MANCHESTER – It was a memorable season for the Manchester Township High School football team.
There were fourth-quarter comebacks in conquests of West Deptford (26-21 in the Battle at the Beach in the regular-season opener for both teams at Ocean City in August), Pinelands Regional (30-26), Jackson Liberty (15-9) and West Deptford (30-29 in the quarterfinals of the New Jersey State Interscholastic South Jersey Group II quarterfinals).
“Those comebacks show the tenacity and hunger from these young men,” third-year coach Tommy Farrell said. “They wanted the moment and got what they deserved.”
There was the first home playoff game in the history of the school, which opened in 1976 when the Hawks fielded their initial varsity team. There was a first playoff win in school history. There were the most wins in program history in a three-year span (19). There were the first back-to-back winning seasons in program history.
There was an 8-3 overall record, which tied last season’s 8-3 finish for the most wins in a season in program history. And there was a Shore Conference Class C South title at 5-0, the program’s first outright division title in history.
“They are hungry to be successful,” said Farrell whose team fell 49-14 to eventual sectional champion Point Pleasant Boro in the semifinals. “Whatever it takes to win, they work for it. They’re good kids to root for … easy to root for because they’re gentlemen.”
Farrell’s assessment of the season?
“Historic,” he said.
Senior quarterback Aidan Lunn completed 79 of 124 passes for 1,518 yards and 12 touchdowns. His longest completion devoured 67 yards. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder tossed five interceptions. He shredded defenses for 650 yards and seven touchdowns on 78 carries. His longest run consumed 86 yards. Lunn, who began starting in games as a sophomore, threw for a program career record 3,907 yards.
“Aidan became more of a commander this season,” Farrell said. “He took control of the huddle and was free to check at the line of scrimmage. We valued his input a lot. He’s a competitor on the field and would do anything to win. Off the field, he’s a true gentleman, family man and top student. He’s elusive in the pocket and hard to bring down on the first try. He leaves this program as one of the – if not the best – quarterbacks in school history with multiple accolades and record-setting accomplishments.”
Lunn excelled behind a line of seniors Spencer Placek (6-6, 265), Ryan Dunckley (6-2, 240), Anthony D’Antonio (6-1, 215), Mason Davis (6-1, 270) and Jaeshon Smith (6-2, 210). Offensive coordinator-offensive line coach Jeff Brown issued a King Hawk Award each week to the lineman who had the highest grade from each win. The award was presented after practice on Thursdays in the team’s end zone.
“Placek has a big frame with great fundamentals,” Farrell said. “Dunckley was our most improved lineman. D’Antonio was our strongest lineman. Mason was our best one-on-one blocker. Jaeshon has good feet.”
The Hawks slayed opponents with a multiple set offense and a 4-3 style defense.
“I’m not giving offensive formations,” said Farrell, honored by his peers as the Class C South Coach of the Year. “There’s too many. The offense is balanced because we are blessed with so many athletes. When you have 18 all-division players on a team, it makes play calling fun.”
And there was plenty of balance on offense and defense.
Senior wide receiver-defensive back Marquis Goins Jr. rushed for 167 yards and one touchdown on 40 carries. He caught 28 passes for 665 yards and seven touchdowns. One reception was for 67 yards. He added 19 solo tackles, one tackle for yards lost, five assists and three interceptions. He returned six kickoffs for 95 yards and blazed for 97 yards and one touchdown, returning two punts.
Tommy Farrell coaches the Hawks on the field. (Photo courtesy Manchester Football)
Senior running back-linebacker Avery Phillips raced for 491 yards and eight touchdowns on 65 carries. One dash was 72 yards. He hauled in 18 passes for 283 yards. One catch netted 43 yards. He added four sacks, five tackles for yards lost, 18 solo stops, eight assists and one interception. He returned seven kickoffs for 108 yards.
Junior wide receiver-defensive back Dom Rekus caught 11 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown. One catch was good for 41 yards. Senior wide receiver-defensive back Imere Smith caught seven passes for 85 yards and one touchdown and added one tackle for yards lost, 26 solo stops, 12 assists and one interception. He added 11 kickoff returns for 242 yards and scored one two-point conversion.
Senior running back-defensive back Malik Pharmes rushed for 285 yards and six touchdowns on 46 carries. One run was 30 yards. He added 15 solo tackles, six assists and one interception.
Senior tight end-defensive lineman Ny’Zyr Battle added 10 receptions for 163 yards and four touchdowns. His longest catch burned the defense for 47 yards. He added two sacks, two tackles for yards lost, 14 solo tackles and 10 assisted stops. He forced one fumble. Junior wide receiver-defensive back Tyheem Jackson added three catches for 68 yards, 11 solo tackles and four assists.
D’Antonio sparkled on defense with two sacks, five tackles for yards lost, 36 solo stops and 23 assists. He blocked one kick. Junior defensive end-tight end Kurtis Mayer added five sacks, five tackles for yards lost, 49 solo tackles and 29 assists.
Senior linebacker Dante Mortellite added one sack, one tackle for yards lost, 73 solo stops and 32 assists and recovered one fumble. He set the program’s single-season record in tackles in 2024 and its career record in stops (232).
Junior defensive back-wide receiver Aidan Phillips-Frazee added two tackles for yards lost, 28 solo stops and 15 assists. He forced one fumble, recovered one fumble and picked off one pass. Davis, a defensive lineman, added one sack, seven solo stops, six tackles for yards lost and 10 assists.
Senior linebacker-kicker Ian Spicer converted five of seven field-goal attempts, including the winner with 2.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter in the victory over West Deptford in the playoffs. His 38-yarder was the longest successful attempt in program history. He converted 33 of 34 extra points. He added three sacks, four tackles for yards lost, 35 solo stops and 17 assists.
Sophomore linebacker-tight end Mike Fink returned a fumble for a touchdown, forced one fumble and recovered one fumble. He added one tackle for yards lost, nine solo stops and eight assists. Chosen by a vote of their coaches, the team’s captains were D’Antonio, Lunn, Mortellite and Goins Jr.
“The strong point of our defense was its physicality,” Farrell said. “The strong points of our offense were its elusiveness and unpredictability.”
To win the title, the Hawks bested Pinelands 30-26, Jackson Liberty 15-9, Barnegat 24-12, Lakewood 42-12 and Monmouth Regional 42-12. They captured the crown with a win over the latter on its home field on a Friday night. Under coach Brian Wilkinson, a former Toms River South player, Manchester tied Lacey for a division championship in 2020.
“It meant a lot to win the title outright because we came up just short of Keyport last season,” Farrell said. “These seniors were hungry for a championship. The legacy this team leaves is that you can win in Manchester. Manchester, Lakehurst and Whiting are built for adversity. We’re blue collar. When something difficult arises, we punch right through it. I’ll remember their hunger to win.”
Farrell’s other assistant coaches were Gerard O’Donnell (defensive coordinator, defensive line), Alex Lunn (wide receivers, special teams coordinator), Bob Mussari (running backs, linebackers), Lamar Davenport (defensive backs, head junior varsity coach), Jay Longo (tight ends, assistant junior varsity coach), Bob Picton (head freshman coach) and volunteers Chris Blaine, Dimitrius Smith, Joe Hackett and Mike Sullivan. Justeen Gordon was the athletic trainer.
Farrell owns a 19-13 overall record. The Hawks are 147-303 overall. They have posted eight winning seasons. Four teams finished with .500 overall records.
There was a playoff loss to Haddonfield in 2004 in South Jersey Group II with former Jackson Memorial player and athletics director Rob Paneque as the Hawks’ mentor. Coached by O’Donnell, Manchester succumbed to Point Pleasant Boro in 2010 in SJ II.
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