The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 5

Ifte Inquirer SUNDAY September 15, 1991 15-D SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS ByDONMcKEE The latest Foley may be the greatest Kevin Foley is doing more as a quarterback at Cherry Hill East than just keeping alive the family name. "I don't think about individual' goals," Kevin Foley said. "My goal is to have the best possible year and redeem ourselves for losing (to Cherokee in the sectional finals." No record and no championship seems beyond the reach of Foley's arm this fall. "He has that elusiveness," Wood said. "He can make tacklers miss him, and he can run pretty good, too.

He's filled out physically, and he's started lifting weights a bit. He's a lot stronger. He should have a very good year." Instrumental in East's attack is a pair of receivers who have the hands and speed to maximize Foley's gifts and to cover up his rare misfires. Wide receiver Erik Henry is 6-foot-4 and weighs 218 pounds. He has a 32-inch vertical leap and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds.

"He can do so many things," Wood said. "He can be a tight end in college or he can be an 'H' back a slotback who lines up between the tight end and the wideout." Henry caught 62 passes for 986 yards and 11 touchdowns a year ago. He also was named The Inquirer's all-South Jersey punter after averaging 39.2 yards per kick. Henry's 62 receptions was the By Don McKee Inquirer Stall Writer Kevin Foley drops back to pass, taking the neat, three-step drop of an experienced quarterback. He rifles a pass to a leaping receiver for a first down.

On Foley drops back to pass, deftly eludes a bull-rushing lineman, skitters to his right and flicks a quick "out" to a receiver for a gain that keeps a drive alive. Or: Foley drops back to pass, looks left and sees a massive defensive end bearing down on him, with mayhem clearly on his mind. The quarterback sprints right, outrunning the charging end, and lofts a pass to a receiver 40 yards downfield. You get the idea. If the pass play can be designed, Kevin Foley can throw the pass.

More than 60 percent of the time, the pass will be completed. "I think my best asset," Foley said, "is having quick feet in the pocket. That, plus my ability to pass on the run, read defenses and hit the open man." Foley does all of those things so well, you have to wonder if he's really a high school kid. "If the defense blitzes you, they have to leave some area uncovered," fourth-best one-season total in South Jersey history. The record of 64 was set by Cherokee's Brian DeAngelo in 1989 and tied by Kevin Foley's favor-, ite target of 1990, Tom Suvansri, now at Trenton State.

(Steve Lobel caught 63 passes from Glenn Foley in 1988.) The South Jersey record for yardage gained on receptions in one year is 1,018, set by Kevin Hallman of Holy Spirit in 1988. The tight end for East Chris Dwyer, a 6-1, 200-pounder who caught 42 passes last fall. "He is really a hard-nosed kid," Wood said. "He could be a strong safety in college. He plays defensive end on our left side, which is the offense's right side where most people run.

He never comes off the field. He has good speed and good hands. We're gonna jplit him out sometimes." But the trigger man in the Cougars' dazzling aerial circus is Foley, who has grown to major-college size at 6-2V2, 190. "The whole key for us this year," he said, "is to play at 100 percent effectiveness and keep learning. We want to become a better team as the year goes on.

If we do that, we can be very successful, because we have a lot of athletes on this team." junior in South Jersey and only the third player ever in South Jersey to pass for more than 2,000 yards. He connected on 189 of 312 attempts (60.6 percent) for 2,626 yards and 23 touchdowns. The yardage total was a South Jersey record, breaking the mark of 2,187, set in 1988 by his brother Glenn, now at Boston College. Kevin already has thrown 35 touchdown passes in his career. The-South Jersey record is 45, set in 1975 by Salem's Jay Venuto, who later starred at Wake Forest, and it doesn't figure to exist much longer.

The South Jersey record for touchdown passes in a season is 29, set by Woodrow Wilson's Norman Frisbey in 12 games in 1989. The state record is 31, set last year by Franklin Town-. ship's Louis Solomon, now at said Bo Wood, Foley's coach at Cherry Hill East. "Kevin has a knack for just dropping the ball into that uncovered area. When he's on, he's so good, it's almost like stealing." Foley is a senior.

He is the last of four brothers to play for Cherry Hill East. Ed Foley a center, graduated in 1985 and went on to become a captain at Bucknell. For the last seven years, Cliff, Glenn or Kevin Foley has been the starting quater-back at East. Kevin took over as a sophomore in 1989. He could be the best scholastic quarterback in South Jersey history.

"His greatest asset is his understanding of the game," Wood said. "He knows how to read a defense. He's really learned how to play the game. He should have a great year." Foley already has had one great year. Last year, he became the first Woodrow Wilson holds National ''i IE- faiaiiV -fe- 4 BwiiiiiiiiiiiiifCiiifiiininiiB fc a mmm Xs i fey lUMin rihrmni mm 8.

Jersey full of hot prospects Recruiting is the lifeblood of college football, and it is a year-round activity. jtod when the Division I assistant coaches who handle recruiting plan their trips, South Jersey is certain to bei un the itinerary. Few, if any, areas have more college football prospects per capita than South Jersey does. pie-fact that college stars such as State's Tony Sacca, Pitt's Steve Isfael, Tech's Emmett Merchant awthio State's Alonzo Spell-man begaW their careers in South Jejrsey hasltept the area prominent in' the minds of recruiters. Even players who get little renown, such.as Iowa center Mike Devlin, have burnished South Jersey's reputation, as the Cherokee graduate is considered a likely pro draft choice TOKt spring.

There appear to be slightly more major-college prospects in the area this falHhan in the last three years. The lasf great year for prospects in Srfuth Jersey was 1987, when Sacca (Delran), Merchant (Paulsboro), Devlin (Cherokee), Israel (Haddon Heights) and Clemson's Kelvin Han-kins (Woodrow Wilson) were high school seniors. The best prospect in South Jersey Cherry Hill East's deft and dexterous quarterback, Kevin Foley is profiled elsewhere on this page. But there are many other top prospects, fa, South Jersey this fall, and here ftatriiick look at some of them. Linemen.

Perhaps no position is as wefts'fftcked with great prospects as thJi fact alone should si out raAmiitarfl in ipauao oo Ki rt are the rarest of all commodities in every level of football. At latf live South Jersey seniors will bo among the nation's premier line recruits when NCAA grants-in-aid go out in February. Holy Spirit center Pete Marczyk has the size, at 6-foot4 and 275 pounds, and the smarts to play one of football's most demanding positions. Because Holy Spirit is one of the few area high schools to play a strict two-platoon system, Marczyk has had three years' work exclusively at center. He also is a very good student, with a 3.5 grade-point average and an SAT score well above 1,000.

A similar prospect anchors the line at' defending Group 3 champion Overbrook. Ron Keller is a 64, 245-pound tackle but is projected as a college center, according to coach Larry Mauriello. that is because of Keller's size and intellect He is ranked No. 3 in his class and has an SAT 1,200. By the way, the best offensive line prospect in South Jersey might be Wpodrow- Wilson's Quincey Hollow'ayj'who already is 64 and 285, and is only a junior.

By the winter of he might be the most sought-after player in the nation. A trio of defensive linemen also will be heavily recruited this year. Tlje most prominent is Mainland's John Michaelidis, who is a 6-5, 280-pound tackle. A self-proclaimed weightlifting fanatic, Michaelidis can squat-lift 500 pounds and bench-press 300 pounds. Atlantic City's Lateef Patterson is 64 and 230, and sprints 40 yards in 4.9 seconds.

With a rangy build, he can easily accommodate more weight in college with no dropoff in efficiency Camden's Mike Harrison was overshadowed last year by gigantic (6-8, 300-pound) George Hegamin, who now is at North Carolina State. But Harrison, who is 6-5, 245, should blossom this year. linebackers. Four outstanding linebackers are playing in South Jersey this fall, but one should be listed with an asterisk, and two others might play: defensive back in college. Ryan Luzinski of Holy Cross, son of former Phillies slugger Greg Lu-zinskQMd easily earn a football scholarship' But the 6-2, 225-pound choicftatffiost surely will be a next spring's draft in major-league baseball, and most likely will pursue that sport.

Delran's Nate Hemsley is another top linebacking prospect at 6-2, 195. Rated Very quick, he also might become a strong safety in college. Cinnaminson's Jason Collins plays linebacker despite his relatively small, 5-11, 175-pound size. He is one of the area's best prospects as a defensive back. Hammonton's Jim Ciarlante made more than 80 tackles last year and blocked a punt.

Another top student (he has a 3.8 GPA), Ciarlante rushed for 1,300 yards as a fullback, but his future is most likely on defense. The first Inquirer South Jersey Football Top 10 of will appear tomorrow. Quarterback Marty Cross, throwing a pass during a practice, The Philadelphia Inquirer JOHN COSTEUO pulls the trigger on Woodrow Wilson's run- and-shoot offense. power Hill East in the first five weeks. Still, a 6-3 season and a Group 3 playoff, berth seem likely.

Opener: At home vs. Washington' Township (54), at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 28. Pennsauken has won four of its last; five opening games.

1 Triton Last year: The Mustangs were 3-6, their best record since 1985, and have 13 starters back seeking their first winning season since 1981. Coach: Phil Pettite (Camden Catholic, Glassboro State) is 8-334 in five years. He was 14-364 in six years at Camden Catholic, Key players: Running back Mark Berg, center Damian Tomeo, tackle Shawn Nicholas and guard Matt Marengo are top-flight veterans. Dom Anderson (6-0, 200) and Ira Tomeo (6-2, 230) lend bulk to the defense. Outlook: It has been a long time since Triton was excited about a football season.

But the Mustangs have a legitimate shot at a winning record. Opener: Against Eastern (6-3). Triton has not won an opener since 1985. Woodrow Wilson Last yean The Tigers went 7-2, their 10th straight winning season, but missed the Group 3 playoffs because of a low power rating. Coach: Darrell Wilson (Pennsauken, UConn) is 24-7 in three years.

Key players: The Tigers have 15 starters back. Quarterback Marty Cross pulls the trigger on the run-and-shoot and will be hitting quick receivers Ron Johnson, Omar Cassidy, Jamar King and Rodney Daw-ley. Tackle Quincey Holloway (6-3, 285) is one of the best in South Jersey, and teams with monstrous junior Curtis Johnson (6-5, 315). Outlook: Wilson is one of the best programs in South Jersey, having appeared in the playoffs in five of the last seven seasons. This group is thin on defense but talented on offense.

Wilson is the clear favorite in the division. With a good year from Cross, the Tigers can contend for the Group 3 title and the No. 1 ranking. Opener: At Overbrook (8-3), at 10:30 a.m. Sept.

28. Wilson has won its opener in nine of the last 12 years, but has not beaten Overbrook since 1987. By Don McKee The Olympic National, a collection of competitive, medium-size schools, usually is one of South Jersey's best conferences. This year, however, the division could have a runaway winner. The favorite is Woodrow Wilson, which won the title in 1989 and 1987 and is loaded this year.

The Tigers are a combined 17-3 in the last two years. New member Pennsauken will be in the hunt, along with Deptford. Triton, which hasn't had a winning season since 1981, might be the division's biggest surprise. Defending champion Camden Catholic might have lost too much to graduation to repeat. Pennsauken, which has as much football tradition as any school in the state, has been added to the division, along with Paul VI.

They competed in the large-school Olympic American a year ago. Bishop Eustace Last year: The Crusaders went 1-8, their worst record since going 1-7-1 in 1982. They missed the Parochial playoffs for the first time since 1985. Coach: Martin Moke (a graduate of St. James High in Chester, and West Chester State) is 5-14-1 in his first two years at Eustace.

He was 36-474 in eight years in the Philadelphia Catholic League. Key players: The Crusaders bring back 10 starters, among them quarterback Mike Ford, offensive linemen Mike Techulis and Fred DiPie-tro, and kicker Rob Kershes. Returning defensive starters include linemen T.J. Sharpe and Ray Lebron, and backs Kevin Johnson and Scott Mitchell. Outlook: The Crusaders did a lot of rebuilding last year and have a solid nucleus.

They should have a winning season and challenge for a Parochial playoff spot. Opener, vs. Highland (6-3 last year) at Pennsauken's field, at 2 p.m. Sept. 29, in a nonleague game.

Eustace last met Highland in 1988, winning, 42-14. Camden Catholic Last year: The Irish went 8-2, won their first division title (they've been in the Olympic only since 1983) and made the Parochial A playoffs for the first time since 1979. Coach: Bill Atkisson (Woodrow Wilson) is 18-10-1 in his three years. Key players: Only three starters return. Matt Hudson will move to quarterback after having started at running back last year.

Tackle Chris Rutter (6-foot4, 235 pounds) and center Sonny Sherry will anchor a rebuilt line. End Chris Govan and linebacker Jason Petracci will help the defense. Outlook: A lot of talent departed after last season, but the Irish have a strong program and might not fall as far as people think. The schedule is brutal, including Woodrow Wilson, Pennsauken, Cherry Hill East and Overbrook, but a winning season is possible. Opener: Against Cherry Hill East (9-2) at Camden's Farnham Park, at 1 p.m.

Sept. 29. The Irish have not played East since 1982, when they lost, 17-8. Deptford Last year: The Spartans were forced to forfeit their opener because of a teachers' strike, and limped home 3-6. Coach: Joe Corbi (Olney, Temple) is one of the most successful coaches in recent South Jersey history, with a record of 138-64-6 in 22 years (including five years at Wood-row Wilson).

Key players: Deptford will rebuild around the talented Carter brothers senior Frank and junior Ernie both of whom start at linebacker. Frank Carter also starts at fullback. Mike Harvey returns at running back. Outlook: Deptford was highly regarded last year, and the 3-6 record was at least partly caused by the strike. There is a nucleus of excel- V-Vi 1 I fiA Asm- Ronald Johnson (left) and Omar Cassidy helping a Wilson teammate stretch before a workout.

lent talent, and hope for a much-improved record is high. Opener: At Camden (54), at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 28. The Spartans have not played Camden since 1988, when they lost, 9-0.

Gloucester Catholic Last year: The Rams finished 0-9 and have lost 17 straight games, going back to a 6-6 tie against Cherry Hill West in the 1989 opener. They have not won a game since beating Cinnaminson in the sixth game of the 1988 season, a winless streak of 20 games. But 18 lettermen, including 10 starters, are back, and they'll get help from a 54 JV team. Coach: Mike McDevitt (Gloucester Catholic, Camden County College) is 0-17-1 in his two years. Key players: Quarterback Scott Lavender is a great athlete.

Lou Colon and Lou Vargo lend strength and speed at running back. Tino DiSilves-tro leads the offensive line. Shawn Scott, Chris Coughlin and Matt Stanger key the defense. Outlook: Lavender is among the area's best athletes, but the Rams are in a very difficult division in which nearly every other team is bigger and better. A fast start is essential to their hopes.

fighting chance to break its losing Opener: At Cherry Hill West (2-7), at 1 p.m. Sept. 28. The Eagles have not defeated West since 1985. Paul VI has not won an opener since 1981, when the Eagles finished 100 and won the school's only South Jersey Parochial A championship.

Pennsauken Last year: The Indians finished 3-6, their first losing season since 1965. Coach: Vince McAneney (La Salle, West Chester State) has won 222 games in his career, the third-highest total in South Jersey history. He is a member of the South Jersey Football Hall of Fame. Key players: Most of the backfield returns, including quarterback Bruce Nolte, breakaway back Tyrell Flowers and fullback Dave Travis. Al Gudis is the only experienced lineman.

Outlook: Although the Indians appear thin on paper, they are poised to return to league and playoff contention. The early part of the schedule is very difficult, as they must play Washington Township, Woodrow Wilson, Triton, Deptford and Cherry Olympic National Another in a series on the conference races in football. Opener: At Edgewood (6-3), at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 28.

The Rams have not beaten Edgewood since 1984, which also was their last winning season. Paul VI Last year: The Eagles went 0-9, their third consecutive winless season. Paul VI tied Triton, 0-0, in the fourth game of 1988. The Eagles last won a game on Thanksgiving Day 1987, beating Camden Catholic, 21-15. Coach: Steve Locilento (Camden High) is in his second year.

Key players: Eighteen starters return, including 10 on offense. Quarterback Dan Plefka returns. He will be protected by Greg Maccar-one, Pat Henderson, Andrew Bayles and Nick Rosato. Outlook: The Eagles got a break when they were assigned to the National Division because of shrinking enrollment. The smaller of the two Olympic Conference divisions is strong, too, but at least Paul VI has a.