Spartan football recap

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr.

File Photo: Don Klein (far right) just completed his 17th season as head coach of the Ocean Township Spartans. He is also the all-time winningest coach in school history with an impressive 93-74-1 overall record.

The 2023 football season started off red hot for the Big Red squad at Ocean Township High School. They had back-to-back wins by nearly the identical scores. They opened with a 28-14 win over Lacey and then 29-12 win over the Blue Bishops of Asbury Park.

They lost five of the next six games and were shutout in four of those losses. Shore Regional beat them 17-0, St. John Vianney won 34-0 and had one win in that stretch was a 14-7 victory over Raritan. The last three regular season games were a 30-0 loss at Holmdel, 25-7 at Freehold Township and 29-0 at Manasquan.

Ocean didn’t qualify for the NJSIAA tournament, however, they did host and beat Manchester Township 20-14 in the Regional Consolation Game, semifinals in South, Group 3 bracket. That enabled the Spartans to face Hopewell Valley in an NJSIAA Crossover Game, which Ocean lost 21-13.

Don Klein just completed his 17^th season as head coach of the Spartans. He is the all-time winningest head coach in the programs history. He has led the team to nine Central Jersey Group III playoff appearances and has advanced to the semifinals five times. He has had some very impressive seasons; 2013 the team went 10-1, and in 2015 the Big Red finished 9-2. He also has four years when the team won eight games; 2008, 2009, 2019 and 2022.

Klein also has four Shore Conference divisional titles to his credit. Federal Division in 2009, B-North title in 2013, Patriot Division in 2019 and last year undefeated in the Freedom Division. He was also Divisional Coach of the Year in 2009, 2013, 2019 and 2022.

His staff this past season included RJ Read as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks, Phil Green as defensive coordinator, Marcque Ellington as wide receivers and freshman coach, Jim Simonelli as special teams coordinator, Rich Read coaching the offensive line, Erik Mammano had linebackers, Anthony Tedesco was responsible for defensive line and freshman, Blaine Netterman worked with defensive backs and freshman, Jason Wombough had the offensive line. Katelyn Zimmerman wa

s the athletic trainer and coaching the cheerleaders was Leslie Kelly and Brianne Brannigan.

Team Stats for 2023

Passing

Bobby Paglia completed 44 of 85 for 520-yards with 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions

James Sobieski completed 1 of 3 for 14 yards and 1 touchdown

Mickey McGovern completed 1 of 6

Alex Staten was 0-for-1

Rushing

Nick Iacouzzi had 95 carries for 416 yards, 2 touchdowns

Boomer Volek had 59 carries for 334 yards, 2 touchdowns

James Sobieski, 45 carries for 229 yards, 2 touchdowns

Michael Poniris, 33 carries for 146 yards, 2 touchdowns

Alex Staten, 30 carries for 119 yards, 3 touchdowns

Receiving

James Sobieski, 21 catches for 283

yards, 4 touchdowns

Alex Staten, 12 catches for 142 yards

Willie Canavan, 7 catches for 48 yards

Stephen Falco, 2 catches for 12 yards

Boomer Volek, 1 catch for 33 yards

Danny Farina, 1 catch for 14 yards, 1 touchdown

Mickey McGovern, 1 catch for 7 yards

Michael Sorrentino, 1 catch for 6 yards.

Tackles

Willie Canavan, 95

Ben Girard, 72

Malcolm Beale, 68

Boomer Volek, 58

Stephen Falco, 49

Josh Calixte, 38

Michael Poniros, 25

Tackles for Loss

Ben Girard, 27

Willie Canavan, 8

Stephen Falco, 8

Boomer Volek, 5

Danny Farina, 4

Malcom Beale, 2

Sacks

Ben Girard, 12

Danny Farina, 2.5

Josh Calixte, 2.5

Michael Poniros, 1

Stephen Falco, 1

Fumbles Caused

Malcom Beale, 1

Stephen Falco, 1

Fumble Recovered

Willie Canavan, 2

Interceptions

Malcom Beale, 2

James Sobieski, 1

Nas Sanders, 1

Passes Defended

Malcom Beale, 12

James Sobieski, 12

Nas Sanders, 10

Boomer Volek, 6