Shore NJ Football: Middletown South prepares for season
The Middletown High School South football team is preparing for the season under new head coach Marc Tomo.
The Asbury Park Press profiles high school football teams under consideration for our preseason Shore Super 25 team rankings.
It is almost impossible to follow in Marc Tomo’s footsteps.
Tomo is the man who succeeds the legendary Steve Antonucci as head coach of the Middletown High School South football team. Antonucci, who led the Eagles to 220 wins, six NJSIAA sectional championships and five undefeated seasons over the past 26 years, resigned last winter.
“There will never be another Steve Antonucci. Steve is one of a kind,” said Tomo, who has been Antonucci’s defensive coordinator for the past three seasons. “The pressure on me is that we want to win. The standard hasn’t changed. I hold myself to that standard no matter what we do.”
Tomo, who was an assistant coach at Ocean for 11 seasons, one season at Albright University and the last five years at Middletown South, is not approaching this challenge unprepared, even though he said this is the first head coaching job he has ever applied for.
“I think a lot of the staff knew Steve’s time was coming to an end,” Tomo said. “Everyone was kind of waiting for me to be the next guy. The staff, the players and the administration were all fully supportive.”
“From the players’ perspective, I think it was an easy transition because everyone knew what was going on.”
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Liam Curley, a veteran running back/linebacker, said it was strange not to see the fiery Antonucci leading practice.
“It’s very strange,” Curley said. “He’s been my coach for three years now. It’s very different. He just brought intensity and gave great pregame speeches.”
Brendan Sliva, a running back/defensive back last year, said the players can’t wait to usher in a new era of Middletown South football, even without Antonucci.
“I miss him,” said Sliva. “He was a great coach. We will always remember him, but now there are new things on the agenda.”
A slightly changed coaching staff in Middletown South: Al Bigos and Steve Roberts also leave the team
Some of Antonucci’s longtime assistant coaches, such as Al Bigos and Steve Roberts, also resigned after last season. Bigos is not a coach. Roberts is an assistant coach at Rumson-Fair Haven.
However, John Andl, Middletown South’s successful head coach in 1988 and 1989, has joined the team as assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach after spending the last few seasons on the staff at Rumson-Fair Haven.
Middletown South, with a team led by running back Stephen Michael Pitts, went 11-0 and won the school’s first NJSIAA sectional championship in Andl’s final season as head coach. The Eagles reached the Central Group 4 championship game in Andl’s first season.
Jeremy Balina, the defensive coordinator at Wall for the Crimson Knights’ powerhouse teams in 2019 and 2020, replaces Tomo as defensive coordinator. Tomo, who was a linebacker/offensive lineman while in high school at Ocean, will be his own offensive coordinator.
“When we had our first practice in June, I went out and talked to the other coaches, and they were like, ‘It feels like we haven’t missed a beat,'” Tomo said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, it felt natural.’ It felt like we were where we were supposed to be.'”
“Coach Tomo is great,” Curley said. “He’s motivated. He runs plays with us. He plays linebacker on the scout team. In practice, he plays pulling guard on offense. He brings intensity and understands us.”
There are also some big gaps to be filled on the field: Colin Gallagher and Jake Czwakiel have graduated
There are big shoes to fill on the field, too. Among those graduating in June were linebacker/defensive end/running back Colin Gallagher, a USA TODAY NETWORK All-New Jersey first team selection on defense, and quarterback/defensive back/placekicker/punter Jake Czwakiel.
Curley and junior Mike Murphy will split time at Gallagher’s position on defense. Curley will also get time at running back, where Donovan Summey will also have to be replaced.
Senior Jackson Harris, who saw some playing time last season when Czwakiel was sidelined with injury, junior Luke Donofrio and sophomore Jack Schneider are competing for the quarterback job.
Of course, you’re going to keep some of the things that Steve has done so successfully for 26 years. But he and I kind of have different personalities.
“We’re excited,” Sliva said. “We’re changing the playbook and stuff. We’re ready to go.”
Important returnees
Brendan Sliva (Sr. RB/DB); Liam Curley (Sr., RB/LB); Gio Massagli (Sr., OL/DL); Ryan Harden (Sr., OL); Mike Toth (Sr., OL); Matt Germek (Sr., OL); Logan Burbank (Jr., WR/DB); Chase Ponik (Sr., DL); Jackson Harris (Sr., QB).
Potential breakout players
Justin Rosato (So., RB/LB); Mike Murphy (Jr., LB); Ryan Goode (Jr., DB); Brandon Rahill (Jr., OL); Anthony Bennett (So. TE); Luca Donofrio (Jr., QB); Jack Schneider (So., QB); Mike Mullane (So., QB/DB).
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Logan Burbank: Sacred Heart, Monmouth,
Important losses
Colin Gallagher (RB/DL/LB); Jake Czwakiel (QB/DB/PK/P); Owen Richter (WR/DB); Donovan Sumey (RB).
Middletown South Football at a glance
Head coach: Marc Tomo, 1st Season (0-0).
Record last year: 5-5.
NJSIAA Group Classification: South Group 4.
Playoff history: 10 Section Championships (53-24)
Basic attack set: force distribution.
Basic Defense Set: 3-4.
Assistant Coach:
John Andl (assistant coach/quarterbacks); Jeremy Balina (defensive coordinator); Tim Heaney (defensive line); Tom Nicholes (offensive line); Matt Walsh Sr. (wide receiver); Jeff Martin (running backs); Joe Trezza (defensive backs/special teams); Sam Dokus (outside linebacker); Jake Krellin (freshman); Brady Smith (freshman); Kevin Higgins (volunteer); Tuck Isherwood (freshman, volunteer).
Schedule 2024
30 August: against Cherokee, 2:30 p.m. at Egg Harbor Township High School.
6 September: In Manalapan, 7 p.m.
14 September: At Colts Neck, 11 a.m.
20 September: Marlboro, 7pm
27 September: Rumson-Fair Haven, 7 p.m.
October 4: Jackson Memorial, 7 p.m.
October 11: In Long Branch, 6 p.m.
October 25: At Red Bank Catholic, 7 p.m.
28 November: Middletown North, 10:35 a.m.
