Stars in Stripes: 2024 Barnegat Football Preview
For a program that is used to being in the mix for division titles and the NJSIAA playoffs, the 2023 season was an uncharacteristic step back for Barnegat.
The Bengals stumbled to a 2-8 record, the lowest win total in program history, competing in a division that included a 10-win Brick Memorial team and a Freehold Township team that stunned undefeated North Brunswick in the state playoffs. Led by a pair of All-Shore standouts and with multiple starters back in the fold, Barnegat is banking on returning to form and being in the thick of the Class C South division race.
Offense
Seven starters return in the Bengals’ multiple spread offensive scheme, led by senior running back Myquan Rush-Esdaile and senior tight end Cole Toddings. The two-way stars both earned All-Shore recognition a season ago with Toddings landing on the second team as a linebacker and Rush-Esdaile earning a spot on the third team as utility player in recognition of his abilities on both sides of the ball.
Rush-Esdaile ran for 1,096 yards and 16 touchdowns last season and is one of just four returning players to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark on the ground last season. Toddings’ is more known as a defensive wrecking ball but he was also one of the Shore’s better tight ends last season with 26 receptions for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
Junior quarterback Jack Haviland was thrown into the fire last year as a sophomore and the hope is that a year of seasoning enables him to thrive as a junior returning starter. Senior wideout Steve Griffin also returns as a starter and will be joined by seniors Todd Muhammad and David Gonzalez. Barnegat also has a solid No. 2 running back with senior Johnnel Johnson having rushed for 510 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Three starters return on the offensive line with 6-foot-4, 265-pound junior left tackle Juelz Jarvis, junior left guard Anthony Albanese and junior right guard Dyllan Rauso leading the way. Senior Colin Erwin takes over as the starting center and 6-foot-3, 325-pound senior Jonathon Prutzman steps into the starting role at right tackle.
Defense
A 2-8 season suggests improvements must be made across the board, and that certainly applies to the Bengals’ defense after they allowed 25.3 points per game last season. They have the foundational pieces to do so with Toddings and Rush-Esdaile leading a group of five returning starters in their 3-4 base alignment.
Toddings was a monster as a strong-side linebacker last season posting eye-popping numbers on a weekly basis. He led the Shore Conference with 139 tackles, was fifth with 23 tackles for loss, and added 4.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 pass breakups, a fumble recovery, a blocked kick and one defensive touchdown. He is committed to Colgate University. Rush-Esdaile is officially listed as a member of the secondary playing Barnegat’s “Hero” position, which operates as a linebacker/strong safety hybrid. He recorded 77 tackles with 7 tackles for loss, 3 pass breakups, 1 sack and a blocked kick.
Also returning as a starting linebacker at the “Buck” position is Johnson, who had 67 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 8 pressures, 3 pass breakups and a blocked kick a season ago. The new starters are junior Estabon Babilonia at the “Will” and senior Bryan Aguilar at the “Mike” position.
Erwin is the lone returning starter along the defensive line and will play as the weak-side defensive end. Senior Kenroy Sealey, a 360-pound senior, is the nose guard and Jarvis is the strong-side defensive end.
In the secondary, Muhammad and Haviland are the starting cornerbacks with Rush-Esdaile at “Hero” and Griffin (68 tackles) reprising his role at free safety.
Special Teams
Nearly every key cog has is back with sophomore Anthony Dringus at kicker, Gonzalez as the punter, Toddings as the long snapper and Rush-Esdaile, Johnson and Griffins returning kicks and punts. Senior Jamison Prince will serve as the holder.
Division Breakdown
Last season’s Independence Division included Barnegat, division champion Brick Memorial, Freehold Township, Matawan, Brick and Freehold Boro. This season, the Bengals in a Class C South division that features Barnegat along with Jackson Liberty, Manchester, Lakewood, Monmouth Regional and Pinelands.
At a Glance
Head coach: Paul Covine, fourth season
Career record: 12-18
2023 record: 2-8
Offense: Multiple spread
Defense: 3-4
Coaching Staff
-Offensive Coordinator: Mike Leone
-Special Teams Coordinator: Jake Schmitz
-Director of Football Operations: Andrew Petruzzi
-Quarterbacks: Brian Fitzpatrick
-Running backs: Andrew Petruzzi
-Receivers: Teddy Wilson
-Offensive line: Mike Leone
-Defensive line: Mike Burke
-Secondary: Jake Schmitz
-Freshmen: Jim Dempsey (head coach), Brian Ewan
-Middle School: Derek Rizzo (head coach), Andrew Cirulli, Rob Jorgensen
-Volunteers: Wayne Jackson, Zack Oliver, Tom Black
-Athletic trainer: Lauren Tribley
Circle the Date: Sept. 27 at Manchester
The old Class B South rivals will clash in Week 4 in a game where the winner could take the early lead in the division race.
Rookie Watch: Bryan Aguilar, Sr., LB
Barnegat has a senior-heavy team with not many underclassmen expected to see time. A senior isn’t exactly a rookie, but Aguilar will be a first-year starter at middle linebacker where he’ll be expected to play a major role.
Stat to Know
Senior linebacker/tight end Cole Toddings is the latest standout in one of Ocean County’s well-known football families. His father Josh was a standout for Donovan Catholic in the early 1990s and his grandfather, Dennis, had two stints coaching the Griffins, including leading them to the 1976 Parochial B state title.
SCHEDULE
| Thursday 8/29 | @Toms River East | 5 p.m. |
| Friday 9/6 | Freehold | 6:30 p.m. |
| Friday 9/13 | Jackson Liberty | 6:30 p.m. |
| Friday 9/20 | Monmouth | 6:30 p.m. |
| Friday 9/27 | @Manchester | 6 p.m. |
| Friday 10/4 | @Central | 7 p.m. |
| Friday 10/11 | Pinelands | 6:30 p.m. |
| Friday 10/18 | @New Egypt | 6:30 p.m. |
| Saturday 10/26 | @Lakewood | 1 p.m. |
