Mighty Oaks still making personnel decisions as they approach Saturday’s historic inaugural football game

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – It was four days before the biggest day in Salem CC athletics history and there was still so much to do the architect of the day didn’t have time to think about how historically significant it is.

“I’ll feel a lot better when Saturday’s over,” Mighty Oaks head coach Jay Accorsi said. “We just still have a lot to do to get to Saturday.

“There’s just still so much to do and so little time. I haven’t really thought about that part of it, to be honest with you. When Saturday’s over, then I can take a look back and reflect on those things, but there’s just still so much to do … in a short period of time.”

Indeed. The Mighty Oaks have done a lot of heavy lifting since college administrators approved starting a football program last fall green-lighting Accorsi’s vision of bringing junior college football to South Jersey, but there remains a lot of details to fall into place and to those doing it there just never seems to be enough time.

The players have been practicing for the team’s inaugural game against Hudson Valley CC at Pennsville High’s Lou D’Angelo Stadium, but on Tuesday at least the Mighty Oaks didn’t have a posted roster or depth chart. First- and second-team groups have been put together, but the pieces change because the coaches learn something new every day. Gameday festivities were still being planned.

It’s truly a work-in-progress, but such is the nature of a program where everything is new.

“I don’t think we know enough about this team and all the positions and all the players; I think it’s something we learn during games,” Accorsi said. “Normally teams don’t do that. I think with a new program it makes everything really difficult. You’re trying to prepare a lot of players. You’re trying to prepare a lot of positions. You’re trying to see what fits and what works. Usually in an established program you don’t have to do that. We do because we’re not an established program.

“It’s the weirdest situation I’ve ever been in my life, and I knew it would be that way. Usually you know your key guys going into games and going into the season. We and I have no idea. We’re starting to find that out, but I don’t know until we see it. This is a humbling experience.”

They caught glimpses of what it can be at the scrimmage last Friday. They scored the first touchdown of the game – their first touchdown in program history – and led 8-7 at halftime before the Red Wolves had too much for them in the second half and won 24-8.

“I felt better about where we were after that because we were competitive,” Accorsi said. “Not where I want us to be but then I’m one of those who’s always driven to be better.

“I thought we were very competitive, that’s what I was excited about. For a first year program to be able to do that, that says a lot about the players and the coaches in your program and you’re heading in the right direction. For a first year (program) to do that, it exceeded all my expectations.”

Accorsi said Malakhai McKenzie and Aidan Hill both would play at quarterback, but a definitive Opening Day starter has not been announced. McKenzie passed for 2,631 yards and 24 touchdowns in his two years as the starter at Paulsboro. Hill played multiple positions at Delaware’s Delcastle and Brandywine highs and was a player of the week multiple times his senior year once he became eligible after his transfer.

Both played significant roles in Friday’s scrimmage. McKenzie threw a long pass that nearly (should have) went for a touchdown. Hill came in down by the goal line and gave the handoff to big Brian Pritchett for the score and then threw the two-point conversion pass to tight end Robert Daly to give the Mighty Oaks an 8-0 lead.

“How many (plays) and where and what we do, we’re still trying to figure that out,” Accorsi said. “Obviously they’re two very different quarterbacks. They’re young, they’re inexperienced. We’re going to go through a lot of growing pains with them. There’s a lot we’ve got to do. I think it’s going to be a combination of those two and my guess is it’s going to be a combination of those two for a while.”

If McKenzie is the starter, he recognizes the enormity of the moment.

“It’s a big deal,” he said. “I want to do the best I can on that day, for sure, to show them what I can do. I’m taking it as an opportunity. It’s a lot of responsibility. I’ve just got to take it on my shoulders.”

Hill’s value is as a multiple threat. He has been a receiver in camp when he’s not calling signals, but he also could be a running back and a kicker.

“I played everything,” he said. “In high school I played quarterback, running back, receiver. Whatever fits me for that play is where they’re going to have me at and I’ve just got to show the best of my ability to make sure I know what I’m doing at that time. I’ve just got to be ready for my time when I come in, show them I can be the athlete I say I am. It’s really a fight (for the position); whoever does the best at the position is going to get the time.”

The Mighty Oaks have been prepping for Hudson Valley largely off what the Vikings did last season. The New Yorkers were 7-3 last season and went 3-2 against teams the Mighty Oaks play this season. They graduated a 2,100-yard passer, but return leading rushing Chanse Bonner (139-570-5).

But like their own team, there’s uncertainty.

“Coaches like schedules and things set and planned and doing all those things and I am definitely like that,” Accorsi said. “This experience has taught me you’ve got to live with what’s going on and try to make the best of it the best you can.

“When you set the bar high and your expectations are high, sometimes it’s hard to keep those. I want the players to be competitive and I want the players and coaches to have fun and enjoy this experience. If you don’t do that, then it’s not worth doing that. I can’t say the coaches and players aren’t enjoying this experience. As new and challenging as it is, 90 some guys are showing up every single day. That’s all you want. It’s a great environment and they want to be here. I think we’ve done that, so that’s a win already in my eyes.”

LOOSE ACORNS: Mighty Oaks hope to do a walk-through in Pennsville’s stadium Friday … Hill and McKenzie wore 1 and 2 red practice jerseys, but will wear 19 and 10 during games. For McKenzie, who wore 2 at Paulsboro, it’s a return to his midget football number. Hill’s number reflects his status as a receiver … Tickets will be available at the gate. General admission is $7. Children under 12 and Salem CC students with ID are free. All ticket sales are cashless … The stadium PA announcer will introduce the Salem CC defense and Hudson Valley offense before the game … The Pennsville High School pep band will play at the game. 

Salem CC takes early lead, but falls in its first-ever football scrimmage, Accorsi ‘pleasantly surprised’ at what he observed

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

MONTCLAIR – For the first time sending his team against somebody in a different colored uniform, Salem CC football coach Jay Accorsi was impressed. And so was the opposing coach.

The Mighty Oaks didn’t win the first scrimmage in program history, falling at NCAA Division III Montclair State 24-8 Friday night, but they did “much better” than the coach’s expectation and even scored their first touchdown to take an early lead in the game.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Accorsi said. “At the end of the first quarter it’s 8-0 so I’m like ‘wow, we’re competing.’ We had our first Mighty Oaks touchdown, went for the two-point play and got it, and we’re up 8-0.

“You take it for what it’s worth, but I was pleasantly surprised. We competed all the way through, three quarters. The fourth quarter was a running clock. We were able to get everybody in. We had our first Mighty Oaks turnover, first Mighty Oaks tackle, first Mighty Oaks everything. It was fun and I was pleasantly surprised, I really was. We did much better than my expectation.”

Of course, all the official “firsts” take place next Saturday in their inaugural game against Hudson Valley CC at Pennsville High School, but, still, everything that took place Sprague Field was memorable.

Montclair coach Mike Palazzo spoke to the Mighty Oaks at the end of the exercise to pitch what his four-year program had to offer and even he was very impressed how well the first-year program competed.

The Mighty Oaks hit the Red Hawks early. Malakhai McKenzie connected with Darion Joyner on a long pass play that got knocked out near the goal line. Brian Pritchett scored the program’s first touchdown on a short run and Robert Daly caught the two-point conversion pass to make it 8-0. Later in the game, Stephen Little got their first takeaway with an interception.

“It was good to see the first Mighty Oaks touchdown,” Accorsi said.

All three quarterbacks played and did “pretty well” while the coaches mixed and matched a lot of linemen, running backs and receivers.

“I wanted to make sure we got lot of players on film so we could evaluate them and see where we’re at and then start to make some depth chart decisions,” Accorsi said. “It’s still going to be a work-in-progress for us. I think it’s going to be more which players play in which situation and how many reps.

“With a new program and an eight-game season and for everyone doing it for the first time I think we need to really play a lot of players and look at the long run and long haul of the program. I just think that’s going to be the nature of who we are. We’re going to have rely on a lot of players in a lot of different spots.”

Top photo: Screenshot of Brian Pritchett bursting into the end zone for Salem CC’s first ever touchdown and the early lead in its scrimmage at Montclair State.

Salem CC football heads to Montclair for first live scrimmage since birth of the program


By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – In more established programs, a scrimmage at the end of training camp might be part of the routine, but for the startup Salem Community College football team it’s the most important exercise in the history of the program.

For the first time since the school agreed to launch the program the Mighty Oaks will face a team in a different colored uniform as they scrimmage at Montclair State Friday at 5 p.m. You bet head coach Jay Accorsi thinks it‘s a pretty important.

“It’s the first outside competition ever, so it is a big deal,” he said. “I mentioned that (Sunday) to the team and I’ll mention it leading up. They’re gonna get an opportunity to show what they can do, but it’s got to be in the framework of what we’re trying to do as a team offensively and defensively, too. That’s going to be the challenge: Letting them get an opportunity to show what they can do, but it just can’t be about them, too; it’s gotta be what we need to do as a team.”

That’s the reason he chose Montclair. He’s familiar with the program and its traditions, having faced the Red Hawks many times during his days as Rowan’s head coach, so he knows what he’s going to get. And it’s on the road, so they can teach the players the mechanics of game operations.

Above all, Accorsi wants it to see the Mighty Oaks organized, cohesive and competitive on both sides of the ball.

“We need to find out what players can do in live situations,” he said. “You can simulate it in practice, you can do mini sessions with more hitting, but you don’t know until you put a full 11 out there. So I want it to be organized, I want it to be competitive and I want the players to really compete. I think that’s what we’re really looking for.”

Jobs may not be won, but the coaches will get the strongest indication yet of who’s on track to start in the inaugural game against Hudson Valley CC Aug. 29 at Pennsville High School.

Both coordinators have an idea of who’s rising to the fore, but it’s a lot difference between the big bumps in practice and what happens when the lights come on.

“We’ve thrown a lot at the kids, but they’ve adapted pretty well; we’re pleasantly surprised with where we’re at at this point,” offensive coordinator Chris Crowley said. “I kind of have an idea of what we have but you really don’t know until you get in a game situation. When you get on the field you’ve got to do something with it. Some guys have taken advantage of that and have created a situation where they’re going to get some opportunities. It’s going to be a good test to see where we’re at.”

All three quarterbacks – Malakhai McKenzie, Cam Wright and Aidan Hill – are expected to play as well as multiple running backs and receivers. Receivers Jahfarri Payne and Darion Joyner have been impressive in practice as has big running back Brian Pritchett.

“We have guys who can do different things; there could be a world where we play multiple guys,” Crowley said of the quarterbacks. “It’s great to have one take it, give him the keys and let ‘im go, but we’re probably not in that situation right now, but guys are gonna get chances in situations.”

Likewise, defensive coordinator Joe Dougherty has an idea of the 25 to 30 who ultimately will play in his defense; now, it’s just a matter of determining a rotation. Charlie Shute, Mark Moore, Ben Secouler, Jamar Jones and Hayden Alexander have all shown well in camp.

“I think we have in what we need, what we need to be successful, and then well put in specifics,” Dougherty said. “Our base stuff should be ready to roll and we’ll see what they can do. I just want to see kind of their reactions. It’s different when you’ve got to go make a tackle.”