Rebels Gear up for 2011 Season

Ryan Davies walks through the gym of Howell high school on a hot August Day, flip flops dragging on his feet, wearing a backwards hat with his long hair flowing out the back, and donning colorful board shorts across his lap, much like any high school senior would.

Still, Davies is no typical high school senior.

The 6'3'' 190-pound Davies -- whose father Cory is Howell’s head coach -- blew the Shore Conference away in his junior year, leading the state in yards with 2, 864 and touchdown passes with 36. Both marks were Shore Conference records as well.

The Rebels will look to their now-seasoned quarterback to be the leader of the 2011 squad, although Cory Davies mentions he can’t do it all alone.

“This is a team of 11 guys,” Cory Davies said, “Ryan is going to need whatever help he can get. Quarterbacks generally get an unfair proportion; they get a lot of the blame and a lot of the credit.

“If we do well this year, it won’t be just because of him.”

Senior Brandon Yaegel will lead the arsenal for Davies at receiver in 2011, along with Tory Robinson, Pat Devine and Nick Craig.

Posting a 6-4 record in 2010, the Rebels were ousted out of the playoffs after a 49-14 loss in the first round of the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs to Manalapan -- the second loss to them, surrendering a total of 105 points to the Braves.

This year, Cory Davies said the team looks forward to playing Middletown South and Manalapan, teams that accounted for three of their four losses last season.

“They are good teams,” he said, “They are the tops in our conference and we would like to be successful against them.”

The key, however, is to not have a drop-off year in 2011, and to continue to build a strong football program, Davies said.

“Hopefully, we’re able to re-load and re-tool for this year.”

The Rebels will take on Toms River North on the road to open the season on Sept. 10, and will face Middletown South on the road, as well, on Oct. 1. They will hot Manalapan on Oct. 21, before traveling to Brick to take on the Mustangs on Nov. 4.

Despite their difficult schedule, many see the Rebels as one of the best teams in the Shore Conference, especially with Ryan Davies lined up four yards behind the center in their spread offense.

“We want to make the kids understand that this is where the program is,” Cory Davies said of being a favorite, “We to keep it there, and these guys know that they are going to have a little bit of a challenge.”

Howell will take on the Mariners of Toms River North on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.