MANCHESTER – Fatherhood and football.
It was quite the fall for Tommy Farrell, Manchester Township High School’s second-year coach, and his wife, Sophie.
The couple welcomed their first child, Keira Ann, on Oct. 10 at 10:24 a.m. at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. Keira Ann tipped the scales at six pounds, four ounces and was 19 inches in length.
“Football is fun,” Farrell said. “Fatherhood is a blessing. There is no comparison.”
The Hawks posted their best record in school history at 8-3. Manchester opened in 1976 when it fielded its initial varsity team. The Hawks’ previous best overall record was 6-4 in 2010. This year’s club finished second in the six-team Shore Conference Patriot Division at 4-1. The Hawks outscored opponents 360-207 and started 4-0 overall for the first time in program history.
Manchester is 139-300-9 overall in football. It has posted seven winning seasons and five .500 records. There was a co-division title in 2020 – the lone championship in program history.
The 2023 Hawks rushed for 2,257 yards, averaging 205.18 yards per game. They passed for 1,397 yards, averaging 127.00 yards per game. They piled up 3,654 total yards and allowed 2,861. Opponents rushed for 1,836 yards, an average of 166.91 per game. Opponents passed for 1,025 yards, an average of 93.18 per outing.
The Hawks made good on 34 third-down conversions (45.95 percent) and six fourth-down conversions (42.86 percent). They made 15 turnovers and forced 25. They scored 36 rushing touchdowns and allowed 25. They scored 16 passing TDs and allowed five. They registered 40 sacks and allowed five.
“The young men bought into coaching and learned to love each other as well as love the game,” Farrell said. “They put their academics, communities, families and brotherhood before the game of football. This community and this team deserve to win and deserve all of the glory and joy. It’s a blessing that Manchester football is back on the map and we’re ready for what’s in store for the future.”
The Hawks lived by the acronym DIG: Discipline, Intellect, Grit, “Keep Diggin!” Farrell obtained the acronym from his coach at Stonehill College, Eli Gardner. Farrell played linebacker for the Skyhawks of NCAA Division II from 2013-2016.
“We gave out a team shovel each week for the (Manchester) player who really worked hard and bought into the culture,” Farrell said. “I thought the mantra represented the blue collar community of Manchester Township.”
The Hawks came up short in their quest for division and playoff championships. However, they were champions off the field, performing community service projects. They played bingo at The Havens Assisted Living during the offseason. They visited Leisure Village to help residents with their smartphones, tablets and computers. They competed in a flag football game against the Toms River Challenger Hawks at the Toms River Field of Dreams.
Bagpipes were played by Ben Said, a 2022 Manchester graduate, at every home game. It was sweet music to the Hawks as they were 6-0 at home.
“It was my idea,” Farrell said. “No special reason. Just thought it was cool.”
There also were new uniforms and a new press box.
Manchester’s top player was running back-defensive back Josh Love, a 5-foot-7, 160-pounder. The senior scored a school single-season record 28 touchdowns and turned gridirons into greyhound tracks, racing for 1,479 yards and 24 TDs on 163 carries through 11 games. His longest run devoured 79 yards. His longest reception was 69 yards. He caught 15 passes for 382 yards and four touchdowns. Love’s name is on the lists of Division II and junior colleges.
The ultimate 48-minute player, Love added 14 solo tackles, six assisted stops, one tackle for yards lost, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He returned eight kickoffs for 130 yards and ran back nine punts for 17 yards.
Love ran behind the punishing blocks of junior left tackle Spencer Placek (6-5, 255), junior left guard Mason Davis (6-0, 265), junior center Anthony D’Antonio (6-0, 195), senior right guard Gavin Herr (6-1, 290) and senior right tackle Cooper Erli (6-4, 230) in the Power Spread formation.
“Josh Love improved every single day he was a part of this program,” Farrell said. “He took coaching seriously and trusted his offensive line. His vision and football IQ are very impressive for a 17-year-old. More importantly, he’s a better young man and better leader. Josh’s running style is unique because he’s patient and hugs the down block. He lets the big boys take him where he needs to go.
“A lot of the time, he holds the back of our linemen so they can literally guide him to the end zone. We played against defenses that would load the box with either seven or eight guys. We also had defenses that would play light with either six or seven guys in the box. It didn’t matter to Josh or our offensive line.”
When the Hawks took to the air, it was Aidan Lunn’s turn to shine. The junior quarterback completed 78 of 139 passes for 1,397 yards and 16 touchdowns through 11 games. His longest completion was 69 yards. He tossed eight interceptions. He complimented Love on the ground, rushing for 458 yards and eight touchdowns on 53 carries. He’s a 6-foot-3, 195-pounder.
“Aidan Lunn improved drastically from last season,” Farrell said. “He went to a quarterback trainer during the offseason and really worked on his IQ and footwork. A lot of times, Aidan would know the other team’s defense better than the other team. That’s a testament to his film study and knowledge of the game. We allowed him to make checks and audibles in which he was successful. That’s the next step he took as a quarterback. He saw a plethora of defenses and coverages and it didn’t faze him.”
Sophomore running back-defensive back Malik Pharmes (5-6, 135) added 141 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries through 11 games.
“Malik will look to fill in Josh Love’s footsteps next season,” Farrell said. “Big offseason for him coming up!”
Junior running back-wide receiver-defender Marquis Goins Jr. added 137 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries and caught 28 passes for 435 yards and five touchdowns through 11 games. His longest reception was 37 yards. Goins Jr. added 29 solo stops, six assists, one tackle for yards lost, three interceptions, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He’s a 5-foot-10, 150-pounder.
“He really had a breakout season,” Farrell said. “In each game, he improved offensively and defensively whether it was rushes, catches, returns, tackles or interceptions. M.G. stepped up and turned into the player we knew he could be. I am so proud of him.”
Junior wide receiver-defensive back Dom Rekus (6-2, 170) caught 10 passes for 166 yards through 11 games. He added 17 solo stops and 10 assists.
“He stepped up at wide receiver and defensive back,” Farrell said. “He impressed the coaching staff and has a big offseason in front of him.”
Other key players were junior tight end-defensive lineman Ny’Zyr Battle (6-2, 230), junior running back-linebacker Dante Mortellite (5-11, 200), senior tight end-defensive end-linebacker Matthias Payton (6-0, 190), sophomore defensive lineman Kurtis Mayer (6-2, 205), senior defensive lineman Manny Swain (6-3, 215), senior wide receiver-defensive back Antonio Sarama and senior two-way lineman Dillon Colon (6-2, 190). D’Antonio also played linebacker and defensive end.
Battle made three solo tackles and caught nine passes for 152 yards and five touchdowns through 10 games. Mortellite led the team in total tackles with 63, making 40 solo stops and adding 23 assists. He was second on the club in solos and first in assists. He added one tackle for yards lost, one interception and one fumble recovery. He caught five passes for 87 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 28 yards on six carries. Payton made a team-high 47 solo tackles and added 15 assists, seven sacks, six tackles for yards lost, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries through 11 games.
“Dante is a high academic kid with a violent pursuit to the football,” Farrell said. “He loves to be physical. Payton is very versatile.”
Mayer led the state in sacks with 10 in the 4-2-5 formation, according to Farrell. Mayer made 51 total tackles, including 33 solo stops and 18 assists, and added seven tackles for yards lost and one fumble recovery.
“He’s been improving every day,” Farrell said. “He has received some Division I looks.”
Swain made 30 solo stops and added 14 assists, nine sacks, eight tackles for yards lost and three fumble recoveries.
“Manny Swain is everything a coach could ask for,” Farrell said. “He has a great grade point average and is a good young man who is a violent competitor and coachable. He’s getting Division II looks.”
Sarama, who played in 11 games, made 19 solo tackles and added 14 assists, two tackles for yards lost, four interceptions, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He caught nine passes for 162 yards and one touchdown. Colon added 14 solo stops, eight assists, four sacks and five tackles for yards lost through 10games.
“Sarama leads by example and loves the game,” Farrell said. “Colon is a natural leader.”
Junior linebacker-kicker Ian Spicer (5-11, 180) played in 11 games and converted 40 of 45 extra point kicks and connected on one field goal, a 25-yarder, on his lone attempt at a three-pointer. Spicer added 15 solo stops, 10 assists and one tackle for yards lost. The team’s captains were Sarama, Mortellite, Colon, Love and Lunn.
The Hawks engineered one of the state’s biggest turnarounds as they were 3-7 overall and tied for fourth place with Jackson Liberty at 1-4 in the six-team Liberty Division last season. The Hawks allowed 289 points and scored 168.
“There was a lot of excitement about this season’s team and the coaching staff knew if the team bought into the weight room – which it did – and film study – which it did – we would be successful,” Farrell said. “It’s not a surprise at all. These young men need to know they can do whatever they set their minds to. If you’re a young football player in Manchester, you can and will WIN here. This is just the beginning of Manchester football! This team proved to the community that it can stay here and win. It’s just the beginning and the standard has been set.”
The assistant coaches were Gerard O’Donnell (defensive coordinator), Jeff Brown (offensive coordinator, offensive line), Alex Lunn (special teams coordinator, wide receivers, defensive backs), Lamar Davenport (defensive backs, wide receivers), Bob Mussari (running backs, inside linebackers), Chris Blaine (head junior varsity team coach, tight ends, outside linebackers), Dimitrius Smith (defensive line), Tim Poss (defensive backs), Joe Serratelli (head freshman team coach), Joe Hackett (freshman, junior varsity) and Mike Sullivan (freshman, junior varsity).
O’Donnell (Manchester), Davenport (Asbury Park) and Mussari (Monsignor Donovan) have served as head coaches. O’Donnell leads Manchester in career wins. The Hawks’ athletic trainer was Tiffany Rigati.
“O’Donnell is my dad’s best friend and my uncle so that was a no-brainer,” Farrell said. “Mussari was my father’s coach at Donovan in the 1980s and has always been a close family friend. Lamar was a phenomenal addition. All help me out in different ways and I couldn’t be more blessed to have them. It takes a village and I definitely am lucky to have the amazing staff that I do. The team bought into the coaching and had a hunger to win.
“These kids have always been amazing. I’d like to think that my staff’s energy and passion brought out the team’s success,” he said.
Farrell, 29, and his family reside in Manchester. He is a freshman seminar, journalism, television production and English teacher at Manchester.
“It has always been a dream of mine to be an educator, teacher and a football coach,” he said. “When the job opened up, I knew I was ready and it was meant to be.”
