Freshman QB Anthony Tirico has Seneca rolling to New Jersey playoffs

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Having any kind of successful season on the gridiron takes a team effort with great coaching, but there also needs to strong play under center. At Seneca High School (Tabernacle), Anthony Tirico (5-10, 170) is defying the odds against New Jersey competition helping his squad to a 7-1 record this season. The 2027 prospect is doing more than just handing the ball off.

Extra time was put into Tirico’s game over the summer getting coached up by staff members at Pitt, Monmouth, Boston College, Rutgers, and Maryland. The extra reps and drills are paying off on the field.

“Man, this season has been great,” Tirico said. “It was a struggle at first, but with the support around me, it has made it so much easier. Shout out to my coaches, they’ve been on my back to be the best I can be. They are not treating me like a freshman, they are treating me like everyone else so I can be the best player I can be.”

Jumping a few levels isn’t that easy.

“Varsity ball is different than youth ball,” Tirico stated. “The speed is a big difference. Going against 18-year-old kids, varsity ball is different football.”

The Golden Eagles run a little bit of everything on Friday nights.

“We mostly run a Spread, but we also go 10-, 11-, 12-, and 13-personnel,” Tirico shared.

Tirico continued speaking about his weekly preparations, “Film, film, and film. After practice, I am getting more reps with my guys. We work to be the best we can be for the week.”

Producing a winning record and being successful on passing downs forces one to push their game forward.

“Without a doubt my mindset has improved – the mental part of the game,” Tirico said. “I am seeing the defense clearly. I have grown in the mindset area. At first, I was nervous, but I have grown to know I belong on the field with everyone else.”

The type of Garden State coverages he’s seeing on Fridays was detailed.

“A lot of Cover 3, one high safety look, and the corners down,” Tirico stated. “I am seeing them. It is a simple coverage. I am watching the safety. If the corners bail, I know I have the flats open. My guys see that; we know where we are going pre-snap.”

In a 35-6 win against Hightstown, Tirico turned in one of his best performances of the season.

“Against Hightstown, I had 250 yards and two touchdowns,” Tirico shared. “The crowd, to be honest, it was surreal seeing them cheering. That was a different feeling. Everything definitely clicked.”

Seneca just topped Northern Burlington 41-14 and now face Cherokee on Thursday, Oct. 23.

“With the playoffs coming up, that will be a whole new experience,” Tirico said. ”We get a home game in the first round; we get the crowd. We are ready. We will grind; we are not done yet.”

UConn is one of the early teams to identify Tirico and his developing talents hosting him for their spring game.

ON THE FIELD

In stats posted through seven games this season, Tirico has completed 72 attempts for 964 yards with eight touchdowns while rushing 27 times for 209 yards with another score. On Friday night, Tirico went over 250 yards passing with three more touchdowns added to the stat sheet. Adding to the big performance, he broke off a 65-yard TD run.

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