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Sports

Long Branch Football Looking to Bounce Back

After a disappointing 4-6 season, the Long Branch football program is looking to regain its customary spot in the state playoffs. The preseason gets underway this week for the Green Wave.

In the wake of a disappointing 4-6 season, the Long Branch football program is looking to get back to its customary spot in the NJSIAA playoffs this fall despite the loss of star quarterback/defensive back Miles Shuler to graduation.

The Green Wave have been working individually during the offseason and in workouts as part of the “6 a.m. Club” that meets twice a week in the early morning at the high school for lifting, speed and agility drills, and more. Now the hard work gets in full swing this week and then practice in pads can begin next week by NJSIAA rules.

With another daunting schedule in front of them as part of the rugged Shore Conference Class B North division, the Green Wave face a formidable challenge under veteran coach Dan George. With the official preseason just about underway, here is a look at the graduation losses that Long Branch will overcome, the top returners who will be key ingredients this season, and the Green Wave’s overall prospects for a return to glory.

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How will the offense perform without Miles Shuler?

One of the top recruits in New Jersey has now moved on to play wide receiver at Rutgers, taking his game-breaking speed and elusiveness with him. Shuler was a three-year starter at quarterback and the centerpiece of Long Branch’s offense last season. However, teams usually ganged up on him, and the Green Wave lacked the diversity and experience to truly make opponents pay.

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Shuler nearly rushed and passed for 1,000 yards apiece in each of the last two seasons, so his absence certainly creates a production void. Top wideouts Brandon Dinkin and Steve Worsley also have graduated along with running back/wideout Karon Hair. The losses of those three also will hurt on defense, where they combined with Shuler to form a strong secondary last year.

Nearly the entire offensive line also has graduated, meaning that unit will have to quickly come up to speed in a division with several smashmouth teams like Red Bank Catholic, Freehold and Colts Neck.

This year’s offense looks like it should be more diversified rather than relying so heavily on one player, but it remains a question mark heading into the season.

Who are some of the key returners?

Without question, a player whose play should dramatically affect Long Branch’s prospects is junior tailback Dwight Clark. He started as a sophomore last year and showed flashes of game-breaking ability. Now that he will be much more of a focal point in the offense, he could have a breakout season.

For years, Long Branch was a smashmouth, I-formation team under George before modifying the offense to more of a spread to suit Shuler. They could certainly go back to the tailback-centric attack this season, and they also have legendary coach John Amabile, who won a combined five NJSIAA titles at Wall and Neptune, assisting with the offense this season.

The Green Wave return one offensive lineman who has extensive experience, but senior Ryan Brodie also happens to be one of the top offensive line recruits in the state. He has double-digit Division I-A offers, and at 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, he is a looming presence who has started since his sophomore year.

Junior Avry Griffin saw some time at quarterback in relief of an injured Shuler in a Thanksgiving loss to Red Bank Regional last season, so he at least has had a taste of the speed at the varsity level. He will also have junior tight end Dominic Mincieli as a weapon in the passing game while the Green Wave try to develop a new group of wide receivers.

Defensively, Brodie is part of a defensive line that was hit hard by graduation, and the secondary will be entirely new as well. Linebacker should be a strength, led by junior Joscil Jackson and Clark.

Can Long Branch survive its schedule with an inexperienced team?

The Green Wave face two physical teams, Colts Neck and Ocean, to start the season, and then comes a stretch that would be daunting for any team. They face Neptune, a playoff team from last year with championship ability, followed by Red Bank Catholic, potentially the No. 1 team in the Shore Conference, then a Matawan team that has reached two straight Central Jersey Group II finals, and finally defending Central Jersey Group III champion Freehold.

That is a brutal stretch that will define Long Branch as a championship contender or an also-ran by mid-October. With Clark in the backfield and some solid athletes on defense, the ingredients are there to surprise some people, but it all comes down to how quickly the newcomers can contribute against a slate of veteran teams.

Team chemistry also is a crucial issue. Following the loss to Red Bank that ended last season in disappointing fashion, the outgoing seniors implored the returning players to be more of a tight-knit unit in order to maximize their natural talent.

For a preview of Shore Regional's upcoming football season, click .

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