High Expectations for Huskies Football

The 2011 football season for Matawan Regional High School will begin with summer practices three days a week starting July 5.

While last season may have ended in disappointment and the final goal my not have been reached, the Huskies turned in an incredibly successful 2010 season.

High expectations have returned to Barry Rizzo Stadium, and that's just the way the Huskies faithful like it. Coming off an NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II championship in 2009 – the program's first since 1992 – Matawan followed up with a second consecutive 11-1 season that included a repeat visit to the CJ-II title game. The play of stars Jared Allison, McArthur Underwood, Andre Hodge and John Faccas led the way for a Huskies team that highlighted the 2010-2011 athletic school year for Matawan.

The Huskies had their bid for a second straight sectional championship blocked by Rumson-Fair Haven, which scored the upset win at Kean University to secure its first title in program history. Up to that point, Matawan had won 22 games in a row behind an absolutely electric offense and a defense that grew into one of the toughest in the Shore Conference. The Huskies finished with a perfect 5-0 division record to claim the Shore Conference Class A Central title, averaging 35.6 points per game while yielding just 11.3. Highlight victories include a 22-2 season-opening win over Central Jersey Group III champion Freehold as well as wins over Rumson, Manasquan, Barnegat and Raritan.

Success started with Allison, a dynamic quarterback who finished 43-for-93 for 824 yards and 10 touchdowns passing while running for a team-high 866 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was also a brilliant kick returner, as he showed with punt return touchdowns of 92 and 80 yards in the state playoffs. He also caught a touchdown pass from talented freshman Kashaun Barnes, who will take over at quarterback this coming season. Backfield mates Underwood, senior Keith Beaty and junior Cassius Williams made game-planning for Matawan's rushing attack an utter nightmare. Underwood, a three-year starter, ran for 763 yards while Williams, ran for 710 yards and 8 touchdowns on nearly 10 yards per carry. Beaty was a good goal line back who also had breakaway speed. More or less, every time one of those four touched the ball it had the potential to go for a touchdown.

Hodge and Faccas, a linebacker and defensive end, respectively, led the way for a defense that allowed more than 14 points in a game just twice last season. Hodge, however, was also a standout offensive lineman as a 220-pound left guard that helped pave the way for Allison and company. As a linebacker he recorded 70 tackles and 6 sacks, and was selected as the Class A Central Co-Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches. Faccas was a terror coming off the edge. He also finished with 70 tackles while producing 14 sacks and 7 forced fumbles. Allison and Underwood were also standouts in the defensive secondary along with Joe Urciuoli.

Several players were selected as all-division picks for Class A Central including Beaty, Williams, Allison, Faccas, Hodge, Underwood, Urciuoli, senior offensive lineman Andrew Lazar and junior defensive lineman Devon Rice. Head coach Joe Martucci was also picked as one of the Co-Coaches of the Year. Allison was also the division's Offensive Player of the Year.

Eight Huskies players were honored by the Shore Football Coaches Foundation as Academic All-Shore members for having kept at least a 3.0 grade-point average. Faccas, Hodge, Lazar, Urciuoli, Joel Castell, Andrew Richmond. Terry Rodriguez and Ken Santimauro all were recognized for their classroom prowess.

A handful of players will be continuing their football careers in college as Allison is headed to New Hampshire, Hodge to Eastern Illinois, Faccas to Wagner and Urciuoli to Pace University.

Some of the players will also get to step onto the field as a high school player one last time during the annual US Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic, which will take place Thursday July 14 at Toms River North. Beaty, Faccas, Lazar and Underwood will all suit up for Monmouth County, which has won the last two games.