BLOOMFIELD, NJ – Sparked by a group of talented, hard-working seniors, Bloomfield enjoyed a strong start to the 2016 season, winning its first five games. The Bengals eventually took a 7-1 record into the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 5 playoffs where they lost to Montclair, their annual Thanksgiving rival, in the first round. Bloomfield then closed out the season with a loss to Montclair on Turkey Day to finish 7-3.
Indeed, the Bengals were hit hard by graduation. Some of those gradueated players were linebacker Danny Carter, the coach’s son, linebacker Carlos Afful, running back Brandon Fernandes, defensive back Barak Pipkins and defensive lineman Ron Vincent.
Nevertheless, this season’s Bengals hope to build off last year’s success.
“I’m very happy with their work ethic,” said Bloomfield head coach Mike Carter, entering his 27th year at the Bengals helm. “It’s a team that has come together. We’re maturing and we’re working harder.”
This year’s key seniors include running backs/linebackers Ahmad Peoples and Michael Sangiovanni, RB/defensive back Jeremy Whiterspoon, RB/cornerback Michael Williams, wide receiver/DB John Ridley, outside linebackers/tight ends Judah Bartley and Rouby Metellus; wide receivers Joseph White and Kevin Bretz, placekicker/punter Marcus Wolf, RB/LB Joseph Bumpus, and offensive linemen/defensive linemen Chris Lazard, Joe Pentz, Joan Medina, and Michael Abraham.
The top juniors are RB/LB Joseph Orsita, WR/DB William Robinson, quarterback Kyle Tice, tight end/LB Dylan Coury, RB Lenny Mumford, WR/DB Brandon Holt, offensive/D-linemen Danny Hernandez, Nate Rodriguez, and Xavier Gulley, and OLB Andrew Terc.
Quarterback Jordan Cruz, and placekicker/punter Peter Kuo are sophomores who have impressed.
The Bengals, who have qualified for the postseason in each of the past two seasons, recognize the importance of being ready to compete each week.
“We know it’s a very competitive schedule and that we got to get ready to go,” Carter said.
For the Bengals, Carter said the goal is “just to be competitive as we possibly can. If we put everything together, I think this can be a very competitive team. We need some guys to improve and to step up. There’s a lot of playing time available; (they) just have to come out and earn it.”
Schedule
Sept. 8, Columbia, 7 p.m.
Sept. 15, at Nutley, 7 p.m.
Sept. 22, North Bergen, 7 p.m.
Sept. 28, at West Orange, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13, at Livingston, 7 p.m.
Oct. 20, East Orange Campus, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27, at Bayonne, 7 p.m.
Nov. 3, Morristown, 7 p.m.
Nov. 22, Montclair, 6 p.m.
Record for past three years:
2016: 7-3 (Section 1, Group 5 playoffs, lost to Montclair, first round)
2015: 6-4 (Section 1, Group 5 playoffs, lost to Hackensack, first round)
2014: 2-8
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