Shore Super 25 football: Manalapan has the numbers - 'Pretty deep on the offense'

The Asbury Park Press is featuring high school football teams being considered for our preseason Shore Super 25 team rankings.

The Manalapan High football team is ready to go from a team that fights the good fight against elite competition - to breaking through with what's forecasted as a well-balanced offense and strong returning corps.

“It’s pretty deep on the offense,” Manalapan head coach Dominick Lepore said.

Manalapan clearly has the skill players, as seen when the Braves went 6-0 and won the championship at the Shore Conference summer 7 on 7 tournament.

But the blocking and tackling is looking good, too.

More: Shore high school football summer coverage: player/team rankings, previews, must-see games

“In term of the whole offense I always start at the offensive line and we got those bruisers back,” Lepore said. “We only graduated two tackles. But we got Reggie Bennet who’s going to be a three-year starter, you got Nick Monteleone who’s going to be a three-year starter, you got Brody Alfieri who’s going to be a two-year starter, then Alex Osmun who’s going to be a senior. Then we got a kid Brayden Miller who played as a sophomore, Anthony Beaton who’s going to be a junior who’s a big kid as well. That’s going to be the strength there.”

Changing the postseason script

Manalapan has had first-round playoff exits the past three seasons. Plus last year the Braves had three games they lost by seven points or less. It’s the close games that has hindered them in past years. Situations like that aren’t about the X’s and O’s, it’s the mental toughnesss to execute in tense situations, Lepore says.

“I tell the kids you win those games you're 6-2 going into the playoffs,” said Lepore, referencing close losses to Raritan and Howell last season. “You’re probably at home instead of being 4-4 and having to take a ride to Mainland who ended up winning the whole thing. But we haven’t been able to win those close games and we got to get over that hump.”

Key returning players

Reggie Bennet (Sr., OL/DL), Nick Monteleone (Sr., OL/DL), Brody Alfieri (Sr., OL/DL), Alex Osmun (Sr., OL/LB), Brayden Miller (Jr., OL/DL), Anthony Beaton (Jr., OL/DL), Ah’sere Woolfolk (Jr., RB/DB), Jason Rodriguez (Sr., RB/LB), Justin Rizzo-Troxell (Sr., WR/DB), Sean Nolan (Sr., WR/DB), Jackson Pfister (Sr., WR/DB), Ryan Dougherty (Sr., QB)

Possible breakout players

Sophomores Ethan Fotelstrom (TE/DE) and Nick Palmieri (RB/LB) are “pretty special kids that can make a big impact,” said Lepore.

Theme of training camp

“Unfortunately my four years of head coach, the number is like 13 games we lost by seven points or less. That part is a little bit of everything. Finding a way to win those close games - or have that lead and you got to finish it. That’s really been what me and the coaching team have stressed,” said Lepore.

More: Shore Super 25 football teams: 'Players graduate, expectations don't' at Marlboro High

Recruiting

Jackson Pfister has been talking to Division I schools such as Brown, Cornell, Harvard and has visited Fordham, Marist and more. He’s also been to camps from other Division I programs this summer.

Ryan Dougherty has been to Monmouth, Brown, Georgetown and other camps involving FCS schools. He’s also been invited to Division III programs as well.

Reggie Bennet has been to camps run by Misericordia, TCNJ and Rutgers.

Justin Troxell has been to camps at Penn, Rutgers, Marist, Yale and has been invited by UConn, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, Denison, and Wesleyan.

Brody Alfieri has been to the Mass Maritime camp.

Nick Monteleone has spoken to Fordham, Brown and Cornell

Jason Rodriguez has been invited to Sacred Heart, James Madison University and TCNJ camps.

Overview

NJSIAA South Group 4

2023 record: 4-5 (lost to Mainland in quarterfinal round)

Playoff history: 20-22, seven sectional finals a sectional title in 2014

Coach: Dominick Lepore, 5th season at Manalapan (15-19)

Offensive style: Multiple

Manalapan football 2024 schedule

Aug. 21: at Montgomery, 10 a.m. (scrimmage)

Aug. 23: vs Hackensack, 6 p.m. (scrimmage)

Aug. 30: at Piscataway, 6 p.m.

Sep. 6: vs Middletown South, 7 p.m.

Sep. 14: at Manasquan, 1 p.m.

Sep. 20: at Raritan, 7 p.m.

Sep. 27: vs St. John Vianney, 7 p.m.

Oct. 5: at Howell, 2 p.m.

Oct. 10: vs Wall, 7 p.m.

Oct. 18: at Freehold Township, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 25: vs Holmdel, 7 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore Super 25 football: Manalapan has the numbers - 'Pretty deep on the offense'