Hackensack Comets 

July 14, 2023

2022: 

• 5-6 
• Lost to Bloomfield in the North Jersey Group 5 consolations after beating Kennedy 
• Wins came against Teaneck, Kennedy, and Passaic 
• Losses included Ridgewood, Ramapo, Northern Highlands, and Paterson Eastside 
• Scored 232 points for a 21.09 average 
• Allowed 249 points for a 22.64 average 

Graduation: 

• WR Eric Afrifah – New Haven 
• QB Matt Pallouras – Utica 
• WR Gio Blake – Moravian 
• OL/DL Jermaine Frost – William Paterson 
• OL Garrett D’Elia – William Paterson 
• WR Jake Borchard – U of New England 
• K Joey Lopes – Lycoming (Pa.) 

*heights and weights for sophomores unavailable 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 4  

Quarterback: 

• Jordan McCoy, Junior, 6-1, 165 – competing 
• Brian Brancato, Sophomore, – competing 

Running Back: 

• Ayden Jones, Senior, 5-10, 180 – returning starter; rushed for 1,397 yards per nj.com 
• Dillon Thomas, Junior, 5-10, 175 – pushing for time 
• Joe Farrington, Senior, 5-10, 190 – may see time here and as an h-back 
• Fahiem Mitchell, Sophomore – pushing for time 
• Caleb Collins, Sophomore, – may see time here and as an h-back 

Wide Receiver: 

• Adrian King, Senior, 5-11, 180 – 3-year starter 
• Shawn Sowah, Senior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter 
• Jo’Vanny Mora, Junior, 5-11, 175 – projected starter 
• Anthony Diaz, Sophomore, – competing 
• Johnny Harris, Sophomore, – competing 
• Bradley Allen, Junior, 6-0, 160 – competing 
• Nick Franco, Senior, 6-0, 190 – competing 

Offensive Line: 

• Kwadwo Yeboah, Senior, 5-11, 2125 – returning starter at tackle 
• Nick Augustin, Junior, 5-10, 270 – projected starter at center 
• Mike Nieves, Junior, 6-2, 230 – projected starter at tackle 
• Ethan Mejia, Senior, 5-11, 245 – competing at guard 
• Nadir Miller, Junior, 6-4, 260 – competing at guard; started on defense 
• Mathys Gomis, Sophomore, – competing  

Defense: 

• Formation: 4-3 / 4-4   
• Returning Starters: 8 

Defensive Line: 

• Jay Anderson, Senior, 6-1, 190 – returning starter at end 
• Caleb Collins, Sophomore, – competing at opposite end 
• Danny Nifah, Sophomore, – competing at opposite end 
• Nadir Miller, Junior, 6-4, 260 – returning starter at tackle 
• Ethan Mejia, Senior, 5-11, 245 – projected starter at tackle 
• Kwadwo Yeboah, Senior, 5-11, 2125 – part of rotation at tackle  

Linebacker: 

• Dylan Thornton, Junior, 5-10, 170 – returning starter on the outside; may see time on defensive line  
• Jo’Vanny Mora, Junior, 5-11, 175 – returning starter on the outside/strong safety 
• Adrian King, Senior, 5-11, 180 – projected starter on the outside; moving from safety 
• Joe Farrington, Senior, 5-10, 190 – returning starter on the inside 
• Ayden Jones, Senior, 5-10, 180 – returning starter on the inside 

Secondary: 

• Shawn Sowah, Senior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Nick Franco, Senior, 6-0, 190 – competing at safety and outside linebacker 
• Anthony Diaz, Sophomore, – competing at cornerback and safety 
• Bradley Allen, Junior, 6-0, 160 – competing at cornerback 
• Others will be competing here 

Special Teams: 

• Senior Shawn Sowah returns at punter, with a push from senior Nick Franco and junior Adrian Elena, who will handling kicking duties 
• Jones, Sowah, and Mitchell are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Saturday, 9/2, Ridgewood at Hinchliffe Stadium, Paterson 
• Friday, 9/8, Kennedy at home 
• Friday, 9/15, at Belleville 
• Friday, 9/22, at Ramapo 
• Friday, 9/29, at Wayne Hills 
• Friday, 10/6, Northern Highlands 
• Friday, 10/13, Paterson Eastside at home 
• Friday, 10/20, at Passaic 
• Thursday, 11/23, Teaneck at home 

Concerns: 

• Finding the right fit at quarterback 
• Filling the holes on the offensive line 

Recruiting: 

• Jones has a Delaware State offer and interest from high-academic 1-AA schools
• King will be at a high-academic D2/D3 school 
• Sowah is a good athlete who ranges from 1-AA to D3 
• Farrington is a D3 prospect 
• Franco is a D2/D3 prospect 
• Others may play D3 
• Underclassmen:
• Miller is receiving interest at all levels 
• Others need a good junior year 
• The sophomore class is promising  

Coach’s Comments: 

“I love the work ethic this team has; they’re as dialed in as any team I’ve had in June. There are holes to fill on offense and we have an experienced defense. Hackensack prides itself on good defense and we need to improve. We’ll see what happens when the bullets fly.” – Head Coach Brett Ressler