Two years after a winless season, High School North stands at .500 and has defeated cross-town rival High School South for the second year in a row, by a score of 35-14 on September 26. The Pirates, meanwhile, are 0-4 and are still looking for their first season win heading into their game against Hamilton West on Friday, October 10.
The Knights, 2-2, have five regular season games left and will host Hightstown Friday, October 10, at 7 p.m., followed by a game at Notre Dame the next Friday, at 7 p.m.
First-year head coach Jeff Reilly wants to win the division and qualify for the playoffs. The season has already been a turnaround from last season’s team, which ultimately finished 3-7.
So far North has featured an offense with a physical front line, which has helped North’s dual running threat. Senior Robert Peterson — who ran for a touchdown in North’s win over South — and junior C.J. Markisz — who scored two touchdowns against South — split the team’s carries. Reilly describes Peterson as a slasher with speed and great cutback ability, while characterizing Markisz as a more physical runner, a grinder with good speed.
Facilitating North’s impact ground offense is an all-senior offensive line. Center Jack Schilder is flanked by Roland Anderson and Sam Spetalnick at the guard positions. Logan Brodsky and Greg Olsson start at the tackle positions.
“They understand their assignments and execute them perfectly,” Reilly says.
In addition to run blocking, the lineman pass protect for senior quarterback Kevin Murphy, who threw for more than 1,000 yards last season.
“He is overall the leader of the offense. He is very patient and he can make things happen with his feet as well,” Reilly says.
Murphy’s receiving core features junior Malik Thompson as the deep threat and junior Patrick Zeoli as the possession receiver. When he is not busy blocking, senior tight end Kade Laforge has proven to be a reliable passing target as well.
On the defensive side, Reilly credits seniors Donte Whitacker-Pinney for his defensive line play in run coverage. Fellow senior Tucker Tisch, who plays linebacker, has also been effective versus the run.
“We’ve had flashes of brilliance in the first half of every game,” says Reilly, looking ahead to the playoffs. “I want us to be able to play a full game, all four quarters.”
The coaching staff has been trying to address this concern, which Reilly says is probably a combination of conditioning, halftime strategic adjustments, as well as stretched out players who serve multiple roles on the team.
“We have a lot of kids who do a lot of things. We want to have some other kids step in so we can make it through a whole game,” Reilly says.
Reilly grew up in Rochester, New York, and the Phil Simms-era Giants nurtured his passion for sports. Reilly’s father was an accountant and his mom worked as an interior decorator, and he says he was the only one in his family who really got into sports.
He played linebacker and tight end in high school, as well as outfield in baseball, and he played football at the linebacker position for SUNY Brockport, where he studied physical education.
Prior to joining North, Reilly was the defensive coordinator for the Hopewell team that won the Central Jersey Group III title. In addition to coaching, Reilly teaches physical education at Dutch Neck and Millstone River schools.
North defeated South 35-14 on September 26.
North quarterback Kevin Murphy passed for 134 yards and two TDs, both caught by Malik Thompson. North running backs C.J. Markisz and Robert Peterson combined for 261 rushing yards and three TDs.
South quarterback Andrew Schoepfer had one rushing and one passing touchdown, as well as two interceptions.
North (2-2): A 32-12 loss to Trenton on October 2.
South (0-4): A 35-0 loss to Burlington Township on October 2.
