Mount Olive Marauders
League: Super Football Conference, Freedom Red
Coach: Brian O’Connor; 5th season at Mount Olive, 22-20
Last year: 5-5; Reached North 2, Group 4 playoffs
Key players: Gavin Lockwood, Sr., QB/S; AJ McKay, Sr., WR/S; Mason Consenzo, Sr., OL/DL; Justin Schmidt, Sr., RB/DB; Charlie McVicar, Sr., WR/DB
Outlook: The injury bug took its toll on Mount Olive once more last season but were still able to put together a successful year that included a playoff berth. Now, with plenty of depth at the skill positions on both sides of the ball, the Marauders have a chance to improve on that success. QB Gavin Lockwood will take the reins under center once more this year with a plethora of options in the offense including wideouts AJ McKay and Charlie McVicar and backs Justin Schmidt and Hunter Perez. Defensively the secondary and linebacking corps will have several familiar faces as well with seven returning starters from the 3-4 scheme.
Manning the line: Last year it was in the trenches where Mount Olive was at its strongest with a senior-laden group that at times was dominant. Now there are question marks abound among the group with several new faces. Mason Consenzo will be the lone returning starter on both lines and will be looked at as a leader, both statistically and vocally, among the linemen.
2020 Schedule:
Oct. 2: vs. Randolph, 7
Oct. 10: at Morris Knolls, 1
Oct. 16: vs. Morristown, 7
Oct. 23: vs. Roxbury, 7
Oct. 30: at West Morris, 1
Nov. 6: vs. Jefferson, 7
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Andrew Koob can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @AndrewKoobHS. Like NJ.com High School Sports on Facebook.