Britt Reid runs the ball during a win against Lawrence Nov. 8, 2015 at Robbinsville High School. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.)
Drew Freeman during a win against Lawrence Nov. 8, 2015 at Robbinsville High School. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.)
Matt Surtz during a win against Lawrence Nov. 8, 2015 at Robbinsville High School. (Photo by Suzette J. Lucas.)
Three games into the season, the Robbinsville PAL Junior Ravens 100s weren’t looking like much of a playoff team.
Then again, non-looks can be deceiving.
The Ravens proved they were every bit a playoff team, reeling off five straight victories and taking a 6-2 record into the West Jersey Youth Football League playoffs. Robbinsville hung close with its first-round opponent, Maple Shade, making it a 7-6 game at halftime before eventually falling, 34-6.
The Junior Ravens are composed of primarily fourth- and fifth-graders who weighed less than 100 pounds at the start of the season.
Head coach Jeff Burns also had the team last year when it went 2-6. It has been aided this season by the additions from last year’s 85-pound team, which went 7-1 and won the league championship.
Returnees from last year’s 100-pound team are captains Nate Aromando, Jake Brades, Cameron Burns and Matt Surtz, along with Britt Reid, Donnie Ryan and Tom Thornton. They have been complemented by the addition of 2014 85-pounders Daniel Cruz, Drew Freeman, Luke Hanuscin, Kevin Otto, Hayden Perusich, Grant Paulus, Avery Stefanics, Josh Weber and Galiano Zeppado.
“The players who moved up really helped out,” Burns said. “I think all the coaches involved thought we had the chance to be a playoff team.”
Those thoughts did not dissipate, despite the tough start. The players themselves remained confident despite non-football related injures to Weber and Paulus.
“I knew we were going to turn our season around, because we played two of the hardest teams in our division,” said Cameron Burns, the coach’s son who plays center and linebacker. “We played pretty close with both of those teams in the first half of the game. Once we won our second game (a shutout over Florence) we had lots of momentum to keep our winning streak going.”
Surtz, a running back/defensive end, felt the work ethic increased after the two losses.
“We had better practices and worked hard to get better,” Surtz said. “We believe every position is the most important position on the field.”
The offense was led by quarterback Aromando—whose brother Andrew quarterbacked the Robbinsville High varsity squad—and Surtz at running back.
“Nate has really turned our passing game into a real force,” Jeff Burns said. “And Matt has been one of the elite running backs in the league. He’s fast and just an all-around good running back.”
Surtz was unavailable in the season’s first two games, which likely contributed to the slow start.
Not to mention, a lot of other pieces needed time to mesh.
“I just think our team jelled together with the returning players from the 100s and the players moving up from 85s,” Jeff Burns said. “It took a few games to get together.”
The offense was sparked by its line, nicknamed the Red Bulls (which pertains to the team colors). Flanking Cameron Burns are tackles Brades and Otto, guards Perusich and Reid, and Ryan, who helps at guard and tackle. The tight ends are Cruz and Stefanics, while Freeman and Hanuscin are the receivers.
“Our offensive line is doing a great job,” Surtz said. “The holes have been huge for me to gain yards. We also have great blocking tight ends.”
Cameron Burns feels it works both ways.
“The key to a good offense is a good offensive line,” he said. “Me and Jake Brades have been playing offensive line together for six years, which has helped some of our less experienced players develop in practice. And our line knows that if we open up the holes, our backs have the ability to break a big play any time.”
Defensively, the line consists of Aromando, Surtz, Perusich, Stefanics, Haunscin, Reid and Ryan, with Aromando and Surtz at the ends. Burns and Brades are linebackers, while Cruz and Zeppado are the cornerbacks. Both had two interceptions in the regular-season finale.
During their winning streak, the Ravens allowed just two touchdowns and had five shutouts.
“I think our defense is really strong this year,” Cameron Burns said. “We have five players that played on the 85s last year.”
One of the keys to the defense has been the Ravens “Tunnel of Love” drill, which is a tackling exercise in which two offensive lineman and a ball carrier line up across two d-linemen and a linebacker.
“It’s toughened our defense and got us ready to play,” said Jeff Burns, who feels that shutting out Florence in the season’s fourth game helped give the team confidence to start its winning streak. Burns is assisted by Andrew Aromando Sr., Matt Freeman, Andy Surtz, Clarke Paulus, Jim Brades and Britt Reid.
“We’ve been pleased with the boys’ dedication and effort all season,” Jeff Burns said. “From the start of the official practice in early August, the boys have really progressed. And I think they’re having fun.”
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