Jackson Liberty High School football coach Tim Osborn for many months early this year was the buzz around Brick Township High School as an heir apparent to retiring coaching legend Warren Wolf during a drawn-out coaching search.

Osborn attended Wolf's farewell press conference following the 2008 season at Brick Township High School, where Osborn had coached for 15 years before spending the next seven years at Toms River High School North. He was a finalist for the Brick job, and many people around that program believed he would be selected to succeedWolf.

But the Brick Board of Education went against the wishes of Wolf and many supporters and got a successor with no prior affiliation to Brick when they hired Patrick Dowling, who was the head coach at Allentown High School in 2008.

Osborn declined to discuss the situation, although he gave the impression that he thought he would get the Brick job.

"I realized that this is where I want to be. I built this program," Osborn said of Jackson Liberty.

The Lions will begin their third season of varsity football this fall, following a 2-8 campaign in 2008.

"We have a lot of good young players. The future is pretty bright. I've been here since the school opened and learned what it takes leadership-wise."

There are more seniors in the program this year, with 12 of the 16 seniors on the Lions' roster in the starting lineup as the squad prepares for its 2009 opener on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. at Lakewood High School.

Five starters on offense and six starters on defense are returning from last year's team.

"We're playing kids we think are the best, but we have some young kids who are showing things," said Osborn. "If we can get the two-platoon system, that's our ultimate goal. [There are] some underclassmen we would like to play so the seniors would not have to play full time."

There are three new coaches on the Lions' staff this fall, including Len Zdanowicz, a former Brick Township High School assistant coach who was also mentioned as a possible successor to Wolf.

Zdanowicz played on the line under Osborn when Osborn coached at Brick. Zdanowicz embarked on a college career at William Paterson and then returned to coach at his alma mater as a line coach and to oversee the strength and conditioning program there for 10 years.

Also new are the Malek twins, who have 21 years of coaching experience between them. Both come over from Toms River High School South and are sharing the job as defensive coordinator, with Rich Malek focusing on the secondary and brother Tom coaching the linebackers.

Jim Sharples, who coached linebackers last season, is Jackson Liberty's offensive coordinator.

The rest of the staff returns: Frank Giammatti (defensive line), T.J. Collins (defense), Jeff Struble (quarterbacks), Anthony Myres (receivers), Jason Lynch (offensive line) and Osborn's son, Matt Osborn (running backs).

The coaches' concern for this team is that it does not weaken in the second half as has been the case in previous seasons.

"We were tied or in the game at halftime many times last season and we did not know how to finish," said Osborn. "We did not face adversity well. We have to go all-out and do it all the time. We can't have teams get a big play and not handle it. We would give up a long return or a pass, and one or two plays later [commit] a turnover. We didn't recover. We have to concentrate on playing all 48 minutes."

A lot of that is up to junior quarterback Dylan Wright, who was a backup last season.

"Dylan Wright is a heady kid who understands the game," said Osborn. "He does not make a lot of mental mistakes. He doesn't have great speed, but he has arm strength and he makes good decisions."

Wright will hand off in the pro-I formation to another player named Dylan, senior fullback Dylan Addvensky, and to senior tailback Mike Patterson, both of whom started last season.

Matt Filosa, a running back who started for the Lions as a sophomore, sat out the 2008 season with a broken collarbone. It was part of a series of injuries that Osborn said has plagued the team since it began play. Filosa has been running well in practice. He will play linebacker on defense.

Two seniors who started last season are back on the offensive line — tackle Matt Tracy (5-11, 215) and center Brandon Kahle (5-11, 255). Both will play on defense as well, with Tracy at defensive end opposite senior Justin McGhee (5-10, 220) in the 4- 4 formation.

Kahle is part of an experienced linebacking crew where three started last season, including Addvensky and senior Anthony Foley who, at 6-0, 225, is battling for a starting spot at offensive guard with junior Joe Mandola (6-0, 245).

The other two starters on the line are seniors, tackle John Leto (5-11, 245) and guard Mike Smith (5-11, 225).

McGhee is the tight end on offense while the two wide receivers are juniors Ron Brown (5-11, 175) and Christian Ruiz (5-11, 165). Junior Anthony Ferullo (6-2, 185) is a backup receiver.

But it is defense that will be the team's strength, said Osborn.

"Our linebackers got bigger and stronger and will be the strength of the team," the Lions' coach said.

Patterson is a safety, and Brown and Ruiz also will play in the secondary. Greg O'Connor (5-10, 185), a junior, also is expected to get significant playing time there.

Osborn said the kicking game "is suspect." Adam Fayad, a sophomore, kicked toward the end of the 2008 season, and Osborn said he is "very consistent, not overpowering." Senior Jesse Brownell is the punter.

Jackson Liberty will play its final scrimmage at St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel on Sept. 11 at 4 p.m.