The 2016 football season was the best in Highland Regional High School history.
And it all started on the opening week last year when the Tartans upset host Woodrow Wilson, 13-7, to set the tone for a 9-2 season that included a West Jersey Football League Royal Division title and the program's first-ever playoff win.
The two teams meet on the same weekend this year as Wilson travels to Highland for the first South Jersey Times Game of the Week of the season.
“Well, I think we thought we would be good last year,” said Highland coach Brian Leary. “When you beat a good opponent to start the year off, it gives you a boost and confidence going forward. We lost to Cherry Hill West in Week 2 and it set us back, but any year you start off with a quality opponent, absolutely it sets the tone a little bit.”
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Woodrow Wilson finished last season a solid 6-4 for the second straight year and barely qualified in a competitive South Jersey Group 4 field. The Tigers’ starting quarterback was injured in the opening game and it started a trend.
“We used three quarterbacks last year, we had a lot of nagging injuries all year,” said Woodrow Wilson coach Preston Brown. “We had some inexperience on the offensive line. Highland was a good team. One game can set the tone, but it doesn’t define your season.”
This year, Wilson has a new quarterback in junior transfer Nick Kargman, who played the last two years for Pitman. Brown said he has fit right in.
“He’s transitioned well, he’s a smart kid, has the physical stature, makes all the throws, is a leader,” said Brown. “One thing about players you view as high-level players who can go on to the top level of college football, which we truly believe he can do it, you expect they’ll rise to the occasion.”
Kargman will be throwing to brothers Travon and Stanley King. Travon recently committed to Rutgers as a defensive end and Stanley will likely end up at the next level as well.
“Not many teams in South Jersey can you look across at wide receivers who are 6-3, 6-4, big and fast,” said Leary. “They pose problems for anybody and we’ll have to limit that, keep them in check.”
Highland though, does have one of the area’s best line-backing corps in Naiem Furlow, Jared Colbert and Devon Starks to help neutralize an opponents' offensive strengths. They'll put pressure on Kargman, especially Furlow, who registered 16 sacks last year.
“The kids we have back are really good football players,” said Leary. “We’re going to lean on our experience. I don’t know if you find a better linebacker corps in South Jersey. They’re really good.”
Brown has a great deal of respect for the Tartans and the problems they create.
“They have the same quarterback (Brian Cooey) the last couple years now, they run the ball well enough,” said Brown. “Defensively they have length and versatility. They make matchup problems and they play hard-nosed football. They’re a well-coached team that can adjust and adapt. They’ve become a respected team in South Jersey regardless of who they were in the past.”
Leary admitted with the Tartans coming off their best season and hosting a quality opponent in Week 1, this should be one of the better atmospheres for a Highland home game since he took over three seasons ago – and maybe for a while prior.
“Last year I don’t think a lot of people picked us in this game, and people might not be picking us this year, but expectations are a lot higher,” said Leary. “It’s got to be one of the top games in the area. I’m expecting a huge crowd. The excitement level in the community is high and that’s another thing a growing program has to deal with, because once you get to this level, you want to stay there.”
Bill Evans can be reached at bevans@njadvancemedia.com or by leaving a note in the comments below. Follow him on Twitter @BEvansSports. Find the NJ.com High School Football page on Facebook by following this link.
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