Training camp 101: Lenape

Coach: Tim McAneney (92-74 overall; 40-23 entering seventh season at Lenape).

Last year: 11-1 overall, 5-0 in WJFL Capitol, reached SJ 4 title game.

Last five seasons: 11-1, 8-3, 9-1, 4-6, 4-6.

Schedule:

9/9: at Trenton

9/15: Egg Harbor Twp.

9/22: at Burlington Twp.

10/6: Rancocas Valley

10/14: Seneca

10/20: at Hopewell Valley

10/27: at Cherokee

11/3: Notre Dame

11/23: Shawnee

Outlook: The Indians set a school record for victories last season and advanced to the sectional finals for the first time in program history. This year's club has a strong chance to keep things going with a deep and talented senior class. Among the key veterans are QB Matt LaJoie (5-8, 190), a run-pass threat, and RB JoJo Kellum (5-10, 185), who ran for 1,008 yards and 10 TDs last season despite battling injuries. Senior slot/DB Jake Topolski (6-2, 190) is a playmaker on both sides of the football. Senior OL/DL Aaron Acosta (6-2, 270) leads the front lines and senior LB/FB Mike Galaida (5-10, 200) is another player to watch. Other key seniors include LB Zack Cole (6-1, 190), OL Anthony Ruttler (5-10, 200), DL Jared Davenport (6-2, 230), OL Tom Kaikai (5-10, 280) and LB Uthman Bruce (6-2, 215). A newcomer to watch is senior TE/DE Lawrence Sutton (6-2, 250), a transfer from Pemberton who played at Lenape as a freshman.

Post-season prospects: The Indians had a magical run to the SJ 4 title game at Rowan last season. This year, they've bumped up to SJ 5. They loom with defending champion Millville as well as Vineland, Cherokee, Howell and TR North as teams that can project themselves into December if they stay healthy and things go right in November. "We're shooting for the 'chip'" Acosta said of the sectional championship. "But Coach always says we just worry about one game at a time. So we're just focusing on the first one."

Schedule analysis: This is not an overly daunting schedule for a team as deep and talented and accomplished in recent seasons as Lenape. The Indians could be moving to another division next year but for now look like the team to beat in the WJFL Capitol, an odd mix of three South Jersey teams in Lenape, Burlington Twp. and RV and three Central Jersey teams in Trenton, Hopewell Valley and Notre Dame. The non-division schedule is dominated by meetings with Lenape district rivals, with the battle at Cherokee and the Thanksgiving Day game vs. Shawnee as matchups of particular note. It wouldn't be a shock if both Lenape and Shawnee are alive for the next weekend's sectional final — in SJ 5 and SJ 4, respectively — when they meet on Turkey Day.

Player to watch: Kellum could be poised for as big season. The talented running back has shown flashes the last two seasons but has been hampered a bit by injuries. If he stays healthy operating behind that OL and given McAneney's love of the power game, he could generate big numbers. Kellum has speed but his strengths as a running back are his balance, vision, strength and willingness to fight hard for every yard. Kellum said he has scholarship offers from five colleges, including Towson and Bucknell.

The last word: "We've been playing together since we were five years old," Kellum said of the seniors. "We want to win for each other."