With a 7-3 record, the Knights football team had one of its best seasons in 2010 before eventually falling in the first round of the Central Jersey Group III state tournament to rival Hamilton.
Last year’s success may be hard to match, though, with only four starters back from 2010 with varsity experience. Players absent from the roster include running back Chris Banks, who decided to play soccer, and wide receiver Brendan Kenavan, who is injured and lost for the season.
Arguably the biggest blow is the loss of last year’s star running back Jaymar Anderson, who ran out of eligibility. The teen had moved to Plainsboro to live with his uncle some two years ago because of his mother’s schedule as a self-employed hospice worker. The transition to a new town was helped by the fact that WW-P had a football program.
Anderson helped carry the team to a home state playoff game in 2010, the second in the school’s history, against Hamilton. The Knights had defeated Hamilton earlier in the season, 10-6, but were unable to stop the Hornets, who were out for revenge. They lost 35-13 to end their season.
Anderson finished the year with 1,535 yards and 18 touchdowns. He had one touchdown in the playoff loss.
It’s the job of Coach Chris Casamento, now in his fourth year at the Knights’ helm, to make the best of the hand he’s been dealt.
“Sometimes in a situation like this it makes guys work harder and leaders emerge,” said Casamento.
Returning players include Tyrone Parker at running back, and Nesta Cole and Jack Cunningham on the offensive line. Josh Bloom, who played well at linebacker in 2010, will start at quarterback this year.
Casamento notes that although there’s been a learning curve, the new starters have been picking the system up quickly and improved as the preseason progressed. “We’ll mix it up and try to put the guys in the right spots.”
In addition to the seniors who graduated, “We lost three of the top guys we thought we had coming back,” said Casamento.
He points out that in 2010 the team lost a number of quality players including Len Bellezza, Jake Everett, Dan Kenavan, and Sean Reed and still had success. “But we had guys with more experience coming back last year, so we’ll see what happens.”
The Knights’ first test comes this Saturday, September 10, at Trenton at 1 p.m. Last year North defeated Trenton 31-12.
