GUIDED CARDINALS TO 62-20 RECORD IN 3 SEASONS,

BUT WAS NOT VALUED FOR A 4TH SEASON AND GIVEN NO REASON WHY

          Pete Vasil went 62-20 as the Plainfield boys’ basketball coach the past three seasons.

          Apparently it wasn’t enough for the Plainfield administration to keep him on.

          Having to interview Wednesday for the position that he was so successful at, Vasil handed in his resignation, saying that, “he wanted no part of what was going on.”

          When asked why he felt Plainfield needed to post his coaching position as “available” going back to May, Vasil said, “they would not give me a reason.”

          “I asked the committee where they were coming from?” Vasil continued. “They wouldn’t answer.”

          The position of boys’ basketball head coach was first posted on the Plainfield school website in late May. The advertisement found its way on the NJSIAA’s website on June 2.

          Vasil, 45, continues to teach special-needs English at the school.

          “I’m a people person and also a stand-up guy,” Vasil said. “I’ve never done anyone dirty.

          “This program and players has my stamp on it. I would think when you post a job, A-you’re not recommending the present coach for re-hire or B-the person has resigned.

          “If they wanted me out, they could have called me in the office and said so. I’ve had nothing but success here.”

          In his three seasons as head coach, Vasil guided the Cardinals to a Watchung Conference title, the school’s first appearance in the Union County Tournament championship game since 1984 and one sectional final.

          He also elevated the program to national status with a challenging non-conference schedule that well complimented a rough-and-tumble Watchung Conference slate.

          His first team went 23-5 and beat Linden twice, including at the Dunn Sport Center in the UCT semifinals. His second team went 21-7, made it back to the UCT semifinals, reached the North 2, Group 4 semifinals and won a conference crown.

          This past season’s squad, overcoming the loss of nine seniors to graduation and one key player to an injury, fashioned an 18-8 mark and was defeated at Linden in the semifinals.

          Vasil went up against Linden and head coach Phil Colicchio eight times in three seasons, all games memorable and often with something on the line. It was a budding Watchung Conference rivaly that – now – no longer exists.

          “I applaud him for what he did,” Colicchio said. “I didn’t know that high school sports were to be treated the same way for winning as college and pro sports.”

          Vasil did well to go 3-5 vs. Linden, which was a team that won Group 4 in 2006 and 2007, the UCT in 2007 and in 2008 reached the North 2, Group 4 final for the fourth consecutive year.

          “He had the self pride to step away and resign and I think that’s great,” Colicchio said. “It shows character. He didn’t allow for himself to be stepped on.”

          Not many coaches can say that they beat a quality Linden squad that many times in that short of a span.

          “I think he did a great job at Plainfield,” Colicchio said. “What I think hurt him was that he didn’t beat us in big spots.”

          When asked if he thought Plainfield sought to terminate his coaching tenure because he failed to guide the Cardinals to a county, section or state championship or because this past season’s squad only finished 18-8, Vasil said, “no, it goes much deeper than that. It’s inappropriate business.”

          “When did high school change?” Colicchio said. “Pete kept his kids respectful on the court, there were no problems with referees and he got kids into college.

          “That’s what our jobs as educators and coaches are all about. From the outside, he appeared to be doing the job to the best of his ability.”

          This is how much Vasil wanted nothing to do with what transpired, “I used the interview process to get out when I wanted to get out,” he said.  “I had my resignation right there.”

          Vasil wishes nothing but success for whomever gets the job.

          “We created and sustained a great deal of success,” Vasil said. “This is a state-championship caliber program. The big thing here was that I got my players to respond.

          “I’m a very, very competitive guy and love competition. We never ducked anyone here. I embraced this city. A lot of people supported me. There was a lot of goodness.     

          “I’m a city guy. I grew up in Worcester, Mass., which is five times the size of Plainfield. I had a healthy coach-player relationship. Two of my former players – Anthony Nelson and Jerrell Thompson - both called me last night to tell me how disgusted they were over the situation.”

          The Watchung Conference is arguably the toughest basketball league in the state. The UCT is almost impossible to win, with St. Patrick’s making the final every year now since 1993 and winning the thing 11 times since then. The section North 2, Group 4 speaks for itself as far as how difficult it is to navigate through with standout teams from Essex, Union, Middlesex and Somerset counties included.

          For a coach to win 75 percent of his games going up against that kind of competition over a three-year span, well, most coaches would absolutely be beside themselves to be that successful.

          Obviously, something is not right here.

          Vasil has not ruled out coaching again and immediately.

          “If the right opportunity comes my way as far as a high school situation, it would have to be a job that I would seriously consider running out my coaching career with,” said Vasil, who was also the head coach at Clifton and Bloomfield College. “It would have to be a position that would last me until I retire. It would be a job that I would be looking to finish my coaching tenure up with.”

          Vasil has also not ruled out going back to being a college coach.

          “Whatever job out there would have to be in the best interests of my family, my wife and kids,” Vasil said. “I’ve already heard from a lot of colleges. I have a lot of connections and have not ruled that out.”

          Vasil took his teams to California, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania and came back to New Jersey much better from the competition.

          “We traveled 3,000 miles to compete in the Surf N Slam and won the thing, with Nelson being the MVP,” Vasil said.

          Many of his players were able to continue playing at the next level, including Nelson at Niagara and Thompson at Sacred Heart.

          “One out of 30 high school seniors go on to play at the Division 1, 2 or 3 level,” Vasil said. “We had some talented kids here who were able to go on and play in college and be successful.”

          Vasil earned coach of the year honors three times for the 2005-2006 season, including from Mike Kinney at The Star-Ledger, Terence Johnson at his Watchung Conference website and from Colicchio at the Union County Coaches dinner.

          “Phil supported my decision and I have a lot of respect for him,” Vasil said. “He realized that I had my players at Plainfield for a shorter period of time than his players at Linden.

          “When we played them in the county semifinals in 2006 at the Dunn Center, that is a game I will always remember for how great it was to battle his team in that kind of setting.

          “That was a proud moment, just as this year was when we were able to go 18-8 after losing nine seniors. We had one veteran back and still went out and played good teams and beat good teams such as Linden and Paterson Catholic.”

          “Plainfield and Linden had very talented kids on the court and it would be a rivalry game no matter who was coaching,” Colicchio said. “It just so happened it was me for Linden and him for Plainfield these last three years.

          “It was pretty amazing that there were five Division 1 guards (LJ McGhee, Darrell Lampley and Desmond Wade from Linden and Nelson and Thompson from Plainfield) on the court from towns so close to each other.

          “Pete stuck by his principals and values. I don’t know many people that would have done that.”

          It might be OK for Michigan-Ohio State, North Carolina-Duke or Yankees-Red Sox if, indeed, Plainfield did not want Vasil back because he didn’t “win the big game.”

          That should not be OK for Plainfield-Linden.

          If it is, then we have to re-examine what’s being done with high school athletics.

          Vasil would like to thank the following coaches for how they took care of his players during competition this month: Erskine Rowe (varsity assistant), BJ Hamby (assistant coach and JV coach), Art Pierson, Anthony Graham, Terrance Johnson and Antwan Johnson.

          “They kept the players going in June,” Vasil said.

          Plainfield players competed in the Hoop Group Showcase and made the Final Four and also participated in the Rutgers Elite Invitation Only Team Camp, the Jersey City Summer League and the St. Peter’s Team Camp.

PETE VASIL’S 62-20 RECORD AT PLAINFIELD

2007-2008: (18-8)

1-2 vs. Linden

reached UCT quarterfinals

reached N2, G4 semifinals

2006-2007: (21-7)

0-2 vs. Linden

reached UCT semifinals

reached N2, G4 semifinals

won Surf N Slam Holiday Tournament

in California

won Watchung Conference-American Division title

2005-2006: (23-5)

2-1 vs. Linden

reached UCT final for first time since 1984,

falling to St. Patrick’s at Dunn Center

reached N2, G4 final,

falling to Linden at Dunn Center

finished second in Watchung-American to Newark East Side

VASIL PLAYERS TO CONTINUE IN COLLEGE

Anthony Nelson, Niagara – All-MAC Rookie Team

Jerrell Thomspon, Sacred Heart

Raafiq Carnegie, Globe Junior College in Staten Island

John Strickland, Coastal, Ga. Junior College

Aquil Smith and Rafael Carnegie, Montclair State

Kenny Miller and Andre Rose, Kean

and then Rose, Bergen Community College

Steve Babatunde, Centenary

Is guiding a revamped coaching staff

Deon Candia feels strongly that Linden football will once again be a player in the Watchung Conference this fall.

"My goal, and that of the entire staff, is to win right away," said Candia, who was named Linden's new head football coach at its May board of education meeting.

"There's no excuses," Candia continued. "This will be no rebuilding year. That was last year. We have a coaching staff that can get it done.

"I'm not going to cop out and say this will be a rebuilding year. We are striving to win right away."

Joe Stinson was let go after a 1-9 season that saw the Tigers tie Dayton for giving up the most points of any school in Union County at 321.

Candia is Linden all the way, having played for Bucky McDonald and having coached under him for four years and also under Stinson last season.

For those concerned that he may continue Stinson's one-year run-and-shoot offense, relax. That's not going to happen.

"We're striving to be a lot more competitive," said Candia, who is employed at Soehl Middle School in Linden and who has taught 7th grade language arts there the past five years.

"The kids are upbeat and know that last year's 1-9 record doesn't represent who we are."

Candia is a 1991 Linden grad, who played quarterback his junior year in 1989 and running back his senior year in 1990, in addition to defensive back.

After playing at Division 2 American International College in Springfield, Mass. and also coaching there, Candia came back to Linden in 2003 and sought to help McDonald with that season's squad.

"I got into coaching after playing in college," Candia said. "It goes along with teaching and I got into that aspect of the game.

"When I came back here I just wanted to be involved with the kids in the community. Then the first year with Bucky I became a volunteer, doing things like passing out the equipment. I started coming every day and learned a lot and it piqued my interest.

"The following year he found a place for me and it took off from there."

Candia was a full-fledged coach for McDonald in 2004, 2005 and 2006, which were all North 2, Group 4 playoff seasons for the Tigers. They went a combined 20-12 in that span, including a 1-3 playoff mark and a big upset win at Piscataway in the 2006 playoffs after losing road playoff games to the Chiefs in 2004 and 2005, both by shutout.
Candia coached the defensive backs and wide receivers and last year under Stinson also coached special teams.

"I've always invested in the kids," Candia said. "I still live in Linden and have a tie with the kids and their families.

"It was an unfortunate thing that happened, but when the job came up - just knowing that the seniors will now have their third head coach - I felt I had a lot to offer for the kids, so it wouldn't be like them starting all over again.

"There will be different things to learn, but they need someone familiar and, at the same time, I wanted to step up and take a leadership role as the head coach.

"After an unfortunate situation, I felt that I could step in and have an immediate impact."

Some coaches return and some are new. Craig Taylor returns as the running backs coach and is the co-offensive coordinator with new coach and quarterbacks mentor Asad Abdul-Khaliq, who led Elizabeth to the 1997 North 2, Group 4 championship his senior year at quarterback and who also had a fine career at signal-caller for Colonia native Glen Mason at the University of Minnesota.

The new defensive coordinator is former Elizabeth and Rutgers standout Jamil Jackson, who was the defensive coordinator at Elizabeth under Jeff Wiener.

Albert Chiola and Mike Sellari are returning coaches, with Chiola in charge of the wide receivers and Sellari the offensive and defensive lines.

The freshmen coaches are Kenneth Freeman and Leon Devero, with Robert Zarowski taking over as the 8th grade coach and Monty Brooks assisting.

"I feel confident in the staff I have," Candia said. "We're going to make it happen.

"We geared away from the structured things that made us competitive. We're going to bring that back and want the kids to understand that.

"There's a big buzz around town. A lot of people are coming out to see what we're about. We will grow and be productive."

After McDonald ran the Delaware Wing-T offense during a successful tenure that lasted from 1985-2006, Stinson came in last year and tried to implement the run-and-shoot with a team hit very hard by graduation.

"A lot of time was put into the run-and-shoot, but we won't be running the same formation," Candia said. "We may run a form of that, but we'll be a running-based team. We'll be running a triple-option, similar to what the Air Force does.
"I always thought we had good running backs and want to bring that back, but we also want something for our quarterback and the others that we have that can throw the ball."

One of Linden's leading returning starters is junior southpaw quarterback Trell Myers (6-2 1/2, 180), who put up some pretty good numbers last year once he became the full-time starter.

"He's a lot stronger and grew an inch or two," Candia said. "He dedicated himself in the weight room. He has a lot of natural strength and ability.

"Trell has matured some - he's always been a quiet leader - and is starting to understand the role of a quarterback. He leads by example."

Candia was contacted immediately by McDonald when he was hired.

"Our styles are probably about as opposite as can be," Candia said. "I'm more of a teacher, a technician and detailed.  He showed me a lot of the game and I observed how he did things and how professional he was. When I got the job he told me how proud he was of me and also what to expect. He's there for me and I will call on him for things I need to know.

"Terry Hanratty, who was here my first year back, is also someone I can reach out to after all of the success he's had at Governor Livingston."

NOTES: Candia started for three years at American International, playing running back and slot back. During two seasons as a graduate assistant, he worked with the defensive backs and also helped out with conditioning in the off season.

Linden's game-scrimmage is at Middlesex County foe Monroe Sept. 5 at 6 p.m.

Linden will open at home against non-conference foe Barringer Sept. 12.

Barringer replaces Old Bridge as Linden's non-conference opponent for 2008.

Linden played at Barringer last year in a North 2, Group 4 consolation game and was defeated 35-28 in Newark.

The season will start a week later than it normally has in the past, which will be not be on the same weekend that the NFL opens.

Not all Watchung Conference schools will be opening Week Zero (Sept. 12 and 13). In addition to Linden, Union will host Irvington Sept. 13 and Plainfield will play at Watchung Hills Sept. 12.

Watchung Conference schools opening on Week One (Sept. 19 and 20) include Elizabeth at Linden on Sept. 19 and Scotch Plains hosting Irvington on Sept. 20.

LINDEN COACHING STAFF FOR 2008:
Head coach: Deon Candia.
Offensive coordinators: Craig Taylor
and Asab Abdul-Khaliq.
Defensive coordinator: Jamil Jackson.
Wide receivers: Albert Chiola.
Offensive, defensive lines: Mike Sellari.
Running backs: Craig Taylor.
Quarterbacks: Asad Abdul-Khaliq.
Freshmen: Kenneth Freeman, Leon Devero.
8th grade: Robert Zarowski, Monty Brooks.

LINDEN TIGERS
2008 SCHEDULE
Scrimmages:
Aug. 25 Millburn, 6 p.m.
Aug. 29 Bayonne, 6 p.m.
Game scrimmage:
Sept. 5 at Monroe, 6 p.m.
Regular season:
Sept. 12 Barringer, 7 p.m.
Sept. 19 Elizabeth, 7 p.m.
Sept. 27 at Westfield, 1 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Shabazz, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 Irvington, 7 p.m.
Oct. 17 Plainfield, 7 p.m.
Oct. 24 Newark East Side, 7 p.m.
Nov. 1 at Scotch Plains, 1 p.m.
Nov. 27 at Union, 10:30 a.m.

NEW INSTRUCTORS GUIDE YOUNGSTERS

ROSELLE - For nearly three decades youngsters from Union County have competed at the All-County Basketball Camp at Roselle Catholic.

The 26th edition commenced Monday at RC, with the first session to conclude tomorrow and the second session scheduled for next week, beginning Monday and ending July 3.

This year’s camp directors include boys’ basketball coach Dave Boff and girls’ coach Joe Skrec.

“In a lot of ways it’s the same, but in a lot of ways it’s different,” said Skrec, who is a 1984 RC graduate.

“The biggest difference, obviously, is that coach (Pat) Hagan is no longer co-director. He was the co-director for the previous 25 years.

“When I spoke to the campers, I asked who was nervous. Not many raised their hands, but I did because this was the first time I had to give the speech that coach Hagan usually did.”

The camp, for boys and girls entering grades 3-9, runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The primary objective is to teach the fundamental skills necessary to improve as a basketball player in a fun-filled environment.

“Coach Boff is here for the first year, with assistants John Giraldo and Kevin Feeley,” Skrec said. “Other coaches include Bill Diamond and Mike Gluck. All four are new to the camp, in addition to Boff.”

Boff will begin his second seasons as the boys’ head coach. One of his senior players, Brendan Trelease, is also helping out. He will continue playing basketball at Gettysburg.

“They’re all wonderful to have as part of our staff,” Skrec said. “Brendan is the youngest member of our coaching staff, but actually a returning member.”

The daily schedule includes: pre-practice routines, individual workouts, proper stretching techniques, fundamental drill stations, game play, individual competition and drills, lunch, lectures and contests.

“All the same game and all the same stuff, but you’re hearing different voices and some different things,” Skrec said. “Judging by this morning (Monday) I think they did a great job. It was a lot of teaching, a lot of instructing and a lot of learning, I hope. There seemed to be a lot of energy.”

NOTES: Each camper receives a 2008 camp T-shirt and basketball and competes for daily prizes.

Awards are presented in the following areas: free throw shooting, hot shots, speed shooting, one-on-one and team play.

The awards ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on the final day of camp. Friends and family are encouraged to attend.

GOALS ARE FOR KIDS TO HAVE FUN, LEARN GAME

UNION - Youngsters who attend the Union Boys’ Basketball Camp at Union High School receive quality instruction from a number of coaches.

This week’s first day of camp on Monday included an appearance from the winningest coach in state history - St. Anthony’s Bob Hurley.

“He spoke to the kids about the importance of learning fundamentals and going home and writing things down afterwards,” said camp instructor and Union boys’ basketball head coach Tony DiGiovanni.

Hurley also made an appearance at DiGiovanni’s first camp at UHS last year.

Before becoming a head coach at New Brunswick and Piscataway before Union, DiGiovanni was an assistant coach under Hurley, coaching the junior varsity for four years at St. Anthony.

This past year during his second season at the helm, DiGiovanni was named Union County Coach of the Year by The Star-Ledger after guiding Union to a 21-7 record and its first Watchung Conference title since 1998.

“Our two main goals are for the kids to have fun and enjoy playing and for them to use the camp to learn a little about basketball and how to play the game,” said DiGiovanni, who is a 1995 UHS graduate who played at Union for Ted Zawacki and who attended his camps at UHS.

Emphasis is placed on game situations with stress placed on the importance of proper fundamentals.

The camp is for 4th through 9th grade boys.

“The five basic fundamentals we teach here are dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding and defense,” DiGiovanni said.
Players are exposed to the meanings of discipline, hard work and setting goals while having fun.

“I like learning new things and playing basketball for real,” said Devin Zimmerman, 14, of Union, who will be entering 9th grade. “I’m left handed, so I’m trying to dribble with my right hand better.”

Campers are grouped by grade and skill level, with DiGiovanni present each day to lead instruction.

“I look forward to improving my skills and learning how to play guard, because I’m usually a big man,” said Taylor Graves, 14, of Union, who will also be entering 9th grade. “I want to improve my dribbling skills.”

DiGiovanni has 12 coaches at his first camp session this week and they are guiding 48 youngsters.

“That’s a 4 to 1 ration, which is great - four campers to one coach,” DiGiovanni said.

The second and final session is July 7-11 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We try to set the pricing to encourage the kids to come for both weeks, that way we can start to really build upon things, rather than be so repetitive,” DiGiovanni said.

There are stations in the morning for the campers, with different contests to follow, such as layups, one-on-one and foul shooting, where each kid will shoot 25 every day.
After lunch, more foul shots are taken and then games are contested.

“Most of the kids are from Union,” DiGiovanni said. “You have to find a good balance. If we get more kids, we’ll hire more coaches. We gauge our numbers and then higher the coaches.”

In addition to returning varsity players who give their time as coaches, other coaches include varsity assistant Frank DeLuca and Kevin Gray, who coaches some younger AAU teams teams in Union, Essex and Middlesex counties and helps out with Metro Hoops.

“A lot of the kids get incorporated in what we do at the high school,” DiGiovanni said. “We get them to do the things we do.

“We have our players working here, serving as role models, and we feel that’s important."

NOTES: UHS players are also involved in community service and study hall four days a week, according to DiGiovanni.

“More importantly, our major goal is to assist in the development of our student-athletes to become well-rounded young men and contributing members of the community,” DiGiovanni said.

The coach reported that last year his team donated over 70 pairs of sneakers to a basketball group down in Africa.

“They have displayed a remarkable spirit and character in their volunteer work with the Special Olympics, the PTA, the YMCA, the elementary school reading program and peer tutoring,” DiGiovanni said.

UHS players are involved in a Special Olympics type of event that will take place in Union on July 6.

30TH NORTH-SOUTH ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME IS JUNE 30 AT 7 P.M. AT RUTGERS STADIUM IN PISCATAWAY

SOUTH LEADS SERIES 14-12-2

PLAYERS FROM UNION COUNTY ON NORTH:

7-Mark Garcia (6-2, 205), Roselle Park, defensive back

35-Donte Dennis (6-0, 205), Rahway, linebacker

54-Jacklin Petion (6-2, 270), Union, defensive lineman

56-Marcial Zebaze (6-0, 225), Hillside, offensive lineman

58-Charles McCray (6-3, 210), Elizabeth, defensive end

73-Nick Guerriero (6-0, 270), New Providence, offensive lineman

80-Kevin Delle Donne (6-5, 235), Summit, tight end

Brearley head coach Scott Miller is one of two offensive line coaches for the North. Miller, with a record of 54-11 (.831) in his first six seasons at the helm, also coached in the game last year.

2008 UNION COUNTY

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULES

AS OF MONDAY, JULY 7

Times of certain games differ on some schedules.

Example No. 1: on Elizabeth’s schedule, the Minutemen are hosting Union Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.

On Union’s schedule, the Farmers are playing at Elizabeth Nov. 7 at 4 p.m.

Example No. 2: on Elizabeth’s schedule, the Minutemen are hosting Plainfield Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

On Plainfield’s schedule, the Cardinals are playing at Elizabeth Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.

Also, Union may also host Linden on Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. instead of Nov. 27 at 10:30 a.m.

Elizabeth is scheduled to host Irvington at night at Williams Field. The last time the teams played at night was in 2001 at Williams Field. The teams had to play day games two years in a row – 2003 and 2004 - at Elizabeth because of fan violence that erupted at the 2002 day game at Irvington.

Union is hosting Irvington for the second straight season and the two will now open against each other for the fifth consecutive year. The Sept. 13 game at Cooke Memorial Field will be Union’s first on its brand new field turf, which is being installed now.

Union was originally scheduled to play at Irvington on Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. at Matthews Field. Irvington has a rare four-game winning streak against Union.

On Iselin Kennedy's schedule it reads that it will host Johnson Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

On Johnson's schedule it reads that it will play Iselin Kennedy Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. at Woodbridge.

Brearley, Dayton and Westfield schedules consist of only eight games - at the moment - instead of nine.

Elizabeth has dropped Kearny, but Newark East Side is still on the NES schedule. The Minutemen have to replace Kearny and may have to replace NES.

UNION FARMERS

Sept. 13 Irvington, 1 p.m.

Sept. 20 at Plainfield, 1 p.m.

Oct. 4 at Westfield, 1 p.m.

Oct. 10 Scotch Plains, 7 p.m.

Oct. 17 at Shabazz, 7 p.m.

Oct. 24 Kearny, 7 p.m.

Oct. 31 Bridgewater-Raritan, 7 p.m.

Nov. 7 at Elizabeth, 4 p.m.

Nov. 27 Linden, 10:30 a.m.

Head coach: Brian Sheridan, second year

2007: (5-5)

Conference: Watchung

ROSELLE PARK PANTHERS

Sept. 13 at Metuchen, 1 p.m.

Sept. 19 at Middlesex, 7 p.m.

Sept. 26 Sussex Tech, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 3 New Providence, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 10 at Brearley, 7 p.m.

Oct. 17 at Newark Central, 7 p.m.

Oct. 24 Dayton, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 31 at Bernards, 7 p.m.

Nov. 27 Roselle, 10:30 a.m.

Head coach: James Foy, third year

2007: (5-5)

Conference: Mountain Valley

BREARLEY BEARS

(8 games)

Sept. 12 Pennington, 7 p.m.

Sept. 20 at Roselle, 1 p.m.

Sept. 27 at New Providence, 1 p.m.

Oct. 3 Dayton, 7 p.m.

Oct. 10 Roselle Park, 7 p.m.

Oct. 17 Cranford, 7 p.m.

Oct. 24 Dunellen, 7 p.m.

Nov. 7 at Highland Park, 7 p.m.

Head coach: Scott Miller, seventh year

2007: (8-2)

Conference: Mountain Valley

DAYTON BULLDOGS

(8 games)

Sept. 19 at Manville, 7 p.m.

Sept. 27 Newark Central, 1 p.m.

Oct. 3 at Brearley, 7 p.m.

Oct. 11 Roselle, 1 p.m.

Oct. 18 at Cardinal McCarrick, 1 p.m.

Oct. 24 at Roselle Park, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 31 at Bound Brook, 7 p.m.

Nov. 8 New Providence, 1 p.m.

Head coach: Joe Goerge, third year

2007: (1-9)

Conference: Mountain Valley

GOVERNOR LIVINGSTON

HIGHLANDERS

Sept. 13 Johnson, 1 p.m.

Sept. 27 Iselin Kennedy, 1 p.m.

Oct. 4 Newark Central, 1 p.m.

Oct. 10 at Bishop Ahr, 7 p.m.

Oct. 18 Hillside, 1 p.m.

Oct. 25 at Rahway, 1 p.m.

Oct. 31 at Cranford, 7 p.m.

Nov. 7 at North Plainfield, 7 p.m.

Nov. 27 at New Providence, 11 a.m.

Head coach: Terry Hanratty, fifth year

2007: (5-5)

Conference: Mountain Valley

SUMMIT HILLTOPPERS

Sept. 13 Parsippany Hills, 1:30 p.m.

Sept. 19 at Mendham, 7 p.m.

Sept. 26 at Dover, 7 p.m.

Oct. 4 Parsippany, 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 11 at Weequahic, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 18 Chatham, 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 25 at Morris Hills, 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 1 Hanover Park, 2:30 p.m.

Nov. 7 at West Essex, 7:30 p.m.

Head coach: John Liberato, second year

2007: (3-7)

Conference: Iron Hills-Hills Division

ELIZABETH MINUTEMEN

(8 games)

Sept. 19 at Linden, 7 p.m.

Sept. 26 Shabazz, 7 p.m.

Oct. 4 OPEN

Oct. 10 at Newark East Side, 7 p.m.

Oct. 17 Irvington, 7 p.m.

Oct. 24 Plainfield, 7 p.m.

Nov. 1 at Westfield, 1 p.m.

Nov. 7 Union, 7 p.m.

Nov. 26 Scotch Plains, 7 p.m.