonucci said.
State of the Program: Manalapan football like you've never seen it before
In this year’s schedule - reduced to six games due to the NJSIAA pushing the start of the season back to Oct. 2 because of the COVID-19 pandemic - Middletown South will play all playoff teams from last year and four teams that finished ranked in the top seven in the final Asbury Park Press Top 10.
Middletown South will contest that schedule with a team that should be solid on both fronts, but has a question to answer at quarterback.
"I feel good about it,'' Antonucci said. "We have a really good nucleus of returning players. We have a lot of kids who fortunately played some last year in some unfortunate circumstances because we got beat up last year from an injury standpoint. I feel we have a good deal of experience and have a really solid football team. I really do.''
Antonucci and his coaching staff, like all coaching staffs, have had to navigate around the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the in first week of the NJSIAA's summer recess period the Eagles had to shut down a couple of their workout pods because players who were part of Middletown South Last Dance World Series baseball team had exposure to the virus.
Antonucci said there have not been any issues with the virus in recent weeks.
"You have to (deal with) something out there that you're anticipating, (but) that we're going to play (have a season),'' Antonucci said. "Kids are approaching it every day that we have a job to do in terms of doing the right things for not just our program, but for our school and the other programs in the Shore Conference. I think they're taking it as a challenge.''
Caseys: Red Bank Catholic undergoing a rare rebuild in 2020
Program’s best season ever
The 2005 team was led by standout running back Knowshon Moreno in his senior season and star linebacker Nick Macaluso, also in his senior season, and went 12-0, winning the NJSIAA North 2 Group III championship. It was third of four consecutive sectional championships for the Eagles and their third straight 12-0 season.
Middletown South also went 12-0 and won sectional championships in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2015, and 11-0 and won sectional titles in 1989, 1992 and 1995 and 10-0-1 with a sectional title in 1990. The Eagles also went 11-1 with a sectional title in 2006.
What will success in 2020 look like?
If the Eagles find stability at quarterback, anything's possible. They're solid up front and on defense and also at wide receiver. Surviving their difficult regular season schedule with a winning record would set them up to be a factor in whatever post-season setup the NJSIAA uses.
Middletown South went 3-1 last year against teams on its schedule and defeated final APP Top 10 teams Red Bank Catholic and Rumson-Fair Haven.
NJ football: Rumson-Fair Haven loaded for 2020
At a glance
2019 record: 5-5
Head coach: Steve Antonucci, 23rd season, 195-54
Coaching Staff: Al Bigos (defensive coordinator); Nick Trezza (offensive line/assistant offensive coordinator); Joe Trezza (defensive backs/assistant defensive coordinator); Steve Roberts (special teams/defensive line); Marc Tomo (linebackers/tight ends); Jeff Martin (running backs); Tom Isherwood (quality control); Rod Murchie (head freshman); Kevin Higgins (assistant freshman); Tom Antonucci (volunteer assistant); Tom Grier (volunteer assistant); Zach Even-Esh (strength coach); Stacey White (athletic trainer).
Key returnees: Joe Stanzione (Sr., TE/RB/DL); Brendan Bigos (Sr., OL/DL); Alex Higgans (Sr., OL); Jake Williamson (Jr., OL); Matt Mauro (Sr., RB/WR/DB); Luke Albrecht (Sr., WR/DB); Tom Schork (Jr., WR/DB); Francis Brown (Sr., WR); Ian Rahill (Sr., DL); Jack Latore (Jr., DL/LB); Liam Murphy (Sr., LB); Nick Trezza (Sr., LB); Matt Grab (Jr., DB).
Offense: Spread
Defense: 3-4
2020 schedule
Oct 2: Long Branch
Oct. 9: Red Bank Catholic
Oct. 17: At Mater Dei Prep
Oct. 23: At Rumson-Fair Haven
Oct. 30: Middletown North
Nov. 6: At Wall
Steven Falk covers scholastic football, wrestling and baseball for app.com and is a life-long resident of the Shore area who loves the rich history of sports in the Shore area. 732-643-4267; sfalk@gannettnj.com.
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State of the Program: Middletown South football to face difficult schedule - Asbury Park Press
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