Irish prepared to tackle tough schedule
With a very inexperienced squad, the Notre Dame High School football team went through its share of growing pains last year with a 3-7 record and some blowout losses.
While the team is still young, the Irish are a year older, a year stronger and in a much better position to start once again playing like, well, Notre Dame.
“We’re still playing a lot of underclassmen and we still have a lot of challenges ahead of us,” said head coach Marc Lordi. “But our players have worked hard and learned from last year.”
How young was Notre Dame last year? Consider the team has returned virtually intact with 17 of the 22 starting spots back in the fold.
This includes the offensive backfield where junior quarterback Robby Bueckler will once again hand the ball off to sophomore twin brothers, Cortez and Coleon Williams. Cortez Williams led the team in rushing last year and is a very promising back who combines power with speed.
Returning players on the line include senior Connor Lugo as well as juniors Toms Burns and Joe Horn. All three of them can be found on the defensive line as well and Burns is also the team’s kicker.
Another defensive lineman is junior Jackson Martinez. Junior Evan Collins, senior Dan Dargan and Cortez Williams are starting linebackers. Junior Sam Ponticiello heads up the secondary.
“I think the fact we are more experienced will help us,” said Lordi. “We are definitely ahead of where we were last year.”
Notre Dame will open its season against Burlington Township on Sept. 8. Formidable opponents later in the year include Rancocas Valley and Lenape.
Compiling a winning record and making the playoffs will be a challenge, but unlike last year at least the team has a shot.
“We play some very good teams, but that’s the nature of the beast,” said Lordi.