Shore Super 25 football teams: A whole new world for Howell in upcoming season - here's why
The Asbury Park Press is featuring high school football teams being considered for our preseason Shore Super 25 team rankings.
The Howell High football team has a unique challenge in front of it this upcoming fall season - just finding the fields for road games will take some work.
The Rebels in recent years have only infrequently strayed out of Monmouth County for their regular-season matchups. But this season, they'll head to Ocean County fields for three games - and a pair of Ocean powerhouse, Toms River North and Point Pleasant Borough, will be heading to Howell's turf field off Squankum-Yellowbrook Road for games.
Thank goodness for sharp bus drivers and Apple maps, but the schedule has a much different feel this year.
“I’m ecstatic about the challenge,” said Howell head coach Bill Hill Sr. “It’s a very unique schedule for us. My buddy from Donovan Catholic (Griffins' coach Dan Curcione) called me because I didn’t know the schedule came out. I said ‘ok, I guess we’re the chosen Monmouth County team to go to A South.’”
After an early playoff exit last season, the Rebels have a good amount of returning starters who are able to make a big impact. However, their new list of opponents aren't pushovers; Toms River North is the Group 5 reigning champion, Brick Memorial is coming off a 10-1 season, Point Borough was a Group 2 finalist and Donovan Catholic was a Non-Public A semifinalist.
More: Shore Super 25 football teams: Colts Neck keeps getting the results the old-fashioned way
No change to Howell's local rivalry with Freehold Township
Though their first opponent of the season will be a 15 minute drive to Freehold Township. The Patriots, a team that the Rebels have faced over the summer in 7v7 competition in which Freehold Township got the narrow victory over them. Emotions ran high, the trash talking ramped up as well as every athletes level of play.
More: 5 things we learned from the Freehold Regional summer high school football tournament
That Week 1 matchup will likely set the tone for what is to come for Howell this season.
“What makes Freehold Township more of a rivalry is its more of Howell vs Howell kids,” said Hill, referring to students from several Howell neighborhoods being assigned to Freehold Township. Both schools are in the Freehold Regional High School District. “They’ve been playing together since seven years old. The emotions are very high.”
Howell football outlook
Despite the tough opponents that lie ahead, Hill is confident in this year's group. Returning the entire secondary is one of the big reasons for that. On offense, Howell returns most of their skill position players, too.
Whatever style of play a team has for the Rebels, Hill believes he has the right group of guys to match with whatever is thrown their way.
“We always have skill,” he said. “We’re right there, it’s just the physicality that's going to make the difference in the whole game.”
Top returners
Zach Padilla (Sr. DB), Quincy Shaw (Sr. DB), Vince Meehan (Sr. QB/DB), Juan DeJesus (Sr. DB), and Ryan Cross (Sr. DB/WR) Luke Allard (Sr. WR/K), Jason Borgia (WR/DB), Gavin Carr (Sr. WR/TE/OLB), David Strouse (Sr. DT/G), Danny Robertozzi (Sr. T/G), Corey Moses London (Sr. G/DT), Justin Diab (Sr. RB/DE/OLB)
Potential breakout players
Anthony Rivera (Sr. RB) returns after suffering season-ending injury in 2023 opening game. Also: Joshua Krutyansky (Jr. TE), Ivan Padilla, (Jr. TE), Aiden Mendes (So. DE), Zion Conover (Sr. DE, missed last year with injury), Nick LaForge (So. LB), Josh Cofer (Jr. OL/DL)
Theme of training camp
“We got to learn how to win the close games. If you look at my record since I been there, there's been a ton of games we’ve been there until the final play of the game, so we just got to stay focused,” said Hill.
Recruitment
Zach Padilla is talking to the following schools: Central Connecticut State, East Strousburg, Gannon, Bryant, Lafayette, LIU
Howell football at a glance
Classification: NJSIAA South Group 5
2023 record: 3-6 (lost to Hillsborough in quarterfinal round)
Playoff history: 9-8, nine playoff appearances, two sectional finals, a sectional title in 2014.
Coach: Bill Hill Sr., fourth season at Howell (10-19), eighth season overall (19-50).
Offensive style: “We package a lot of different things. We’ll use the whole field. We can get into a little physical game, but we can get wide open too,” said Hill.
Howell football 2024 schedule
Aug. 23: vs West Windsor-Plansboro, 9 a.m. (Scrimmage)
Sep. 6: vs Freehold Township, 6:30 p.m.
Sep. 13: at Brick Memorial, 6 p.m.
Sep. 20: at Donovan Catholic, 6:30 p.m.
Sep. 27: at Jackson Memorial, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 5: vs Manalapan, 2 p.m.
Oct. 10: vs Toms River North, 6 p.m.
Oct. 18: at Wall Township, 7 p.m.
Oct. 25: vs Point Pleasant Borough, 6:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ Shore football: Howell 2024 season preview
