Players We’ll Miss Watching Week 1

To some degree, the coronavirus continues to haunt the start of New Jersey football. Over two dozen schools have had to postpone or cancel games this weekend due to positive COVID-19 cases within programs or exposure within the community. Schedules continue to change, players, coaches and athletic departments continue to adjust and the unknown continues to exist. Some schools opted out of fall sports/football prior to September, and now COVID-19 is becoming a factor for those schools wanting to play. Let’s take a look at some players we will miss watching this week. <strong>Corey Banghart, Belvidere, Sr. QB</strong> – Banghart ran for over 700 yards and eight touchdowns last year for Belvidere. He ran for 157 yards in a win over Manville and 103 yards against Hopatcong in the season finale in a regional crossover game. Banghart is an experienced quarterback who can make a splash this season. That will have to wait for the time being, as the football team was forced to quarantine following a scrimmage against Newton last week. A Newton player ultimately tested positive this week and Belvidere can resume activities beginning Oct. 9. <strong>Aiden McCullough, Clearview, Jr. LB</strong> – Clearview’s season opener against Delsea on Friday has been postponed following a positive COVID-19 test within the football program. Clearview will have its football program shut down for two weeks, so there is a chance it will also not play next week’s game against Highland. McCullough is a player to watch this year, however. He finished with 106 tackles to go along with 10 tackles for loss and five sacks in a monster sophomore year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="27876" first="Xavier" last="Coleman"], Lenape, Sr. RB</strong> – Coleman and third-ranked Lenape are forced to miss the season opener against Cherokee due to two recent positive cases. Lenape will likely be able to play against Eastern on Oct. 9. Coleman, a Boston College commit, averaged about nine yards per carry last year and he scored 14 touchdowns. He was a weapon at receiver, too, catching seven touchdowns with 18.3 yards per reception. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="27951" first="Luke" last="Cole"], Lenape, Sr. LB</strong> – Cole recorded 103 tackles last year (45 solo) and 17 tackles for loss last season with Lenape. In addition, the senior totaled 3.5 sacks. He is a top linebacker in the state and will be a force once Lenape is cleared to play. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="28002" first="Jack" last="Young"], Newton, Jr. QB</strong> – Newton will miss its first two games after a student-athlete tested positive. When the team resumes play Young will be a player to watch. Last year as a sophomore, he threw for over 1,600 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also ran for 807 yards and 11 touchdowns. He made 54 tackles and had four interceptions on defense as well. <strong>Brandon McCormick, Matawan, Sr. DE</strong> – McCormick made eight sacks, caused four fumbles, blocked a field goal, recovered three fumbles and made 12 tackles for loss last year for Matawan. Matawan announced the cancelling of its first two games to serve a quarantine. <strong>Other Names:</strong> <strong>Hamza Bruce, Lenape, Sr. RB/LB</strong> <strong>Brady Long, Lenape, Sr. QB</strong> <strong>Aaron Fantasia, Newton, Sr. RB/DB/WR</strong> <strong>James Pepe, Randolph, Sr. WR/RB</strong> <strong>Austen Frattura, Sparta, So. QB</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="27984" first="Kanye" last="Udoh"], St. Augustine, Jr. RB/LB</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="27976" first="Nasir" last="Hill"], St. Augustine, Jr. RB/DB</strong>