Friends Relive HS Football Title Magic

Flag football team Kodiaks won their second Atlantic Coast Football League championship in July.

The best part? No, not just that they were sponsored by a Hopatcong business.

But that many of their players also captured the 2001 NJSIAA state football crown for .

"Just like anyone else, it's great to have friendships that last a long time," quarterback and coach Jerry Venturino said. "As people grow, get married, have children, etc., it's extremely difficult to find time for friends. So, I would say that we are all grateful for one another and the relationships that we still have."

Venturino's teammate and close friend, Matt Hill, agreed.

"It's rare to be able to say that your best friends are the same as they were almost a decade ago," said Hill, an assistant coach and running back. "But that's what is special about this crew of guys and that's what allowed us to be successful on the field. It's cool to know that no matter what happens you always have your buddies around even as we get older and start families of our own. We joke sometimes how in about 15 to 20 years our kids will winning championships of their own and then take over the reigns of our Castaways Kodiak team."

The Kodiaks went 12-0 this season, which set the tone for their blowout championship win.

Castaways jumped out to a 28-0 lead en route to a 37-13 victory behind Venturino's strong arm, an impressive showing from the wideouts and a shut-down defensive game plan.

"To be able to win one championship with your buddies is tough, let alone three, but the best part is just being able to play with the same excitement and confidence like we did back in 2001," Hill said. "Because we have been playing sports with each other for so long whether it be back yard football at Squire Field or home run derby at Veterans Field, you know exactly what your getting from each person when we take the field, and you don't want to be the person who lets the team down."

Nobody let anyone down this season for the Kodiaks.

Roster

Number

Name

Offense

Defense

00

Joe Farrugia

RB

FS

1

Matt Adams

OL

DL

2

Dan Guarino

RB

CB

3

Giovanni Caceres

OL

DL

4

Jerry Venturino (Coach)

QB

FS

6

Eric Adams

OL

DL

7

Vince Cowlishaw

TE

DE

8

Jed Warsager

WR

FS

9

Joe Moore

WR

LB

14

Jarrod Pence

WR

CB

33

Matt Hill (Assistant Coach)

RB

LB

52

Dan McNamara

K

DL

58

Jay Schall

OL

DL

72

Mike Devore

RB

CB

77

Brenten Runne

OL

DL

90

Rob Fletcher

OL

DL