If, as football coaches like to say, they win with seniors, then Belvidere ought to do a whole lot of winning this fall.
The County Seaters return starters at 14 positions, most of which are seniors, and bring back some experienced players from injury from a 5-4 2019 squad.
This could easily be the best team in third-year head coach Jeff Kolodziejczyk’s tenure.
“We are a senior laden team, where many started as sophomores,” he said. “The seniors are vocal and good leaders for the underclassmen. We also return some key players from injuries who will contribute. The underclassmen are a talented group as well.”
Leading the way will be senior Corey Banghart, a three-year starter at quarterback and rover (a hybrid safety-linebacker) who may know Belvidere’s rather unique veer offense and 5-2 defense almost as well as Kolodziejczyk does.
“We know what we have to do,” said the 5-foot-9, 175-pounder, who ran for 736 yards and eight touchdown as a junior. “We have to believe in each other and play clean, turnover-free football. We have to play Belvidere football.”
Belvidere football means grinding out yardage in the veer -- an option attack that stresses tight formations and big plays -- and playing opportunistic, aggressive, ball-hawking defense. Banghart helps with both.
“Corey is the toughest kid on the field; it’s like having a fullback playing quarterback,” Kolodziejczyk said. “He’s really put in the work in the offseason. And he’s stepped up as a leader.”
Belvidere can deploy an offensive line that returns five starters and averages over 200 pounds, excellent size for the County Seaters. Besides Banghart, senior Justin Kane will be a weapon running the ball (597 yards, 6 TDs in 2019), and two players returning from injury -- 6-1, 185-pound junior Justin Connors and 6-foot-6, 215-pound senior tight end Tyler Hover -- offer intriguing possibilities. The thought of Hover as lead blocker on Banghart veer runs is potentially alarming for opponents and Connors can give the offense a different dimension.
It’s even possible Hover might induce Belvidere to pass more, as Kolodziejczyk admitted, even if that means six aerials a game rather than three; the Seaters stress the run.
Kane leads the defense from his safety spot.
“We expect Justin and Corey and the linebackers to make 60 percent of the tackles,” Kolodziejczyk said.
All in all, it appears to be a fun time to be a County Seater.
“This team needs to continue to improve in all areas of the game like we did last year,” Kolodziejczyk said. “We went from 2-8 to 5-4. We need to be consistent across the board in all phases of the game. The seniors need to continue to lead and carry this team.”
Why Belvidere fans should be excited
Put bluntly -- because this bunch of County Seaters could be really special. Belvidere does best when it is an experienced team, and this group has been tested and is full of two- and three-year starters. There’s excellent size, explosiveness at the skill positions, and a three-year starter at quarterback in Banghart, the importance of which cannot be overstated as key in the veer offense the Seaters run. There’s no spot where you look at a Belvidere depth chart and say, “Uh-oh” (though the opposition might when they consider what they are up against). This team went 2-8 in 2018 to 5-4 in 2019, so it knows how to improve and lift its game.
Why Belvidere fans should be concerned
It’s such a shame there are no NJSIAA playoffs this fall, because this is the kind of County Seater team, talented and experienced, that could be a threat in the always-rugged North Group 1 postseason. Depth is, as usual, a concern, and Kolodziejczyk noted that his freshman turnout was a bit disappointing. The rather more fearsome schedule that adds a Group 3 team such as Voorhees and what should be a very good Delaware Valley team will be a challenge.
Position battles
Defensive line, secondary.
Quotable: Coach Jeff Kolodziejczyk
(on why being experienced matters, especially this fall)
“Experience is super-important now, with the shortened offseason and shortened camp. Because we are a veteran group we can have the whole playbook in now. We are ahead of the curve. We’ve expanded our game plans, with a few new wrinkles and different pass routes. We’ve been able to use other dimensions.”
Quotable: Senior QB Corey Banghart
(on the team’s goals)
“We want to make this year the greatest season Belvidere has had in a long time. We have the talent and coaches to put together a really solid season. We can’t have any layoffs, and we have to keep working as hard when no one is watching as they are. The expectations are high. We want to put Belvidere football back on the map again. That’s what we expect.”
Returning starters
Sr. QB/LB Corey Banghart, Sr. OL Michael Duckworth, Sr. TE/LB Shane Exley, Sr. OL/DL Carson Grogan, Sr. RB/DB Justin Kane, Sr. OL/DL Dylan Richardson, Jr. RB/DB RJ Auriemma, Jr. OL Nick Mourry.
Key returnees
Sr. DB/RB Sean Call, Sr. TR/DE Tyler Hover, Sr. OL/DL Alex Marques, Jr. LB/DE/RB Justin Connors.
Top newcomers
Sr. RB/DB Tom Leidel, Jr, OL/DL Russell Pantuso, Jr. TE/DE Michael Prospero, Jr. OL/DL Anthony Rawa.
Belvidere basics
Conference: Big Central Conference, Division 1A.
Group: North Group 1.
Coach: Jeff Kolodziejczyk (3rd season, 7-12)
2019 record: 5-4.
2018: 2-8.
2017: 7-4.
2016: 8-2.
2015: 7-4.
Their home: Domenick Colangelo Stadium.
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Brad Wilson may be reached at bwilson@lehighvalleylive.com.
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