The Kearny Kardinals opened the 2015 season under new head coach John
Kryzanowski (c.) with a win over Newark East Side last week. From l. are offensive
linemen Damien Torres, Michael Vythilengam, Kryzanowski, Paul Fadeski,
Gabriel Dos Santos and Jay Soto.
After spending the last 12 years as an assistant under three coaches with the football program at Kearny High School, John Kryzanowski finally got the chance to be a head coach last week.
And guess what? Kryzanowski and the Kardinals won, defeating Newark East Side, 43-8.
Good things do come to those who wait.
“I’ve had a real good response from the kids,” Kryzanowski said. “They’ve all responded well to me being the head coach. I stayed true to who I am and remained the same person that I always was. I like the effort that we’re getting from the kids. We had one of our best pre-seasons that I can remember and that carried over to the first game.”
The Kardinals compiled more than 300 yards rushing, going back to the option offense they utilized a few years back.
Leading the way is senior quarterback Thyago Texieira (5-7, 155), who was a wide receiver last year.
“I like his overall athletic ability,” Kryzanowski said. “I think he could play any of the positions we have in the backfield, but he makes the best decisions of the players we had at quarterback. We had a few guys battling for the starting quarterback slot and he won out.”
The Kardinals have a plethora of depth in the backfield.
Senior Hector Perez (5-7, 170) is the lone returnee. Junior Tyler Camacho (5-7, 165) scored two touchdowns in the win over Newark East Side. Sophomore Rauly Cordero (5-5, 135) had a team-high 92 yards in the win. Junior Cesar Fernandez (5-7, 155) has been steady in the early going. Sophomore Justin Baldwin (5-10, 160) has the most size among a very undersized bunch.
“Our last scrimmage of the preseason, we had nine different guys carry the ball,” Kryzanowski said. “We like to keep our backs fresh.”
Sophomore Vincent Murray (5-7, 155) is also getting some looks with the varsity backfield. Needless to say, it’s a position in transition for the Kardinals.
Seniors Sammy Sanchez (5- 8, 150), Matt Lopez (5-10, 170) and Michael Amaro (5-10, 180) and junior Andrew Souza (5- 10, 170) are the wide receivers.
The offensive line features senior Damien Torres (5-6, 185) and junior Jay Soto (5-8, 180) at tackles, with junior Gabriel Dos Santos (5-10, 200) and sophomore Vinnie Palazzolo (5-8, 200) at guard.
Junior Xavier Heim (5-11, 210) is the center. Again, the Kardinals are not going to blow anyone away with their size – or lack thereof.
“They’re not the biggest guys in the world, but they’re pretty fast and get off the ball quickly,” Kryzanowski said. “They spent a lot of time in the weight room to get ready for the season.”
Defensively, the Kardinals will feature Amaro at defensive end, with Dos Santos and junior Heber Reyes (5- 10, 260) at defensive tackle.
Junior Ozzie Cabebes (5-11, 165) is at outside linebacker, along with Baldwin. Torres is the returning starter at middle linebacker. Kryzanowski is hoping for big things from Torres on the defensive side.
“We are expecting a lot from him,” Kryzanowski said of Torres. “He’s a big leader for us. He has the experience we need at middle linebacker. He’s shown us a lot.”
The cornerbacks are Teixeira and Perez, with Sanchez at safety along with sophomore Jose Rosa (5-7, 170).
So the Kardinals started out the season in fine fashion with a lopsided win, one where a lot of different people chipped in.
“It was huge to get out of the gates that way,” Kryzanowski said. “It proved to them that all the hard work they put in during the off-season paid off. It was a nice way to start my head coaching career. I’m happy with the effort. I think the effort paid off in our favor.”
The Kardinals will continue the Kryzanowski era this weekend with a game against Livingston. Who knows? Maybe the undersized Kards can start off the new era with two straight wins? It’s not out of the realm of possibility at all.
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Jim Hague | Observer Sports Writer
Sports Writer Jim Hague was with The Observer for 20+ years — and his name is one of the most recognizable in all of sports journalism. The St. Peter’s Prep and Marquette alum kicked off his journalism career post Marquette at the Daily Record, where he remained until 1985. Following shorts stints at two other newspapers, in September 1986, he joined the now-closed Hudson Dispatch, where he remained until 1991, when its doors were finally shut.
It was during his tenure at The Dispatch that Hague’s name and reputation as one of country’s hardest-working sports reporters grew. He won several New Jersey Press Association and North Jersey Press Club Awards in that timeframe.
In 1991, he became a columnist for The Hudson Reporter chain of newspapers — and he remains with them to this day.
In addition to his work at The Observer and The Hudson Reporter, Hague is also an Associated Press stringer, where he covers Seton Hall University men’s basketball, New York Red Bulls soccer and occasionally, New Jersey Devils hockey.
He’s also doing work at The Morristown Daily Record, the very newspaper where his journalism career began.
During his career, he also worked for Dorf Feature Services, which provided material for the Star-Ledger. While there, he covered the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets.
Hague is also known for his announcing work — and he’s done PA work for Rutgers Newark and NJIT.
Hague is the author of the book “Braddock: The Rise of the Cinderella Man.”