Football Preview: Steinert Spartans @ Middle Township Panthers

By TOM WILLIAMS

Steinert (5-5) at Middle Township (6-4) – 2016 records

Kickoff: 6 p.m. on Thursday

Place: Memorial Field, Cape May Court House

Coaches: Frank Riggitano is 71-82 in his 17^th season as Middle’s head coach. He is Middle’s all-time win leader and 22^nd among active South Jersey coaches. Riggitano is one of very few New Jersey high school principals who are also head coaches. Dan Caruso of Gateway is 45-48 starting his 10^th season. He was named Mercer County Coach of the Year in 2015.

Why so early: Middle was scheduled to play Pitman and Steinert was scheduled to play West Windsor-Plainsboro North again this season. Both schools dropped varsity football. The two teams were matched up to fulfill a complete schedule but could not find a compatible date in September, October or November. Hence, the earliest start by a Cape-Atlantic League public school in a long time.

Steinert Preview: Steinert (Hamilton East) boasts one of the best running backs in the West Jersey Football League in senior Jordan Morrison (6-1, 196), below, who has committed to UConn. Playing mostly quarterback for the Spartans last year, Morrison ran for 799 yards and scored 20 touchdowns. He also played some wide receiver a year ago and is a very good safety. He will be the focus of opposing defenses all season. Senior tackles Jarrod Conti (5-10, 230) and Michael Davies (6-2, 249) and two-way junior lineman Tim Toomer (6-1, 230) anchor the Steinert line.

History: The schools are playing for the first time in football.

Live Radio: Brian Cunniff and Scott Wahl will have all the play-by-play on 98.7-The Coast. Matt Ulmer will stream live video here on CoastSportsToday.

Next Up: Middle Township will play Spartans again next week when they travel to Holy Spirit on Sept. 8 for an important United Division game. It will be Spirit’s season opener. Steinert will host Northern Burlington on Sept. 9.