Post 1,038 – Team Preview 2023: Bernards Mountaineers

Bernards Mountaineers   

June 3, 2023

2022: 

  • 8-2 
  • #22 team in Statewide Groups 1-2
  • Lost to Ramsey in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 2 quarterfinals 
  • Wins included Delaware Valley, New Providence, and Overbrook 
  • Their other loss was to Hillside 
  • Scored 297 points for a 29.70 average 
  • Allowed 90 points for a 9.00 average, including six shutouts 

Graduation: 

  • WR/DB Enzo Britez – Wagner 

Offense: 

  • Formation: Multiple Spread 
  • Returning Starters: 9  

Quarterback: 

  • Connor Laverty, Senior, 6-2, 175 – 3-year starter 
  • Aidan Gribben, Junior, 6-1, 175 – competing as backups 
  • Casey Hoeckle, Sophomore, 6-1, 160 – competing as backups 

Running Back: 

  • Terrence Hanratty, Junior, 6-0, 210 – returning starter 
  • Daniel Ferguson, Junior, 6-3, 195 – provides depth; saw action and started on defense 

Wide Receiver: 

  • Jake Caldwell, Senior, 5-9, 160 – returning starter 
  • Max Austin, Junior, 6-1, 160 – returning starter 
  • Jack Morra, Junior, 6-0, 165 – competing at third receiver 
  • Brandon Shafer, Junior, 6-0, 175 – competing at third receiver 
  • Jaden Phillips, Senior, 6-1, 165 – competing at third receiver 

H-Back: 

  • Charlie Gonella, Senior, 5-10, 190 – 3-year starter 

Offensive Line: 

  • Tim Pagonis, Senior, 6-5, 230 – returning starter at tackle 
  • Josh Kutakoff, Senior, 6-0, 180 – returning starter at tackle 
  • Logan Ritchie, Senior, 6-4, 270 – 3-year starter at guard 
  • RJ Bubnowski, Senior, 5-11, 195 – returning starter at center 
  • David Silva, Junior, 6-2, 265 – competing at opposite guard 
  • Grayson Meyer, Junior, 6-0, 200 – competing at opposite guard; started a few games 

Defense: 

  • Formation: 4-3 
  • Returning Starters: 7 

Defensive Line: 

  • Daniel Ferguson, Junior, 6-3, 195 – returning starter at end 
  • Thomas Diemar, Sophomore, 6-0, 210 – projected starter at opposite end; started a few games 
  • Finn Osborne, Sophomore, 5-11, 225 – projected starter at tackle; saw action 
  • David Silva, Junior, 6-2, 265 – competing at other tackle 
  • Luke Hartjen, Senior, 6-1, 225 – competing at other tackle 
  • Owen Liming, Senior, 6-0, 175 – part of rotation at end and linebacker; started games on the line, linebacker, and in secondary 
  • Logan Marks, Senior, 5-11, 177 – part of rotation at end and linebacker; started games at linebacker 

Linebacker: 

  • Charlie Gonella, Senior, 5-10, 190 – 3-year starter in middle 
  • Terrence Hanratty, Junior, 6-0, 210 – returning starter on strong side 
  • Mitch Dakin, Senior, 5-11, 160 – returning starter on weak side 
  • David Brothers, Senior, 6-0, 175 – provides depth; lacrosse player out for football  

Secondary: 

  • Jake Caldwell, Senior, 5-9, 160 – 4-year starter at strong safety 
  • Max Austin, Junior, 6-1, 160 – returning starter at free safety 
  • Milo DiSabato, Senior, 5-8, 165 – returning starter at cornerback 
  • Conor Campion, Junior, 6-2, 145 – competing at opposite corner 
  • Noah Ochab, Sophomore, 5-10, 145 – competing at opposite corner 
  • Logan Stevens, Sophomore, 5-6, 145 – competing at opposite corner 

Special Teams: 

  • Senior Simon Bramwit returns for extra points and short field goals 
  • Senior Jonas Gonzalez returns for kickoffs and long field goals 
  • Sophomore Noah Ochab returns at punter 
  • Senior Jake Caldwell is a 4-year return man and DiSabato will join him 

Schedule: 

  • Friday, 8/25, at Jefferson 
  • Saturday, 9/2, at Hillside 
  • Friday, 9/8, South River at home 
  • Friday, 9/15, Voorhees at home 
  • Friday, 9/22, Delaware Valley at home 
  • Friday, 9/29, at North Plainfield 
  • Friday, 10/6, Bound Brook at home 
  • Friday, 10/13, at New Providence 
  • Saturday, 10/21, at Governor Livingston 

Concerns: 

  • Opening with tough teams, but they have an experienced team  

Recruiting: 

    • Brothers verballed to Wagner for lacrosse 
    • Laverty will go to an high-academic school as high as the Ivy/Patriot Leagues 
    • Ritchie is similar to Laverty plus the interest from D2 schools in Pennsylvania 
    • Gonella will play football somewhere 
    • Caldwell has multiple lacrosse offers 
    • Others may play on the D3 level 
    • Underclassmen: 
    • Terrence Hanratty is the top underclassmen 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We have to maintain a level of excellence. We open the season with two tough teams in Jefferson and Hillside and this could be the first group in school history to win division titles, but we have to take care of business first.” – Head Coach Jon Simoneau

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