After cutting his teeth as a quiet depth player the past couple of seasons, Allentown High School junior Joe Mannino is now making a substantial impact on the field for the Redbirds as the team's starting running back.
ALLENTOWN -- After cutting his teeth as a quiet depth player the past two seasons, Allentown High School junior Joe Mannino is now making a substantial impact as the Redbirds starting running back.
In 2014, Mannino notched 13 carries for 87 yards and one touchdown. Through the first two games of the 2015 season, though, the 5-foot-11, 188-pound back has already amassed 41 carries for 242 yards (5.9 yards per carry) and two touchdowns.
During Allentown's opening game, a 62-21 loss to Archbishop Wood, Mannino racked up 22 carries for 101 yards and a score.
During Allentown's next game, a 40-34 overtime win over Notre Dame, he carried the mail 19 times for 141 yards and found the end zone again.
"We made a lot of mistakes early that we will fix when we watch the film, but I am just happy with our resiliency, and the way we came back in that game," Allentown head coach Jay Graber told NJ Advance Media after the OT win, obviously proud of Mannino and the Redbirds' efforts.
"The first win of the season is always the toughest, no matter what. We are just happy to get the first win," the coach said.
Mannino's impressive performance against Notre Dame was easily the best of his career thus far. His 141 yards on the ground were invaluable to the Redbirds, as was his 37-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter.
Without Mannino's stellar production in the run game, the outcome of the tight game probably would have been different.
Graber believed that Allentown's supportive fans had something to do with Mannino and the Redbirds' exceptional performance.
"Our fans were great Friday," Graber said. "It's why the kids play the game, to come out on a Friday night and play in front of a great crowd. It's all part of the culture. I think it helped our guys a lot when we were down in the game."
"But Notre Dame brought a big crowd as well. But it has a positive effect on the kids. Football is a grind, and there is a lot of preparation and practice time that go into one game. Then you go out and do it again the next week. When you can have a crowd like that, at home, it helps the kids get through a tough contest," he said.
Rich Cuccagna may be reached at rcuccagna@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RichCuccagna. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.