Quarterback Matthew Harbison leads plays.
NUTLEY, NJ — With a senior-laden roster, the Nutley High School football team enjoyed one of its best seasons ever last year, finishing with an undefeated 6-0 record that included winning the Freedom White Division title of the Super Football Conference. It was a great sendoff for head coach Steve DiGregorio, who retired at the end of the season after returning to the team following a one-year hiatus as he battled cancer.
Making it more special was the fact that they defeated rival Belleville, 42-7, at the Park Oval to cap the season, which did not have state playoffs due to the pandemic. The team’s undefeated season — an even more noteworthy accomplishment considering the challenges of dealing with the pandemic — marked the Raiders’ fourth undefeated season and first since 1939. The program began in 1919.
JD Vick, who served as the interim head coach of the Raiders two years ago, is now the new head coach. Vick, who hails from Alabama, served on the Nutley coaching staff since 2009, much of that time with DiGregorio, who was a 1979 NHS graduate who served as the Raiders’ head coach from 2004 to 2011 and returned to the team for his second stint in 2017. DiGregorio guided Nutley to the 2010 North 2, Group 3, state final at the Meadowlands.
“It’s a privilege,” Vick said about being the new head coach in an interview with the Nutley Journal. “It’s an honor to be the head coach here, obviously following Coach D, who was a legend here. He’s a good friend of mine. Big shoes to fill, definitely. But it’s an honor and a privilege to be around these guys.”
One of Vick’s top reasons for admiring his players is their work ethic, especially in the weight room.
“They’re hard workers,” Vick said of his players. “If you go to the weight room, nobody is sitting around. They’re at it. They’re getting after it. That’s kind of what jumps out. These guys are hard workers. That’s a great place to start.”
Though last season was memorable, the Raiders are now focused on this season, with plenty of new faces. Vick noted that he would like to see more depth on the roster. Thus, it’s important to stay healthy, he said.
Despite the vast inexperience of the young team, the Raiders have a few key returning players and will be led by last year’s starting quarterback, senior Matt Harbison, the son of longtime NHS head baseball coach and boys basketball head coach Bob Harbison, who also is the quarterbacks/defensive backs coach under Vick.
“He had a good year and he is a good leader,” Vick said of Matt Harbison. “He’s a hard worker; you have to throw him out of the weight room.”
Joey Alberti, the team’s lone returning starting offensive lineman, and fellow senior Paul Scutti, a running back and defensive back, are other leaders.
“We have a good team coming up,” Scutti said in an interview with the Nutley Journal. “We have a lot to live up to from last year. We’re going to do our best. We’re a very coachable team. We’re all willing to work together and put in the time.”
Scutti cherished last year’s undefeated season and hopes the team can try to match that success this season.
“We had a special year,” he said. “It was the most fun I ever had playing football. Winning is fun. We really worked hard last year. I think we kept up the pace from that, as far as practices and work ethic.”
So what will it take to achieve a second straight unbeaten season?
“Everybody to work together as one and as a team,” Alberti answered in an interview with the Nutley Journal. “We have to come out every day and work hard and do our thing; same thing as last year, try to come out 6-0.” Alberti quickly realized that this year’s schedule is longer and corrected himself by saying “9-0.”
Mitch Mainiero, a junior running back, will team with Scutti in the backfield. Matt Harbison’s receiving targets will be junior Justin Luccia and senior Vinny Miller, who has good speed and hands, said Vick. Mainiero and Miller also will play in the secondary on defense.
Other experienced players for the Raiders are senior tight end and defensive end Billy Mielnicki, senior fullback and linebacker Frankie Contella, and senior wide receiver and safety Brandon Lucia.
Vick also praised his coaching staff.
“We have a very good coaching staff. They do a great job teaching and working with the players,” Vick said.
Besides Bob Harbison, the rest of the assistants are defensive coordinator Jeff Martin, offensive coordinator Anthony Fischetti, offensive line/defensive line coach Rob Porrino, receivers coach Brian Koribanick, special teams/receivers coach Chris Helm, offensive line/defensive line/tight ends coach Brian Kutzleb, sub varsity/offensive line coach Mike Padilla, sub varsity/receivers coach Sal Gabriele, sub varsity/quarterbacks coach Rob Melillo, sub varsity/offensive line/defensive line coach Anthony Alberti, and running backs/linebackers coach Sammy Coppola.
Nutley, which has moved to the American Red Division, will kick off the season at an away game against Bloomfield on Sept. 3.
The Raiders’ camaraderie has been very impressive and will go a long way toward achieving another successful season.
“I think this team seems like they enjoy being around each other,” Vick said. “It seems like they are coming together as one. If we can do that, I think we can be successful. These guys definitely are just good kids.”
The American Red Division teams include Nutley, Barringer, Belleville, Millburn, Orange and West Essex.
Schedule
Sept. 3: at Bloomfield, 7 p.m.
Sept. 10: at Belleville, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18: vs. Orange, 1 p.m.
Sept. 24: vs. Millburn, 6 p.m.
Oct. 1: at Demarest, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9: vs. River Dell, 1 p.m.
Oct. 16: at Barringer, 1 p.m.
Oct. 23: vs. Bergenfield, 1 p.m.
Oct. 29: at West Essex, 7 p.m.
Photos by Joe Ragozzino
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