PHOTOS BY JIM MACLEAN
Pictured clockwise from the top left, Quarterback Tommy Machado, taackle Manny Ruiz; practicing a play; Coach Joe Candarelli; the John Jay offensive line; Jojo Kern.
By JIM MACLEAN
The John Jay football program has become accustomed to winning and competing for the playoffs, but the Wolves also know that they face a tough schedule every year and every week against state champions and other successful programs in their league competing in Section 1 Class A.
John Jay finished at 4-5 overall last season, but coach Joe Candarelli knows how hard his team is working and is confident that they can face the challenge of their tough schedule and turn in another winning season.
“It’s their turn, our mantra is to keep swinging, be super resilient, keep playing and be ready for the next play. I’m very excited and I like this group. Obviously, there are some very talented teams in Section 1 Class A, the best in the state, but I’m excited about our group and our program.”
Last year John Jay entered the season with just a couple of returning starters after being hit hard by graduation. This year a lot of those young players are back — and hungry to prove what they can do on the field.
“This senior group is an experienced one, a lot of them played quite a bit last year and we’re bringing back a lot of varsity experience. The year before we lost everyone. We have a lot of guys who played key roles last year [who are] back with experience at important positions.”
One of those key positions is quarterback, and senior Tommy Machado returns after starting last year for the Wolves to lead the offense. Candarelli knows what Machado did last year and the work he put in during the off-season to get ready for his senior campaign as a leader for the Wolves.
“Conversation starts there; he came on the end of last year and played very well. He is bigger, faster, and he’s been a phenomenal leader. Number seven with the ball in his hands is a good thing for John Jay.”
In front of Machado the Wolves will have three key senior starters returning to anchor the offensive line with senior James Dachik back at center, and Mathias Baez and Peter Hill back at the tackle positions. Sophomore Ryker McCarthy is a key newcomer taking over one of the guard spots.
Machado has a pair of veteran receivers returning to connect with in the air as junior Patrick Ryan and senior Manny Ruiz return to provide talented targets to move the chains.
In the backfield, sophomore Nicholas Rinaldi returns as a running back after coming up to varsity last year as a freshman. Senior Jojo Kern is anxious to get back on the field carrying the rock for the Wolves after missing all of last year after suffering a knee injury in the first week of the season.
Most of those veterans will be playing on defense as well with a lot of two-way starters, but Candarelli is also counting on sophomore newcomer Kyle Halsey to play a big role on defense at linebacker.
It adds up to a team with talent and potential, but the Wolves know they have yet to prove it on the field. John Jay faces a schedule that includes defending state Class A champion Somers, and defending state Class B champion Rye has also moved up to Class A this year. Not many people are talking about John Jay as a title contender, but the message from Candarelli and the Wolves’ is clear: they are ready to compete and don’t underestimate John Jay.
“Our schedule is phenomenal, Section 1 Class A football is some of the best teams in the state and it’s an honor to play that schedule. We want to play the best, it only makes us better, and we’ll take it one game at a time.”
John Jay will open the season on the road at Mamaroneck on Friday, Sept. 6, in a non-league week zero game against one of the top teams in Class AA.