Rancocas Valley’s Bryce Mangene sets tone as quarterback – and on defense

He scored a touchdown on defense.

He ran for another touchdown.

He passed for a third.

Bryce Mangene played his typical all-around game in Rancocas Valley's historic win over Cherokee on Sept. 21.

But there was something special about the versatile senior that Friday night in Marlton.

"That was the best game I ever saw him play," Rancocas Valley coach Dan Haussman said. "I never saw him have so much fun."

Fun. That might seem an odd measure for the effectiveness of a football player. But it makes perfect sense to Mangene.

A three-year starter, Mangene can remember being struck by how big and fast players were at the varsity level at the beginning of his sophomore season.

He can remember things slowing down when he was a junior.

And he can say that things are definitely different now that he's a senior — not necessarily easier, just less complicated and intimidating.

And more fun.

"You throw around the word 'fun' but it was, it was a fun game," Mangene said of the Red Devils' first victory over the Chiefs since 1977. "You try to do things the right way to prepare. You try to do everything you can.

"Once you've done everything the right way, that's when your talent takes over and fun things happen."

Rancocas Valley (3-1) had its bye the week after that 44-17 victory over Cherokee. The Red Devils, the No. 11 team in the Inquirer Top 25, return to host No. 5 St. Augustine (3-2) on Friday night.

It's a West Jersey Football League American clash of highly-ranked teams with major division, playoff and Top 25 implications.

"These are the games you remember," Mangene said.

There's another reason this season is different for Mangene: It's likely his last on the football field.

A top pitcher and infielder, as well as an outstanding student, Mangene is a Penn recruit for baseball. He's been playing football since he was "5 or 6" and signed up with the Lumberton Hurricanes.

Rancocas Valley's final game this season — whether it's Thanksgiving morning at Pemberton, sometime in the Group 5 tournament or even in that "bowl game" in early December at MetLife Stadium — likely will mark the end of his career in the sport.

"I think when it's over it'll hit me," Mangene said. "I'm trying not to think about it. For me, football and baseball have always gone hand-in-hand.

"I know this is my last year playing with a lot of my friends, guys who have been with me for a long time. I'm trying not to let them down. I'm playing for them as much as I'm playing for myself."

Rancocas Valley's Danny Kondras, a senior all-purpose standout, has played with Mangene since their days together with the Lumberton Hurricanes.

"He's really taken a leadership role this year," Kondras said. "He's improvising, keeping plays alive, playing with a lot of confidence."

Kondras thinks Mangene is having fun this season, too — for good reason.

"He's making plays, scoring touchdowns — that's fun," Kondras said.

Mangene always has been a dual-threat quarterback, but he's been a little more decisive and effective as a runner this season. He threw pair of touchdown passes in the season-opening win over Camden Catholic, then ran for 45 yards and a score and added another couple of touchdown passes in a win over Trenton.

Against Cherokee, Mangene scored on a fumble return, passed for 181 yards and a touchdown, and ran for another TD.

"I'm running little more," Mangene said. "That comes with being older, being more confident. I remember going from freshman year to varsity and thinking how big and fast kids were. During sophomore year, things started slowing down, junior year even more and this year it's just like playing football again when you're little.

"Everything is just slow. You're more in charge, you feel more confident and you're having fun out there."

Friday at 7 p.m.

Records: St. Augustine is 3-2 overall, 2-0 in WJFL American. Rancocas Valley is 3-1, 1-1.

Rankings: St. Augustine is No. 5 in the Inquirer Top 25. Rancocas Valley is No. 11.

Rare game: This will mark the first time these teams have played.

Coaches: Pete Lancetta is 218-67-2 overall, including an 8-7 mark in his second season at St. Augustine. Dan Haussman is 60-29 in his ninth season at Rancocas Valley.

St. Augustine players to watch: Senior LB Joe Bonczek (53 tackles); junior DE Isaiah Raikes (5.5 sacks); senior WR Jaylen DeCoteau (13 catches, 274 yards, 4 TDs); freshman RB Nasir Hill (52 carries, 321 yards, 3 TDs).

Rancocas Valley players to watch: Senior QB Bryce Mangene (32-for-68, 538 yards, 5 TDs); senior WR Cerrome Hill (11 catches, 271 yards, 3 TDs); senior all-purpose Danny Kondras (3 kick return TDs).

Pick: St. Augustine, 17-14.