ROSELLE PARK – For a team that finished .500, the Panthers last year still reached the North 2, Group 1 playoffs – and lost a close first-round game on the road – outscored 10 foes by a margin of just over 100 points and produced two shutouts.
Roselle Park was 2-2 at home and 3-3 on the road.
After consecutive 5-5 finishes the past two seasons, this year’s 2016 squad will be extra motivated to produce the program’s first winning campaign since 2013.
Returning starters on offense include junior Sean Matthews at center after being one of the team’s ends in 2015, senior left guard Justin Arnold, senior running back David Forstenhausler and junior wide receiver Enzo Brutus.
Forstenhausler, entering his third year on the varsity, rushed for 1,200 yards in 2015.
“He’s a tough kid, also a wrestler, and very durable,” said fifth-year head coach Terry Hanratty. “He understands what hard work is and what it takes.”
Brutus came on last year for the Panthers and Hanratty expects him to be a key weapon again this year.
“Enzo is very athletic,” Hanratty said. “We’ll be looking for very big things from him this year. He’s a basketball player, too. He’s grown up a lot this year.”
Arnold is a steady lineman on both sides of the ball.
“He’s very undersized (5-10, 195), but is one of our strongest kids,” Hanratty said. “He did a great job for us last year.”
Under center for the first time as the starter and succeeding Snapple Bowl All-Star Joe Woods at quarterback is senior Steven Karas (6-0, 170).
“He played mostly on defense in our secondary last year,” Hanratty said. “He’s a real gritty kid, tough and hard-working.”
With the recent realignment of the Mid-State 38 Conference, Roselle Park is back in the Union Division along with seven other teams.
“We should be able to compete with the Group 1 teams on our schedule,” Hanratty said. “The Newark teams in our section (North 2, Group 1) get kids from the other schools in Newark that don’t have football and Hoboken is getting kids from all over the place.
“I would rather be in a Group 3 or Group 4 section.”
Returning starters on defense include Forstenhausler in the middle at linebacker and senior Carlos Vasquez and Brutus in the secondary.
ROSELLE PARK’S
WING-T OFFENSE:
LT Oniks Fazliu, junior, (5-11, 190)
LG Justin Arnold, senior, (5-10, 195)
C Sean Matthews, junior, (6-1, 220)
RT-G Vinny Figueredo, junior, (5-9, 180)
RT Christofer Tamayo, senior, (6-2, 200)
L Jawahn Gasque, junior, (6-2, 210)
TE Devin Hilburn, junior, (5-11, 185)
TE Darius Zayus, senior, (5-11, 185)
QB Steven Karas, senior, (6-0, 170)
RB David Forstenhausler, senior, (5-11, 180)
RB Abel Crespo, senior, (5-10, 175)
RB Elijah Toro, senior, (5-10, 185)
RB Carlos Vasquez, senior, (5-8, 150)
WR Enzo Brutus, junior, (5-9, 160)
WR Dylan Camilo, junior, (5-8, 155)
Returning starters (4): Arnold, Matthews,
Forstenhausler, Brutus.
ROSELLE PARK’S
4-4 DEFENSE:
E Devin Hilburn, junior, (5-11, 185)
T Oniks Fazliu, junior, (5-11, 190)
T Justin Arnold, senior, (5-10, 195)
T Sean Matthews, junior, (6-1, 220)
T Christofer Tamayo, senior, (6-2, 200)
T Jawahn Gasque, junior, (6-2, 210)
LB Vinny Figueredo, junior, (5-9, 180)
LB David Forstenhausler, senior, (5-11, 180)
LB Abel Crespo, senior, (5-10, 175)
LB Elijah Toro, senior, (5-10, 185)
LB Darius Zayaus, senior, (5-11, 185)
B Carlos Vasquez, senior, (5-8, 150)
B Enzo Brutus, junior, (5-9, 160)
B Dylan Camilo, junior, (5-8, 155)
Returning starters (4): Arnold,
Forstenhausler, Vasquez, Brutus.
ROSELLE PARK PANTHERS
Head Coach: Terry Hanratty, since 2012.
A 1990 Elizabeth graduate.
Fifth season: 27-16 (.628)
Conference: Mid-State 38
Division: Union
Section: North 2, Group 1
Roselle Park’s last sectional title: 1993
2015: (5-5 and 5-3, fourth in Valley Division)
Herm Shaw Field: Grass.
Hanratty has guided Roselle Park to the North 2, Group 1
playoffs in three of his first four seasons at the helm. He has
a 3-3 playoff record and a 1-0 consolation games mark. Hanratty
has two winning seasons and two .500 campaigns at RP.
ROSELLE PARK PANTHERS 2016
Sept. 9 at South Hunterdon, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Dayton, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 Belvidere, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Brearley, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Bound Brook, 7 p.m.
Oct. 15 at Pingry, 1 p.m.
Oct. 21 New Providence, 7 p.m.
Oct. 28 at Manville, 7 p.m.
Nov. 24 Roselle, 10:30 a.m.
2015 ROSELLE PARK PANTHERS (5-5)
(H) Roselle Park 38, Pingry 0
(A) Roselle Park 29, Bound Brook 20
(H) Brearley 20, Roselle Park 10
(A) Belvidere 33, Roselle Park 14
(A) Roselle Park 35, South Hunterdon 7
(H) Roselle Park 44, Dayton 0
(H) New Providence 21, Roselle Park 0
(A) Roselle Park 57, Manville 12
(A) Belvidere 26, Roselle Park 21
(A) Roselle 41, Roselle Park 33
Head coach: Terry Hanratty,
fourth season
Section: North 2, Group 1
Conference: Mid-State 38
Division: Valley 5-3
Record: 5-5
Home: 2-2
Away: 3-3
Points for: 281
Points against: 180
Shutouts: 2
Overtime: 0-0