Weekly High School Spotlight: Westwood Regional

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">In 2022, The Westwood Regional Cardinals won a Group 4 sectional-title against Rutherford 21-20 in Coach Dennis Hard's last season as head coach. Coach Hard retired in December after 43 seasons coaching in the state. Watch out for these players to produce under their new head coach, Coach Bobby Guy, as they seek to repeat as sectional champions!</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Congratulations to Coach Dennis Hard on his recent retirement! Coach Hard won 108 career games, including 56 at Westwood Regional, making 7 straight playoff appearances, 8 playoff wins, and most recently a sectional-title. As of late January, Coach Bobby Guy was appointed the new head coach of the Cardinals where he is building the foundation of his program on three main principles: Focus, Toughness, &amp; Accountability. This will be Coach Guy's 10th season with the team and first as head coach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Under Coach Guy's recent tenure, Westwood Regional has a brand new weight room facility as well as a new turfed field. The Cardinals will also be returning NJFCA Defensive Coordinator of the Year Coach Amir Saadah as well as experienced Offensive Coordinator Coach Eddie Suri. In history, Westwood Regional has produced talents such as Super Bowl Champion defensive tackle BJ Raji and NFL offensive tackle Kevin Sampson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Based on their play last season, Senior LB Yianni Constantinides, Junior QB [player_tooltip player_id='220046' first='Robbie' last='Carcich'], Senior TE/K Jack Dugan, Senior OL/DL Chris Picinic, and Sophomore DE [player_tooltip player_id='739692' first='Dario' last='Mathurin'] all earned Group 2 All-State honors. As we look toward to next season, here are some names we expect to have a major impact on the Cardinals success next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["220046"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='220046' first='Robbie' last='Carcich'] is a 3 sport athlete who plays football, basketball, and baseball. Last season he earned Group 2 All-State honors and holds a 18-3 career record as a starter. In addition, he also holds a 3.5 GPA. As a passer, Carcich throws with good finesse and accuracy on his deep balls as he has a great ability to get high arc on these passes. He is a great facilitator of the ball and gives his weapons opportunities to make plays. Carcich displays quality athleticism to avoid rushers, get out of the pocket, and throw on the run. I am looking forward to watching him play this season and see the strides he takes based on the work he has done this offseason.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Aidan Carrazana","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Westwood Regional","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Aidan Carrazana is a good athlete who shows great quality with the ball in his hands. He can read blockers well and can run well in space and in traffic. As a cornerback, he plays well off coverage where he excels recognizing the play and either making a play on the ball carrier or the receiver. Carrazana can change directions smoothly with limited wasted steps making him a great athlete on both sides of the ball. Overall, he is a very reliable player who is fun to watch give his all every play.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["402243"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"As a freshman, [player_tooltip player_id='402243' first='Steve' last='Klein'] shows unbelievable potential as a dual sport athlete - football and baseball. He received good playing time and definitely made the most of it. Klein plays a variety of positions across the field including running back, wide receiver, and safety. On offense, he is a natural with the ball is in his hands displaying good vision and awareness to identify holes quickly. He is also shifty in open space to make defenders quickly without losing much speed. At free safety, the only way to put it is Klein is a playmaker. He shows good range and ball skills to run between the seams and is constantly looking to pop the ball out when tackling. Klein is a name to watch as he still has 3 seasons left to continue his development.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1086087' first='Joe' last='Klein']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Westwood Regional","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1086087' first='Joe' last='Klein'] is a jack of all trades. In this past season, he made appearances in all 3 phases of the game - offense, defense, and special teams. As a kick and punt returner, he displays good feel for open holes and gets north and south as quickly as possible by not taking wide lanes when he does not have to. On defense, he lines up at cornerback where he identifies plays in a quick manner by noticing pass concepts, reading the quarterback's eyes, tendencies of receivers, and more. He is also a solid tackler getting runners down in space or in tight quarters. On offense, he uses his blockers well and gets up the field in a quick fashion. Also, has soft hands and natural ball skills when thrown the ball. Klein clearly gives his all in every opportunity he is given on the field and I am looking forward to see what schools give him a chance to play at the next level as the chip on his shoulder gets bigger and bigger.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"RJ Ussher","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Westwood Regional","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"RJ Ussher is a solid interior defensive lineman for the Cardinals. He has a quick first step getting into the center or guard right off the snap. Ussher's punch is the best part of his game often stonewalling his opponent then displays the ability to extend from the block, reach, and either tackle the runner or disrupt his running lane. He shows good strength moving around interior offensive lineman with ease. Ussher has the toughness and physicality to stand up inside no matter who he lines up across and tackles the quarterback and runners with solid technique. Ussher's film was fun to watch as he always seemed to outmatch his opponent and make a play. Next season he will continue to be a force on the Cardinals' defensive front.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-642226c029b02"} /-->