No Loss of Horsepower: 2024 Brick Memorial Football Preview

The pieces are in place for Brick Memorial to back up its 10-win season a year ago with another crack at a division championship and a deep run in the NJSIAA playoffs. There are key returners at multiple positions on both sides of the ball led by a veteran coach with a championship pedigree.

The challenge is replacing the production void left by one of the program’s all-time greats. Current American International College freshman Connor Dietz re-wrote the record book and exited high school with nearly every offensive record in Brick Memorial football history. Normally that would be a massive roadblock in front of an otherwise balanced team, but the Mustangs have an ace up their sleeve.

Junior quarterback Jason Lajara dazzled in his lone appearance last season by completing 14 of 18 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns in a blowout win over Freehold Boro. Now, he’s ready to take the reins of a Mustangs team that returns seven starters on offense and seven on defense, and looks to challenge juggernauts like Toms River North and Donovan Catholic in an unforgiving Class A South division.

Offense

Longtime head coach Walt Currie, now in his 18th season leading the Mustangs, cut his teeth as a triple-option savant first as an assistant at Point Boro and then for most of his early years at Brick Memorial, which included the 2007 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 sectional title. In recent years it has morphed into a different type of option offense to utilize the unique skillset of Dietz and other quarterbacks who came before him. This year’s offense will be a spread option set that takes advantage of Lajara’s passing skills and the Mustangs’ impressive group of skill players.

The aforementioned Lajara takes over at quarterback and, although his varsity sample size is only one game, the expectations are high because of his accuracy and football acumen. Senior running back Kevin Andrews enters his third year as a starter coming off a junior season in which he rushed for 816 yards and nine touchdowns en route to earning a Third Team All-Shore selection. Junior wideout Nyzier Matthews proved to be a big-play threat last year with 16 receptions for 333 yards and will have an expanded role as a returning starter. Juniors Nazeer Whittaker and Ricky Dillon round out a group of pass catchers that was very impressive in preseason scrimmages.

Junior Trey Tallmadge, an All-Shore linebacker last season and a standout wrestler, is the tight end and has the versatility to block in the run game and be a factor in the passing game.

Four of five starters are back along a sizable and experienced offensive line. At left tackle is senior Joe Cunningham and at left guard is 6-foot-7, 245-pound senior Ben Szuba. The right guard is senior Aidan Crawford and the right tackle is senior Austin Edward. The newcomer is junior Tyler Williams at center.

Brick Memorial had the No. 3 scoring offense in the Shore last season at 34.8 points per game. Their schedule is much more difficult this fall, but the personnel is there to field another potent unit.

Defense

Scoring points in bunches has been nothing new for Brick Memorial, especially during Dietz’s career. What truly sparked the Mustangs’ turnaround last season was a defense that improved from a bottom-third unit to one that finished 10th in the Shore allowing 15.9 points per game.

Seven starters return in the Mustangs’ 4-2-5 scheme, including all four linemen. Szuba and senior Jaxon Figueroa are the defensive ends while Cunningham and senior Max Prestinari are the defensive tackles.

Tallmadge leads the group of linebackers after an excellent sophomore season when he recorded 116 tackles with 20 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 2 interceptions. Senior A.J. Ehrmantraut also returns at inside linebacker after posting 51 tackles as a junior. The outside linebacker is senior Matt Hillin and the “Rover” position will be manned by junior Eric Pedre.

The wide receiver group will also comprise the secondary with Matthews a returning starter at cornerback, Whittaker at the opposite cornerback spot and Dillon at free safety.

This group likely holds the keys to success once again, especially considering the Mustangs will have to face the electric offenses of Toms River North, Point Boro and Donovan Catholic along with Jackson Memorial star tailback Jonah Glenn within the division.

Special Teams

Sophomore Jack Marotta returns as the kicker and Lajara is back as the punter. Marotta converted 40 of 47 extra points and kicked one field goal as a freshman.

Division breakdown

Last season’s Independence Division included Brick Memorial, Freehold Township and Matawan as playoff teams along with Brick, Freehold Boro and Barnegat. The difficulty gets ratcheted up several notches this fall with Toms River North, Donovan Catholic, Point Boro, Jackson Memorial and Howell comprising a division that could be the deepest in the Shore.

 

At a Glance

Head coach: Walt Currie, 18th season

Career record: 97-80

2023 record: 10-1

Offense: Spread option

Defense: 4-2-5

 

Coaching Staff

-Offensive Coordinator: James Mahoney

-Defensive Coordinator: Ryan Graham

-Special Teams Coordinator: Pete Walski

-Quarterbacks: James Mahoney

-Receivers: Keith Farr

-Tight ends: Pete Walski

-Offensive line: Bill Brunner, Paul Walski

-Defensive tackles: Ryan Graham

-Defensive ends: Mike Mahoney

-Linebackers: Andrew Cammarano

-Cornerbacks: Keith Farr

-Free safeties: James Mahoney

-Kickers: Ryan Graham

-Punters: Keith Farr

-Long snappers: Andrew Cammarano

-Freshmen: Rob Brown, Justin Szuba

-Athletic trainer: Sue Penrod

 

Brick Memorial Football Team Page

 

Circle the Date: Sept. 6 at Brick

This one speaks for itself. The Mustangs and Dragons are not in the same division so nothing is on the line in that regard, but this early-season meeting between arch rivals could be a tone-setter for whichever team is able to emerge with a victory.

 

Rookie Watch: Jason Lajara, Jr., QB

Lajara has one career start under his belt but was able to open eyes when the opportunity arose with 266 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Freehold last season. His abilities have the Mustangs confident they can continue to compete at a high level even after the graduation of record-setting quarterback Connor Dietz.

 

Stat to Know

Brick Memorial was one of just five teams to finish in the top 10 in both scoring offense and defense last season.

 

SCHEDULE

---

 

 

Date	Team	Time
Thursday 8/29	@Allentown	6 p.m.
Friday 9/6	@Brick	6 p.m.
Friday 9/13	Howell	6 p.m.
Friday 9/20	Toms River North	6 p.m.
Friday 9/27	@Donovan Catholic	6 p.m.
Friday 10/4	Southern	6 p.m.
Friday 10/11	Point Boro	6 p.m.
Friday 10/18	@Toms River South	6 p.m.
Friday 10/25	@Jackson Memorial	6:30 p.m.