Hilltoppers Hold First Open Scrimmage of the Year

With a state title under their belts, the Summit Hilltoppers come into this year's football season with a target on their backs.  It will be no small task to repeat last year's success, as the state champions graduated 25 seniors from the team.  Tuesday morning was the first open scrimmage of the season, giving everyone an idea of what to expect from this year's team.

Summit took to Metro Homes Field along with Shore Regional, Bloomfield, and Caldwell. The scrimmage showcased some of the names to look out for this season, as well as some of the young talent coming up.

Ryan Bringewatt takes over the reins at quarterback, now wearing former team co-captain Joe Jaskolski's number.  Bringewatt will wear No. 6 and appears to have excellent command of his offense.  He was throwing strong short passes, coordinated several well-executed running plays, and showed a keen sense of when to scramble.

Bringewatt will be well protected.  Austin Jennings and Max Munoz will lead the Hilltopper's offensive line.  Jennings and Munoz were both a part of last year's line that coach Liberato credited with much of the team's success.  The offensive line lost Matt Mulholland, Griffin Dottle, and three-year starter Paul Coviello.

Ryan O'Malley and Stephen Whitman will step up to help replace the offensive hole left by the departure of Matt Rea and Dwayne Dabney.  Rea, who leaves Saturday for preseason in Vermont, was in the stands cheering on his old teammates. O'Malley and Whitman showed they could read the field well, and should be ready come game time.

Nick Oristanio returns to his postion at inside tackle for his senior year after an excellent junior year.  Oristanio was on the undefeated 2009 Hilltopper football team and was also a key part of the most successful baseball team to go through SHS in well over a decade.

Logan Jeffries will step up to first string defensive end, after getting experience on both the state champion football and lacrosse teams.  Jeffries came in last year at an athletic 6-0, 205 lbs and should prove to be a formidable end.

Junior Stefano Stadlinger will also get a chance to step up this year.  Last year Stadlinger put points on the board behind kicker Alex Melendez.  With Melendez having graduated, Stadlinger should be able to fill the hole.

The Hilltoppers will get in two more scrimmages before their first game of the year.  They will face Chatham this Saturday at Metro Homes field at 10 a.m.  Stay tuned to Patch for complete Summit football coverage.

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