Mainland QB Caprio a double threat

Mainland's Brent Caprio, who had one of the best all-around seasons of any quarterback in recent South Jersey history, heads up The Inquirer's all-South Jersey offensive team.

Caprio led Mainland to a 12-0 record and South Jersey Group 4 title. He completed 140 of 223 passes for 2,065 yards and 27 touchdowns. Caprio was also a major threat as a runner, rushing for 890 yards (5.6 average) and 21 touchdowns. For his career he passed for 4,271 yards and 46 touchdowns and rushed for 1,888 yards and 43 touchdowns. Columbia, Harvard, Princeton and Penn are among the schools that he is considering.

Along with offensive player of the year Chris LaPierre of Shawnee, the other first-team running back is Washington Township senior Brandon Colavita. After missing much of last season with a high ankle sprain, Colavita came on strong for Washington Township. This season he averaged 9.59 yards per carry, rushing for 1,429 yards and 14 TDs on 149 carries. Colavita recently took an official visit to Penn and is considering schools in the Ivy and Patriot leagues, as well as some other I-AA schools.

Buena's Kenny Miles and Camden Catholic's Jerry Watters are the first-team receivers.

Miles led South Jersey with 17 touchdown receptions. He also scored twice on the ground and once on an interception return as he set the South Jersey record for most points by a non-back, with 149 this season. (Miles also scored three two-point conversions and had 23 PATs.) He caught 45 passes for 981 yards, an average of 21.8. He has made an oral commitment to Towson University.

This season Watters had 43 catches for 882 yards and nine touchdowns as he became one of the most precise route runners in the area. Over the last two years, he had 89 receptions for 1,554 yards and 16 touchdowns. Watters made an oral commitment to Temple before the season.

The tight end is Clearview senior Chad Gravinese, who was dominant on both sides of the ball. A three-year, two-way starter, Gravinese caught 40 passes for 828 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also recorded 111/2 sacks and 74 tackles at defensive end. Penn and Rhode Island are among the schools with which he has been in contact.

The five-man offensive line consists of Moorestown's Robert "Cody" Wallace, Delran's Nick Cattolico, Holy Spirit's Alex Winks, Penns Grove's Ken Jefferson, and Hammonton's Andrew Dremow.

Moorestown's Wallace also played defensive end, but he excelled as an offensive tackle. At 6-5 and 260 pounds, he often overpowered defensive linemen. During the summer, Wallace made an oral commitment to attend Virginia.

Delran's Cattolico was among the most-improved and most-dominant linemen in the area. According to coach Pete Miles, he cut two minutes off his mile time from last year and was quicker, while not losing any of his power. Cattolico has made an oral commitment to attend Delaware.

Holy Spirit's Winks is a third-year starter. After being a starting guard on a 12-0 team as a junior, Winks made the successful transition to left tackle as a senior. He also was a standout on the defensive line. Villanova, Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island are among the schools that are recruiting Winks.

Jefferson of Penns Grove is among the strongest linemen around. He also has excellent feet and at 290 pounds, often flattened opponents in helping Penns Grove have one of the best ground games in South Jersey. James Madison, Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Northern Illinois are among the schools that have been in contact.

Hammonton reached the South Jersey Group 3 final and one of the main reasons was a potent running game. The Blue Devils often ran behind Dremow. A third-year two-way starter, Dremow was equally effective on both sides of the ball. He is still formulating his college plans.

Glassboro senior Ricky Tunstall, who was a first-team selection last season at defensive back, is this season's all-purpose back. Tunstall is a threat to score regardless of what side of the ball he is playing on. He had 35 receptions for 601 yards and seven touchdowns. Tunstall also averaged 28.4 yards and scored two TDs on nine punt returns. He had five interceptions and returned one for a touchdown, helping Glassboro complete a second straight 12-0 season. Tunstall has visited Delaware and has shown interest in Buffalo.

Cumberland junior Ryan Stant is the kicker on the team after earning second-team honors last season. Stant converted 4 of 7 field goals, including a 47-yarder. All three of his misses were from more than 40 yards out. Stant also converted 33 of 34 PATs. He consistently booted the ball deep on kickoffs and had four touchbacks.