The Seton Hall Prep’s football team’s season has recently come to an end. After a phenomenal season by the Pirates they were unfortunately knocked out of the playoffs by St. Augustine.
This year’s football team has had one of the best regular season in Pirates history, and Head Coach Bill Fitzgerald has a lot to do with this year’s success. Coach Fitzgerald came to the Prep last year and managed to get the Pirates’ a few wins. Once the Pirates were knocked out of the playoffs last year the hard work began. Coach Fitzgerald made sure that players continued to build upon their strength, and he had players going to lifts around three times a week all year long. He also organized wide receiver training sessions, had the boys watching film during lunch, and he made sure the team kept up on their academic integrity. Without Fitzgerald the Pirates would not have been able to have such a successful season.
The start of this incredible season started off hot with a big 42-20 win over Archbishop Carol. The Archbishop Carol game is the one in which Matt Colantuono ’20 had his 97 yard touchdown run. Unfortunately, the Pirates suffered their only regular season loss a week later to Depaul Catholic, but they were able to bounce back. On September 21, the Pirates defeated Paramus Catholic, and then they followed that game up with a win against East Orange the week after. The next game was homecoming and it was a nailbiter against Montclair High School. With the courageous call by Coach Bill Fitzgerald the Pirates went for a two point conversion to end the fourth quarter and get the win 43-42. The Pirates followed up that exciting win with a major victory over rival school, Delbarton. After the Pirates were able to hold out the Delbarton offense late in the fourth, kicker Mason Mesbah ’21 was able to hit the field goal for a Pirates’ victory. On October 26 the Pirates were able to shock all of New Jersey and take down the number two ranked team in the state, St Joseph Regional School. The Pirates’ battled it out in this game and the previously ranked number thirty six Pirates were able to take down St Joe’s and not only make a huge leap in the rankings, but also make a huge statement. The Pirates closed out their regular season with a big win against Pope John to end the season with an impressive record of 8-1.
In an unfortunate turn of events, the Pirates were knocked out of the playoffs by St. Augustine, but the kids remain hopeful. The seniors expressed great pride in their season and they were glad to have attained so much success in their last season with the Pirates. The seniors will be greatly missed as they were a core part of the team not only in the way they played, but in the leadership they displayed. Many of the juniors are looking forward to next year and as PJ Penders ’21, wide receiver, stated, “We are all going to miss the seniors a lot, and hopefully we can continue to work hard and win a ring for them next year.” Penders is one of the many optimistic players about next year who believe with the help of Coach Fitz they will be able to achieve great success again next year. Although the season ended the unofficial start of next year’s season has begun as lifts and private sessions begin with the hope of bringing home a ring.