Northern Highlands Highlanders 

July 10, 2023 

2022: 

• 9-4 
• Lost to Millville in the New Jersey Group 4 state finals 
• Won Group 4 regional championship by beating North Hunterdon  
• Won North Jersey Section 1 Group 4 sectional championship by beating Ramapo after beating Irvington in the semifinals and Montgomery in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Ramapo, Winslow, and Wayne Hills 
• Losses were to Old Tappan, Ridgewood, and Clifton 
• Scored 298 points for a 22.92 average 
• Allowed 223 points for a 17.15 average 

Graduation: 

• WR Zach Madison – UConn 
• DE Jack Inserra – Bucknell 
• RB/DB Charlie Sparango – Marist 
• LB Zach Chostaka – Stonehill 
• OL/DL Chase Fishman – MIT  
• DL John Lavinio – WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 6   

Quarterback: 

• Nate Johnson, Junior, 5-11, 190 – competing; returning co-starter; passed for 1,345 yards per nj.com   
• JR Walley, Senior, 6-0, 190 – competing; returning co-starter; passed 1,039 yards per nj.com  

Running Back: 

• John Aboussleman, Senior, 5-10, 200 – projected co-starter; started on defense 
• Cole Stecker, Senior, 5-11, 185 – projected co-starter 
• Chase Calarco, Sophomore, 5-10, 190 – competing for carries 
• Matt Boydell, Junior, 6-0, 200 – will compete here and at slot receiver; started on defense 

Wide Receiver: 

• Danny Smiechowski, Senior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter here and at tight end; 52 receptions, 646 yards, and 11 touchdowns per nj.com  
• Fred Kanning, Senior, 6-2, 190 – returning starter 
• George O’Keefe, Senior, 5-9, 170 – front-runner 
• Michael Danza, Senior, 6-1, 170 – competing 
• William Prince, Junior, 6-0, 180 – competing 
• Matt Boydell, Junior, 6-0, 200 – part of rotation here and possibly at running back; started on defense  

Offensive Line: 

• David Barrantes, Senior, 6-0, 265 – returning starter at left tackle, moving from guard 
• Blake Taranto, Senior, 5-11, 215 – returning starter at left guard 
• John Golden, Senior, 5-11, 215 – returning starter at center 
• Justin Barkan, Junior, 6-0, 210 – competing at right guard 
• Will Paquin, Senior, 6-2, 230 – competing at right guard 
• Moulik Gambhir, Junior, 6-2, 200 – competing at right tackle 
• Joey Dello Russo, Senior, 6-2, 220 – competing at right tackle  

Defense: 

• Formation: Multiple 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 3  

Defensive Line: 

• Justin Barkan, Junior, 6-0, 210 – front-runner at left tackle 
• Zachary Blacher, Sophomore, 6-0, 200 – competing at left tackle  
• Joey McDermott, Junior, 5-10, 200 – projected starter at nose guard 
• David Barrantes, Senior, 6-0, 265 – part of rotation at nose guard 
• John Durante, Junior, 6-1, 215 – competing at right tackle 
• Blake Taranto, Senior, 5-11, 215 – competing at right tackle 

Linebacker: 

• John Aboussleman, Senior, 5-10, 200 – returning starter in the middle; moving from the weak side 
• Gavin Soares, Senior, 6-2, 210 – front-runner on the strong side 
• JR Walley, Senior, 6-0, 190 – competing on the weak side 
• Finn Burns, Senior, 6-3, 200 – competing on the weak side 
• Michael Pembroke, Junior, 5-10, 190 – competing at the buck/inside 
• Chuck Dyrsten, Senior, 5-10, 190 – competing at the buck/inside 

Secondary: 

• Danny Smiechowski, Senior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter at free safety 
• Matt Boydell, Junior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter at strong safety; front-runner 
• Paul Serrao, Senior, 5-11, 200 – competing at strong safety 
• Chris Saadi, Senior, 5-8, 170 – competing at one cornerback 
• Charles Goebbert, Junior, 6-2, 180 – competing at one cornerback 
• Jeremiah Rivera, Junior, 6-2, 180 – competing at opposite corner 
• Michael Danza, Senior, 6-1, 170 – competing at opposite corner 

Special Teams: 

• Kicker and punter are open 
• The return game is undecided 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/25, Willingboro at home 
• Friday, 9/1, at Wayne Valley 
• Friday, 9/8, Old Tappan at home 
• Thursday, 9/14, Ridgewood at home 
• Friday, 9/22, at Pascack Valley 
• Friday, 9/29, Ramapo at home 
• Friday, 10/6, at Hackensack 
• Friday, 10/13, at Clifton 
• Friday, 10/20, Wayne Hills at home 

Concerns: 

• Replacing six of seven players on the defensive front seven 
• Replacing both cornerbacks 
• Replacing the right side of the offensive line 

Recruiting: 

• Smiechowski has Ivy League interest 
• Barrantes has an offer from Saint Anselm 
• Kanning and Aboussleman are high-academic D3 candidates 
• Walley will play somewhere 
• Others may play D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Boydell and Nate Johnson are the top juniors at this point 
• Others need a chance to prove it 
• The sophomore class is very strong and was undefeated last year as freshmen 

Coach’s Comments: 

“Our schedule is very challenging with good teams every week. We have more experience on offense than defense and we will see where it takes us this year.” – Head Coach Dave Cord