Phil Anastasia: Camden Catholic is on the rise.

Quiet, please.

That's a strange thing for a football team to say, since the best of them tend to make a lot of noise with big plays and hard hits and the persistent hum of excitement.

But Camden Catholic is trying to walk softly, even as the Irish leave battered opponents in their wake.

"We like that we're the sleeper team," Camden Catholic senior running back Mike Blandon said. "I hope teams are still sleeping on us."

Too late. The Irish can try to soft-pedal their early success and avoid the loud buzz of anticipation and excitement that surrounded - and in some ways, undermined - recent Camden Catholic teams.

A 4-0 start, highlighted by Thursday night's imposing, 40-0 victory over Seneca in a WJFL Constitution Division clash, has awoken everybody to the Irish's capabilities.

Flash forward: If Holy Spirit thinks it can just throw its helmets on the field and handle Camden Catholic in the Non-Public 2 state tournament, the Spartans are sorely mistaken. But that's an issue for mid-November or early December.

For now, Camden Catholic is pushing into the heart of its schedule with undeniable confidence and momentum.

"All I ask is to work hard in practice and improve," Camden Catholic first-year coach Gil Brooks said. "We've been getting that. They have a good work ethic. Now we go out and see what happens."

Brooks knows how to win and win big. He built St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia into a program with a national profile.

But he's smart enough to try to keep the lid on expectations for this team. The Irish might be 4-0, but their opponents in those games are a combined 2-13. They might have outscored teams by a combined 171-12, but they've yet to face a four-quarter challenge.

That's coming. Camden Catholic will play Delsea, Pennsauken, Moorestown, and Bishop Eustace over the next four weeks. Then comes the Non-Public 2 tournament, where defending Non-Public 3 champion Holy Spirit looms as the favorite.

"It doesn't get any easier," Brooks said.

The Irish have big-time talent at running back in Blandon and junior Jarred Alwan. Blandon ran for 163 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries against Seneca, and Alwan added 75 yards and two touchdowns, also on 10 carries.

Senior Pete Galiano is a playmaker and leader at quarterback. Senior Andrew Racobaldo is a top, two-way end. The defense looks to be loaded with talent, especially a linebacking corps that includes Alwan and fellow juniors Will Jackson and Sean Collins.

Brooks appears most pleased with the development of a large but inexperienced offensive line, led by junior center Jeff Miller and senior tackle Elijah Long.

"They're a pleasure to work with every day," Brooks said after the Irish front line controlled the second half against Seneca.

The best thing about the Irish might be their attitude. Recent Camden Catholic teams were stacked with talent but underachieved a bit - perhaps because of the burden of high expectations.

This team is trying to stay hungry and unheralded. But 40-point victories on the road over Lenape district teams tend to blare the news, loud and clear.