ROSELLE – The Rams have qualified for the playoffs 12 times, but have never made it three years in a row.
Roselle will – once again – attempt to reach that lofty goal for the first time, led by three-year starter Gerald Hairston III (6-2, 230) at quarterback.
The mobile, southpaw-throwing, senior signal-caller has been through it all before, leading the Rams to their first playoff win two years ago since 1998.
“He’s a very good athlete and very bright,” said Dennis McCarthy of his annual Dennis McCarthy Report, which ranks who he feels are the top college-bound players in each class.
McCarthy has Hairston III ranked 10th in his Union County Top 10 for the 2016 season.
“He’s a big kid and a threat to throw and run,” McCarthy said.
A standout on defense is returning senior two-way starting lineman Xavier Young (6-3, 240).
“He’s very strong and quick,” said McCarthy, who has Young ranked 7th in his college-bound Union County Top 10.
Other key returning players for the Rams in include senior two-way lineman Shaquil Jones. senior running back Isiah Byrd, senior WR-CB Drew Stephens, senior defensive tackle Tyreke Benjamin and junior fullback-outside linebacker Craig McRae.
Roselle finished 4-6 last year, with single-digit losses at home to Hillside (16-13) and at Johnson (23-14).
The Rams received the eighth seed in Central Jersey, Group 2 last year and fell at Lincoln of Jersey City 30-13 in quarterfinal round play at Caven Point in Jersey City.
Roselle has made the state playoffs once in North 2, Group 1; eight times in North 2, Group 2 and three times in CJ, G2, including the last two years.
Roselle has qualified for the state playoffs in consecutive years four times: 1983 and 1984 in North 2, Group 2; 1989 and 1990 in North 2, Group 2; 2010 in CJ, G2 and 2011 in N2, G2 and 2014 and 2015 in Central Jersey, Group 2.
ROSELLE’S MULTIPLE OFFENSE:
T Darwens Cadet, junior, (6-2, 200)
G Adham Khalil, junior, (6-2, 263)
C Tashaun Hutchins, senior, (5-10, 245)
T Shaquil Jones, senior, (6-3, 230)
G Xavier Young, senior, (6-3, 240)
TE Junior Jean, senior, (6-1, 208)
QB Gerald Hairston III, senior, (6-2, 230)
QB Marvens Lormejuste, junior, (6-0, 150)
RB Isiah Byrd, senior, (5-10, 207)
FB Robert Stephens, senior, (5-9, 215)
FB Craig McRae, junior, (5-11, 205)
WR Drew Stephens, senior, (5-9, 155)
WR Nasir Cherry, junior, (5-9, 142)
Returning starters (5): Jones, Young,
Hairston III, Byrd, Drew Stephens.
ROSELLE’S 4-3 DEFENSE:
E Darwens Cadet, junior, (6-2, 200)
T Xavier Young, senior, (6-3, 240)
T Tyreke Benjamin, senior, (5-11, 280)
E Shaquil Jones, senior, (6-3, 230)
E Junior Jean, senior, (6-1, 208)
OLB Craig McRae, junior, (5-11, 205)
MLB Robert Stephens, senior, (5-9, 215)
MLB Kaymare Wilson, junior, (5-11, 200)
CB Drew Stephens, senior, (5-9, 155)
CB Nasir Cherry, junior, (5-9, 142)
CB Raborn Dismuke, junior, (5-8, 160))
FS Marvens Lormejuste, junior, (6-0, 150)
Returning starters (5): Young, Benjamin,
Jones, McRae, Drew Stephens.
ROSELLE RAMS
Head Coach: James Williams, since 2013.
A 1989 Clifford Scott graduate.
Fourth season: 15-16 (.484)
Conference: Mid-State 38
Division: Valley
Section: Central Jersey, Group 2
Roselle’s last sectional title: 1989
2015: (4-6 and 2-3, tied for third in Raritan Division)
Arminio Field: Grass.
Williams has guided Roselle to the CJ, G2 playoffs
the last two years, including the program’s first
playoff win since 1998.
ROSELLE RAMS 2016
Sept. 9 at Bernards, 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 Delaware Valley, 1 p.m.
Sept. 24 Johnson, 1 p.m.
Oct. 1 at Hillside, 2 p.m.
Oct. 8 at New Providence, 1 p.m.
Oct. 15 Pingry, 1 p.m.
Oct. 22 Dayton, 2 p.m.
Nov. 5 Bound Brook, 2 p.m.
Nov. 24 at Roselle Park, 10:30 a.m.
2015 ROSELLE RAMS (4-6)
(H) Roselle 7, Rahway 0
(H) Hillside 16, Roselle 13
(A) Cranford 41, Roselle 7
(A) Delaware Valley 31, Roselle 12
(A) Roselle 22, Summit 7
(A) Johnson 23, Roselle 14
(H) Brearley 35, Roselle 21
(A) Roselle 33, Bernards 26
(A) Lincoln 30, Roselle 13
(H) Roselle 41, Roselle Park 33
Head coach: James Williams,
third season
Section: Central Jersey, Group 2
Conference: Mid-State 38
Division: Mountain 2-3
Record: 4-6
Home: 2-2
Away: 2-4
Points for: 183
Points against: 242
Shutouts: 1
Overtime: 0-0