Challenging for a division title, making the playoffs and finishing with a winning record are goals the Westfield Blue Devils football team has come to meet under the guidance of head coach Jim DeSarno.
While this year’s squad was hit hard by graduation – especially at the skill spots – there is enough talent back to keep Westfield’s winning tradition going.
It just may take some time before that talent gels as a unit on both sides of the ball.
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“I like the kids’ work ethic,” said DeSarno, in his sixth year at the helm.
DeSarno, since taking over in 2006, has guided Westfield to five winning seasons in five years and to the playoffs the last four. In two of those playoff seasons the Blue Devils were a win away from playing for the North 2, Group 4 state championship.
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“I like the way our seniors have stepped up,” DeSarno continued. “I don’t have a gauge on our team yet. We’ve gotten a lot out of our scrimmages.
“I was happy to see that in our second scrimmage we corrected some of the mistakes we made in our first.”
Westfield’s game-scrimmage - its third and final - was at Bergen County school Pascack Valley last week. The Blue Devils open at home on today at 1 p.m. vs. non-division arch rival Scotch Plains.
Leading the pro offense this season is senior quarterback Nate Mitchell (6-0, 170).
“Nate’s a smart kid who has been in the program for four years,” DeSarno said. “He understands our offense and where our playmakers are.
“It will be his job to get the ball in their hands. He won’t really be a threat to run, but he can throw the ball and get it to our receivers.”
Graduating steady quarterback Dan Kerr, bruising running back AJ Murray and capable wide receiver Ryan Hess meant that Westfield needed to adjust quite a bit.
“We’re, obviously, not going to be the same look offensively,” DeSarno said. “We now have to try to do things a little differently.
“We have a little more speed and multiple receivers. More kids will have to touch the ball.”
Returning at flanker is senior Peter Ondi (5-8, 165). Don’t let his size fool you. He came up with plenty of big catches for the Blue Devils last season.
“Peter’s a captain now and we’ll rely on him a lot more,” DeSarno said. “He worked hard in the off season after having a great junior year.
“In order to be successful as a senior he has to be a better player than he was last year. He will take on that responsibility while being a leader as well. I’m confident he will do that.”
Stepping into the tailback position is speedy senior James O’Rourke (5-7, 166).
“I’m excited for him,” DeSarno said. “He’s a lot different back than what we had with AJ. He has a little more speed. He’s similar to Ricardo Johnson.
“He might not run you over, but he can get low to the ground and pop out. He has good hands too and can catch the ball.”
The fullback is senior James McCrea (6-0, 207). John Lanzano, now a senior, will be used more at his tight end position. His catch in the end zone ended, arguably, the game of the year in Union County last season, with Westfield coming back to beat visiting Linden 30-24 in double overtime.
As a result, Westfield ended up qualifying for the North 2, Group 4 playoffs with enough power points at 6-2, while Linden at the cutoff did not have enough with the same 6-2 mark and didn’t make it.
“We’ll have to get him move involved,” DeSarno said. “It was a position that was not used enough last year. We’ll have to do a better job of putting ourselves in a position for him to touch the ball and make things happen.”
Joining Lanzano and Ondi as returning starters is senior right guard Ryan Elliott.
“He’s the rock of our line,” DeSarno said of the three-year starter. “He’s our strongest player in the weight room. He works real hard and is a great leader.”
Back as Westfield’s placekicker is senior Jonathan Gribbin who has proven to be as steady as any kicker in Union County the past two seasons.
He kicked three field goals and scored 12 points with his foot in a 30-20 division home win over Elizabeth last season.
“We actually brought Jon up as a freshman,” DeSarno said. “He has a lot of confidence and we have a lot of confidence in him.
“He’ll also get chances at receiver and safety. He’s a gamer.”
Returning starters on defense include senior Mike LaFace at end, Lanzano and senior Pat Johnson at outside linebacker and O’Rourke and Ondi at cornerback.
“For the first time we have experience returning at the cornerback position in O’Rourke and Ondi,” DeSarno said. “Lanzano and Johnson started for us last year at outside linebacker.
“We’re a little young at free safety, so it’s nice to have the two players we have back at cornerback. We’re a little inexeperienced at inside linebacker too. We’ll rely on Lanzano, Johnson, O’Rourke and Ondi to step up.”
WESTFIELD'S PRO OFFENSE:
LT Brenton Harries, junior, (6-3, 193)
LG Abe Fertig-Cohen, senior, (6-2, 245)
C Dan Bigelow, senior, (5-10, 216)
RG Ryan Elliott, senior, (5-10, 220)
RT Nick Calello, senior, (6-0, 199)
TE John Lanzano, senior, (5-11, 180)
SE Mike Stravach, senior, (6-3, 165)
FL Peter Ondi, senior, (5-8, 165)
FB James McCrea, senior, (6-0, 207)
TB James O'Rourke, senior, (5-7, 166)
QB Nate Mitchell, senior, (6-0, 170)
PK Jonathan Gribbin, senior, (5-11, 147)
P James McCrea, senior, (6-0, 207)
Returning Starters: Elliott, Lanzano, Ondi, Gribbin.
WESTFIELD'S 4-4 DEFENSE:
E Mike Mondon, senior, (5-11, 202)
E Mike LaFace, senior, (5-11, 202)
T Alex McHugh, senior, (5-9, 218)
T Joe Scaglione, sophomore, (5-11, 245)
OLB John Lanzano, senior, (5-11, 180)
OLB Pat Johnson, senior, (5-10, 168)
ILB Joe Rinaldi, senior, (5-11, 173)
ILB Nick LaFace, junior, (5-9, 168)
CB James O'Rourke, senior, (5-7, 166)
CB Peter Ondi, senior, (5-8, 165)
FS Jonathan Gribbin, senior, (5-11, 147)
FS Dylan Elliott, sophomore, (6-1, 161)
Returning Starters: Mike LaFace, Lanzano, Johnson, O’Rourke, Ondi.
WESTFIELD BLUE DEVILS
Head coach: Jim DeSarno,
since 2006.
A 1987 Pompton Lakes graduate.
Assistant coaches:
Ken Miller, defensive coordinator
Dave Hancock, special teams coordinator
Joe Avina, linebackers
Ron Thornburg, running backs and defensive backs
Sam Haimann, split ends, flankers
Joe Marino, freshman
Bill Mellott, freshman
Don Cassett, volunteer
Jim Lloyd, volunteer freshman
Sixth season: 28-14 (.667)
Conference: Mid-State 39
Division: East A
Section: North 2, Group 4
Westfield’s last sectional title: 1977
2010: (7-3 and 5-1 in East A Division-second)
Gary Kehler Stadium: Field Turf.
DeSarno was previously the head coach at Kinnelon
after serving as an assistant at Linden.
2011 SCHEDULE
Sept. 10 Scotch Plains, 1 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Bridgewater, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 at Watchung Hills, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Elizabeth, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Union, 3 p.m.
Oct. 22 Rahway, 2 p.m.
Oct. 28 at Linden, 7 p.m.
Nov. 5 Immaculata, 2 p.m.
Nov. 24 Plainfield, 10 a.m.
