Post 1,090 – Team Preview 2023: Washington Township Minutemen

Washington Township Minutemen 

July 12, 2023

2022: 

  • 5-5 
  • Lost to Marlboro in the South Jersey Group 5 quarterfinals 
  • Wins included WInslow, Williamstown, and Vineland 
  • Losses were to Toms River North, Kingsway, Holy Spirit, and Shawnee 
  • Scored 259 points for a 25.90 average 
  • Allowed 150 for a 15.00 average, including two shutouts  

Graduation: 

  • OL John Stone – Rutgers 
  • OL Michael Lockore – Kutztown (Pa.) 
  • FB/LB Jason DeBlasio – Kean 
  • WR/DB John Williams – Delaware Valley (Pa.) 
  • DB Francis Hanson – Rowan 
  • QB Danny Farley – Albright (Pa.) 
  • K Max DiRadolo – Delaware as a walk-on 
  • LB Logan Brown – West Chester (Pa.) for rugby 

Offense: 

  • Formation: Multiple Spread 
  • Returning Starters: 7  

Quarterback: 

  • Jared Dzierzgowski, Senior, 6-0, 195 – 3-year starter; rushed for 711 yards per nj.com  
  • Cole Aquino, Sophomore, 5-8, 170 – competing 

Running Back: 

  • Giuliano Scavetta, Senior, 5-10, 195 – returning starter; rushed for 823 yards per nj.com  

Wide Receiver: 

  • D’Shawn Long, Junior, 6-0, 175 – returning starter 
  • Quentin Singleton, Senior, 5-9, 170 – returning starter 
  • Jordan Potts, Senior, 6-3, 190 – projected starter; Kingsway transfer 
  • Darion Joyner, Sophomore, 5-9, 175 – projected starter: saw action 

Tight End: 

  • Gabe Mosco, Senior, 5-11, 190 – returning starter 
  • Andrew Osborn, Sophomore, 6-0, 220 – part of the rotation; saw action 

Offensive Line: 

  • Dan Forcinito, Senior, 6-3, 275 – returning starter at center 
  • Troy Molzon, Senior, 5-9, 225 – returning starter at right guard 
  • Tyler Piontowski, Senior, 6-4, 280 – competing at right tackle  
  • Stephen Davidson, Sophomore, 6-2, 220 – competing at left tackle 
  • Dom Bennis, Senior, 5-11, 220 – competing at center 
  • Paul Dombrosky, Sophomore, 5-9, 215 – competing at guard  
  • Dylan Gould, Junior, 5-11, 220 – competing along the line 
  • Mitchell Lando, Junior, 5-10, 240 – competing along the line; Paul VI transfer who must sit out 30 days  

Defense: 

  • Formation: 3-4/4-2-5 
  • Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line: 

  • Troy Molzon, Senior, 5-9, 225 – returning starter at tackle 
  • Andrew Osborn, Sophomore, 6-0, 220 – projected starter at end 
  • Mitchell Lando, Junior, 5-10, 240 – competing at tackle; Paul VI transfer who must sit out 30 days 
  • Dom Bennis, Senior, 5-11, 220 – competing at tackle  
  • Others may be part of the rotation 

Inside Linebacker: 

  • Caleb Palaganas, Junior, 5-11, 195 – returning starter who may end up on the outside 
  • Giuliano Scavetta, Senior, 5-10, 195 – projected starter 
  • Chaz Melton, Junior, 5-8, 170 – competing 
  • Jaylen Robinson, Sophomore, 5-8, 185 – competing 
  • Others may be competing 

Outside Linebacker: 

  • Gabe Mosco, Senior, 5-11, 190 – returning starter 
  • Caleb Palaganas, Junior, 5-11, 195 – may play here if he is not on the inside 
  • D’Shawn Long, Junior, 6-0, 175 – returning starter, moving from safety 
  • Markeith Carr, Sophomore, 5-8, 175 – part of the rotation 
  • Others may be part of the rotation 

Secondary: 

  • Jared Dzierzgowski, Senior, 6-0, 195 – returning starter at safety 
  • Jordan Potts, Senior, 6-3, 190 – projected starter at safety; Kingsaway transfer, where he started 
  • Darion Joyner, Sophomore, 5-9, 175 – projected starter at cornerback; saw action 
  • Quentin Singleton, Senior, 5-9, 170 – competing at cornerback 
  • Jyair Moore, Sophomore, 5-8, 175 – competing at cornerback 
  • Johnny Gardiner, Senior, 5-8, 165 – competing at cornerback 

Special Teams: 

  • Senior Josh Franchi will be the kicker and punter is undecided 
  • Long will be the main return man 

Schedule: 

  • Friday, 8/25, Mainland at Ocean City 
  • Friday, 9/1, Eastern at home 
  • Friday, 9/8, Kingsway at home 
  • Friday, 9/15, Holy Spirit at home 
  • Friday, 9/22, at Williamstown 
  • Friday, 9/29, at Vineland 
  • Friday, 10/6, Winslow at home 
  • Friday, 10/13, at Shawnee 
  • Friday, 10/20, at Clearview 

Concerns: 

  • Inexperience on offensive line 

Recruiting: 

  • Dzierzgowski has 1-A/1-AA interest 
  • Scavetta and Potts have 1-AA/D2 interest 
  • Mosco, Molzon, Singleton, and Franchi are D3 candidates 
  • Others may end up playing D3 
  • Underclassmen: 
  • Long has some 1-A interest 
  • Palaganas, Melton, and Lando will play somewhere 
  • Sophomores Joyner, Davidson, and Osborn are 1-A/1-AA prospects 
  • The sophomore class is talented with others emerging in the future 

Coach’s Comments: 

“This is the most skill we have had in a long time. We have a great mix of returners that have a lot of varsity experience and a very talented group of underclassmen that we feel can make a difference this season. We have made the playoffs every year since 2018, but have not won a Group 5 playoff game. If we can stay healthy and play to our potential, we feel as though this team can have success in November.” – Head Coach Mike Schatzman

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.