Caldwell Chiefs 

June 22, 2023

2022: 

• 13-0 
• #1 team in the statewide Groups 1-2 poll
• Won New Jersey Group 2 state championship by beating Rumson-Fair Haven 
• Won North Jersey Group 2 Regional Championship by beating Westwood 
• Won North Jersey Section 2 Group 2 Sectional Championship by beating Newton in the finals, Rmasey in the semifinals, and High Point in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Mountain Lakes, West Essex, Cedar Grove, Madison, and Hanover Park 
• Scored 435 points for a 33.46 average 
• Allowed 117 points for a 9.00 average, including two shutouts 

Graduation: 

• WR/DB Harry Boland – Monmouth 
• OL/DL Tom Cader – Monmouth 
• QB Luke Kurzum – Hamilton 
• OL/DL Mike Fano – TCNJ 
• WR/DB Lucas Lattimore – TCNJ for track 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 4  

Quarterback: 

• Louie Anemone, Senior, 5-11, 180 – competing at quarterback; returning starter at wide receiver and started three games at quarterback 
• Nick Mignone, Sophomore, 5-9, 175 – competing 

Running Back: 

• Joe Marinello, Senior, 5-10, 185 – returning starter; rushed for 1,134 yards per nj.com 
• Sean Murtagh, Junior, 5-10, 180 – will spell Marinello 

Wide Receiver: 

• Jake Gruzas, Senior, 5-7, 165 – projected starter; started on defense 
• Mike Mignone, Junior, 6-0, 212 – projected starter; will play some tight end; started on defense 
• Dom Velardi, Senior, 5-10, 185 – projected starter; injured much of last two seasons 
• Nick Moyano, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – projected starter 
• Sean Murtagh, Junior, 5-10, 180 – will see time in the rotation in addition to running back 
• Louie Anemone, Senior, 5-11, 180 – returning starter who will play here if he is not at quarterback 

H-Back (Situational):  

• Andrew Fonseca, Junior, 5-10, 190 – competing 
• Troy Ford, Senior, 6-0, 185 – competing 

Offensive Line: 

• Charlie Male, Senior, 6-0, 215 – returning starter who could play tackle or guard; started at right tackle 
• Julian Casale, Senior, 6-0, 230 – 3-year starter at right guard 
• Cole Bazerman, Junior, 6-1, 240 – projected starter at tackle; saw action at H-Back last year 
• Anthony Capaldo, Junior, 6-2, 225 – competing at tackle 
• Jacob Marek, Junior, 6-3, 280 – competing at tackle 
• Aidan Hartney, Junior, 6-1, 240 – competing at center 
• Quays Rabah, Sophomore, 5-11, 210 – competing at center and guard 
• Elvis Nikollaj, Sophomore, 6-0, 190 – competing at guard and center 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-3 with three safeties 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Defensive Line: 

• Cole Bazerman, Junior, 6-1, 240 – competing at nose guard 
• Jacob Marek, Junior, 6-3, 280 – competing at nose guard 
• Andrew Fonseca, Junior, 5-10, 190 – competing at end 
• Charlie Male, Senior, 6-0, 215 – competing at end 
• Elvis Nikollaj, Sophomore, 6-0, 190 – competing at end 
• Anthony Capaldo, Junior, 6-2, 225 – competing at end 

Linebacker: 

• Julian Casale, Senior, 6-0, 230 – 3-year starter in the middle 
• Mike Mignone, Junior, 6-0, 212 – returning starter on the strong side 
• Sean Murtagh, Junior, 5-10, 180 – competing on the weak side 
• Troy Ford, Senior, 6-0, 185 – competing on the weak side 

Secondary: 

• Jake Gruzas, Senior, 5-7, 165 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Louie Anemone, Senior, 5-11, 180 – 3-year starter at cornerback, moving from safety 
• Dom Velardi, Senior, 5-10, 185 – projected starter at free safety 
• Joe Marinello, Senior, 5-10, 185 – 3-year starter at middle safety 
• Nick Mignone, Sophomore, 5-9, 175 – competing at strong safety 
• Nick Moyano, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – competing at strong safety 

Special Teams: 

• Junior Sean Murtagh returns at kicker and senior Louis Anemone returns at punter
• Senior Mike DeRosa returns as the long snapper 
• Velardi, Gruzas, Moyano, and Marinello are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 9/1, Morris Catholic at home 
• Friday, 9/8, at Pequannock 
• Thursday, 9/14, at Verona 
• Friday, 9/22, West Essex at home 
• Friday, 9/29, Hanover Park at home 
• Friday, 10/6, at Madison 
• Friday, 10/13, at Cedar Grove 
• Friday, 10/20, Mountain Lakes at home 

Concerns: 

• Lost much to graduation, leaving a “next man up” mentality and seeing who steps up, but they are confident with who they have 

Recruiting:

• Casale is a 1-AA prospect with interest from CAA and Patriot League schools
• Marinello can be a good D3 player, but also has a baseball option 
• Gruzas may play lacrosse in college 
• Anemone will likely play at a high-academic D3 school 
• Underclassmen: 
• Mike Mignone is the top junior and may burst on the scene 
• Other juniors need a big year 
• It is too early to forecast the sophomores 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We’re excited to get going again. Our goal is to get to 1-0 and we are more process driven than results driven. We look to improve and for young guys to step in and play to a high level.” – Head Coach Todd Romano