Middletown North Lions 

August 26, 2024 

2023: 

• 6-5 
• Lost to Irvington in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 quarterfinals 
• Wins included Marlboro, Freehold Township, and Brick Township 
• Losses included Middletown South, Jackson, and Brick Memorial 
• Scored 251 points for a 22.82 average 
• Allowed 248 points for a 22.54 average 

Graduation: 

• QB Luke Sheehan – Union College (NY) 
• TE Gavin Halloran – Montclair State  
• LB Justin Soto – Montclair State 
• WR Brian Dunleavy – FDU (Florham) 
• DB Richie Welton – FDU (Florham) 
• DB Frank Zaino – FDU (Florham) 
• K Ian Poole-Morgan – FDU (Florham) 
• WR Colin Jacques – Alfred University (NY) 
• WR Dylan Briggs – Montclair State for baseball 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 4   

Quarterback: 

• Owen Robson, Junior, 6-0, 156 – projected starter 
• Brian O’Donnell, Senior, 5-11, 195 – competing and will play wide receiver if not quarterback; started on defense  

Running Back: 

• Shane Volante, Senior, 5-4, 147 – projected starter 
• Matt Belenko, Sophomore, 5-9, 170 – will spell Volante 

Wide Receiver:

• Jack Viola, Junior, 5-10, 176 – projected starter who played often 
• Ryan Clark, Junior, 6-2, 175 – projected starter 
• Brian O’Donnell, Senior, 5-11, 195 – projected starter; started once as a sophomore and returning starter on defense 

Tight End: 

• Joe Grasso, Senior, 6-5, 235 – projected starter who saw action and started on defense 
• Brody Tooker, Senior, 6-1, 220 – will play, started twice as a guard and started on defense 

Offensive Line: 

• Michael Dwyer, Senior, 6-4, 250 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Anthony Lubrano, Senior, 6-3, 285 – returning starter at left guard; started four games before being injured 
• Andrew Klimovich, Senior, 5-10, 242 – 3-year starter at center 
• Shea Mora, Junior, 6-2, 261 – returning starter at right guard; started the first part of the season before being injured 
• Matt Bumbalo, Senior, 5-11, 255 – projected starter at right tackle; started one game 
• Josh Johnson, Sophomore, 5-8, 248 – key reserve 
• Logan Grenham, Sophomore, 5-11, 271 – key reserve 
• Derek Laguna, Sophomore, 5-10, 255 – key reserve 
• Brian Novak, Junior, 5-10, 270 – key reserve 

Defense: 

• Formation: 4-2-5 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Defensive Line: 

• Michael Dwyer, Senior, 6-4, 250 – 3-year starter at end and tackle 
• Brody Tooker, Senior, 6-1, 220 – returning starter at end who also plays linebacker 
• Joe Grasso, Senior, 6-5, 235 – returning starter at end 
• Shea Mora, Junior, 6-2, 261 – part of the rotation at end and tackle 
• Andrew Klimovich, Senior, 5-10, 242 – part of the tackle rotation 
• Anthony Lubrano, Senior, 6-3, 285 – part of the tackle rotation 
• Brian Novak, Junior, 5-10, 270 – part of the tackle rotation 
• Derek Laguna, Sophomore, 5-10, 255 – part of the tackle rotation 
• Josh Johnson, Sophomore, 5-8, 248 – part of the tackle rotation 
• Logan Grenham, Sophomore, 5-11, 271 – part of the tackle rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Brody Tooker, Senior, 6-1, 220 – returning starter who also plays at end 
• Braden Marcotte, Junior, 5-10, 196 – projected starter 
• Aidan DeVito, Senior, 5-11, 185 – will start when Tooker plays end  

Secondary: 

• TJ Rey, Senior, 5-11, 175 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Jovanni Fernandez, Junior, 5-8, 140 – part of the cornerback rotation 
• Matt Belenko, Sophomore, 5-9, 170 – part of the cornerback rotation 
• Brian O’Donnell, Senior, 5-11, 195 – returning starter at free safety, moving from free safety 
• Jack Viola, Junior, 5-10, 176 – projected starter at free safety 
• Ryan Clark, Junior, 6-2, 175 – projected starter at rover 
• Chris Hallard, Junior, 5-10, 160 – provides depth at all three safety positions 
• Brennan Cross, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – provides depth at rover 

Special Teams:  

• Junior Seamus Montague will be the kicker and the punter 
• Cross and Viola are the return men 
• Junior Jason Woods is the long-snapper 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 9/6, Lacey at home 
• Friday, 9/13, Matawan at home 
• Friday, 9/20, Ocean Township at home 
• Saturday, 9/28, at Freehold Boro 
• Friday, 10/4, at St. John Vianney 
• Friday, 10/11, Red Bank at home 
• 10/18-19, Bye Week 
• Friday, 10/25, at Freehold Township 
• Thursday, 11/28, at Middletown South 

Concerns: 

• Staying healthy 
• Depth 

Recruiting: 

• Grasso and Dwyer have 1-AA interest 
• Tooker and Lubrano have D2 and D3 interest 
• Rey, O’Donnell, and others are D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Mora, Viola, Robson, are top prospects 
• Woods has the potential as a long-snapper  

Coach’s Comments: 

“We’re excited about the team. We have good kids and good players. It’s a tight-knit group with a good attitude. And we’re looking forward to the season.” 0 Head Coach Steve Bush