SUMMIT - Great strides were made during John Liberato’s first season as the head coach of the Hilltoppers.

Summit not only snapped a long losing streak following the school’s first winless season, but the Hilltoppers managed to win two conference games and then shut out Fort Lee to close the season.

“The most obvious thing is that the kids know what to expect,” Liberato said. “There’s a routine that’s already in place.”

Climbing back up the ladder in the Hills Division of the Iron Hills Conference is a daunting task.

Liberato, who was previously at the top rung before as the head coach at Hanover Park, is excited about how his team is capable of performing this fall.

“We’re a lot stronger now than last year,” Liberato said. “We’ve been in the weight room for a whole year now.

“We have a brand new state of the art weight room and it’s getting used.

“We did 7-on-7s with Irvington throughout the summer and our first scrimmage - which was Tuesday, Aug. 26 - was against Bloomfield, Shore Regional and Caldwell.”

Summit hosted that scrimmage and will also host Brearley and Dumont on Saturday, Aug. 30.

The Hilltoppers will host Rahway in their game-scrimmage on Friday, Sept. 5 at 4 p.m. at Tatlock Field.

“We feel that we’re trying to do the right things to compete in one of the best conferences in New Jersey,” Liberato said. “There are no weeks off.

“If you come in first or second in the conference you know you’ll be ranked in the Top 20 in the state. Two years ago three teams in our conference were ranked in the Top 20.”

Last year, Summit came back to beat Parsippany on the road and then Dover at home for its first conference wins since 2004.

“That’s the sign of a championship team on the rise,” Liberato said. “It’s a good sign of character and competitiveness.

“We’ve tried to build on that all winter, spring and summer.
“The kids are doing a great job, they’ve bought into the program and, hopefully, we can exploit that.”

Running Summit’s Wing-T offense at the moment is senior quarterback Mike Montero, with junior Joe Jaskolski also at the position.

“We like the idea of the Wing-T misdirection and we do run some option stuff and also have a two-minute offense,” Liberato said. “We want opposing defensive coordinators to have a hard time preparing for us in a week. Hopefully, we can exploit that.”

Summit gave up 26 points a game last year, which is something that will have to be lessened.

“What’s evident is that we’re a lot stronger and are running to the ball a lot better,” Liberato said. “The kids understand  the scheme and that makes them play with a lot more confidence.”

Montero is one of three captains, with senior two-way tackle Andrew Kaminski and senior running back-safety Tom Baker the others.

“Our captains have done a great job,” Liberato said. “Their attitude on and off the field is awesome.”

Summit might not have the most experienced team, but the Hilltoppers are anxious to continue last year’s upgrade.

“We’re a young team, but a real, tight-knit group,” Liberato said. “We have a certain, positive atmosphere in the weight room and on the field.

“The kids have bought into the fact that every program is a reflection of the head coach, but every season is a reflection of the seniors  and they want ownership of this year.

“They realize the more they invest, the more they will get out of it.”

SUMMIT’S WING-T OFFENSE:

LT Matt Mulholland, junior, (6-3, 230)

LT Austin Jennings, soph., (6-1, 220)

LG Griffin Dottle, junior, (5-10, 190)

LG Pat Birosak, junior, (6-0, 185)

C Zach Wied, senior, (6-0, 195)

RG Paul Coviello, junior, (5-8, 205)

RT Andrew Kaminski, senior, (6-0, 210)

TE Kevin McNany, junior, (6-0, 225)

SE Tim Kane, senior, (5-10, 170)

SE Andres Torres, senior, (5-11, 170)

QB Mike Montero, senior, (5-11, 190)

QB Joe Jaskolski, junior, (6-1, 185)

LHB Tom Baker, senior, (5-10, 175)

LHB Matt Rea, junior, (5-8, 165)

FB Sal Liberato, soph., (5-9, 165)

FB Danny Feeney, junior, (5-9, 170)

RHB Dwayne Dabney, junior, (6-0, 185)

PK Tim Melendez, junior, (5-10, 155)

PK Tim Yeager, sophomore, (5-11, 160)

SUMMIT’S 5-2 DEFENSE:

NG Brian Feeney, junior, (5-10, 185)

LT Mike Watts, junior, (6-1, 225)

LE Zach Wied, senior, (6-0, 195)

RT Andrew Kaminski, senior, (6-0, 210)

RE Mike Montero, senior, (5-11, 190)

MLB Kevin McNany, junior, (6-0, 225)

MLB Nick Oristenio, soph., (5-8, 185)

MLB Logan Jeffries, soph., (6-1, 205)

S Tom Baker, senior, (5-10, 175)

S Matt Rea, junior, (5-8, 165)

S Chet Joffee, sophomore, (5-11, 170)

S Danny Feeney, junior, (5-9, 170)

LCB Andres Torres, senior, (5-11, 170)

LCB Shawn Hillis, junior, (5-10, 165)

LCB Jake Hall, junior, (5-11, 160)

RCB Tim Kane, senior, (5-10, 170)

RCB Dwayne Dabney, junior, (6-0, 185)

P Andres Torres, senior, (5-11, 170)

2008 SCHEDULE
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

2007 RESULTS
SUMMIT HILLTOPPERS (3-7)

(A) Mendham 27, Summit 3

(H) West Essex 41, Summit 0

(A) Summit 49, Parsippany 28

(H) Chatham 21, Summit 0

(A) Hanover Park 21, Summit 7

(H) Parsippany Hills 28, Summit 11

(H) Summit 31, Dover 14

(A) Weequahic 39, Summit 18

(A) Morris Hills 41, Summit 6

(H) Summit 42, Fort Lee 0

Record: 3-7

Home: 2-3

Away: 1-4

Points for: 167

Points against: 260

Shutouts: 1

Overtime: 0-0

SUMMIT

Head Coach: John Liberato,
since 2007.

Second season: 3-7 (.300)

Iron Hills Conference
Hills Division

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2

Summit’s last sectional title: 1994

2007: (3-7)

Hilltoppers this decade: 36-45 (.444)

Tatlock Field: Field Turf.

John Liberato is a 1983 New Providence graduate. He was previously the head coach at Hanover Park and an assistant at New Providence. He led Hanover Park to the 1999 North 2, Group 2 final.