Football

August 27, 2010

One team, one goal

Gift Igiri, Marist

Gift Agiri and Marist hopes to reach the state playoffs for the first time since 2005.

Click Here for more photos from Marist's football practice.

By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director

BAYONNE –With four wins, including a head-turning 22-16 victory over Hoboken, 2009 was a season of progress for Marist. Despite those accomplishment and exceeding the win total of the previous two years combined the Royal Knights’ goal of a trip to the state playoffs remained just out of reach.

So as they enter 2010, the magic number for Marist is four, the amount of wins that will be needed within their first eight games to qualify for the Non-Public, Group II tournament for the first time since 2005.

“We want to build off of last year,” said head coach Larry Arico, who returned to the position recently after previous hire Brian Meeney resigned. “We want to make the playoffs. That’s our goal and we’ll see what happens after that.”

The task will not be an easy one as graduation has put several key starting spots in the hands of sophomores and juniors for 2010.

Offensive Overview:

Aaron Smith, Marist

Sophomore Aaron Smith is one of two competing for the starting QB spot.

There’s no shortage of depth in the backfield for Marist this season. Senior Isaiah Berryman is a bruising back who is expected to be the primarily ball carrier after being the No. 2 man a year ago. Troy Garland and Nasir Wright will provide the speed to Berryman’s power in a backfield which will also feature FB Garry Merrill.

At quarterback there is a heated competition between junior Hafife Timberlake and sophomore Aaron Smith. Timberlake is a more-traditional passer while Smith is a better runner. Smith’s explosive athleticism will ensure that he is on the field, even if it isn’t necessarily at quarterback.

“If he’s not at quarterback, he’ll be somewhere,” Arico said. “He’s going to play everywhere. We’re just going to get him the ball. He’s going to make plays, there’s no doubt.”

Other top pass catching options for the Royal Knights include 6-foot-3 sophomore receiver Kevin Parker and sophomore TE Will Robinson.

Marist has three returning starters on the offensive line in left tackle Evon Sommerville and guards Anthony Farag and Gift Igiri.

Defensive Overview:

Troy Garland, Marist

Junior Troy Garland enters his third year as a starting cornerback.

With only three returning starters there is a lot uncertainty on the defensive side of the ball. One source of stability is at linebacker where Merrill, a senior, is a three-year starter on the outside. A.J. Mendez, Smith and Berryman will join Merrill on a unit that looks to be the highlight of the Royal Knights’ defense.

Sommerville, Igiri and Marcus Scott will start along the line in Marist’s 3-3 Stack alignment. Farag and Chimelu Sea will also see action up front.

Garland is a three-year starter at cornerback with Timberlake starting across from him. Freshman D’Ondre Robinson will also see action at corner. Senior Curtis Peace leads a very deep collection of safeties which will also include Parker, Elijah Acloque, Daryl Domo and Charles Boyd.

Star Spotlight: Isaiah Berryman, RB/LB

Isaiah Berryman, Marist

After splitting carries in 2009, Isaiah Berryman is prepared for a larger work load.

As Isaiah Berryman prepared to be Marist’s primary ball carrier one thing was certain, he had to get bigger and stronger. After a productive offseason Berryman, a true north-south runner, is ready and unfazed by the challenge ahead of him.

“I’ve been in the system the last three years and I feel comfortable,” Berryman said. “I like to that the role of everything being on me.”

After being limited last season by a shoulder injury which eventually required surgery, Berryman feels physically capable of handling the new workload. His offseason work regiment has paid off as Berryman has added more than 20 pounds and is now at 220 pounds as he enters the season.

The 5-foot-10 Berryman spent the summer in South Carolina working out every day to prepare both physically and mentally.

“It was just about getting my stamina up since I knew I’d be getting more carries,” Berryman said.