Ramapo Raiders 

August 7, 2025

2024: 

• 8-4 
• Lost to Phillipsburg in the North Jersey regional championship 
• Won the North Jersey Section 1 Group 4 Sectional Championship by beating Morris Knolls in the finals, Ridge in the semifinals, and Randolph in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Northern Highlands, Passaic Tech, and Wayne Valley 
• Losses were to Old Tappan, Ridgewood, and Somers (NY) 
• Scored 342 points for a 28.5 average 
• Allowed 300 points for a 25.0 average 

Graduation: 

• TW/LB Charlie Wingfield – Wake Forest 
• LB Zak Darwish – Kent (CT prep) 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 7  

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback: 

• Casey Grusser, Senior, 6-1, 195 – returning starter; passed for 2,267 yards and 16 touchdowns, while rushing for 685 points and 8 touchdowns 
• Mason Braen, Junior, 6-1, 175 – provides depth 

Running Back:

• Liam Hayward, Senior, 6-2, 195 – returning co-starter; rushed for 816 yards and 10 touchdowns, and had 18 receptions for 176 yards and 1 touchdown 
• Gino Gorga, Senior, 5-7, 175 – returning co-starter; rushed for 372 yards and 3 touchdowns, and 12 receptions for 129 yards 
• Joey Gorga, Sophomore, 5-7, 175 – will spell the co-starters 

Wide Receiver: 

• Sal Livoti, Senior, 5-9, 175 – returning starter at slot receiver; 49 receptions for 658 yards and 6 touchdowns 
• Michael Ballan, Senior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter; 31 receptions for 455 yards and 4 touchdowns 
• Tyler Ramiccio, Senior, 6-1, 185 – returning starter; 9 receptions for 178 yards and 1 touchdown 
• Joe Yessis, Senior, 6-1, 185 – projected starter 
• Gavin Cordisco, Senior, 5-10, 175 – part of the rotation 

Tight End: 

• Mike Viksjo, Senior, 6-2, 210 – competing 
• Shane LaDuca, Senior, 6-1, 200 – competing 
• Cole Seyffer, Junior, 6-2, 210 – competing 

Offensive Line: 

• Peter Amerio, Senior, 6-3, 215 – projected starter at left tackle; started three games 
• Finn Kirwan, Senior, 6-2, 250 – projected starter at left guard 
• Luke Gurba, Senior, 5-10, 225 – returning starter at center 
• Martin Shifar, Junior, 5-10, 225 – projected starter at right guard; started three games 
• Harrison Kearney, Senior, 6-2, 225 – returning starter at right tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Defensive Line: 

• Alex Kavallieratos, Junior, 5-10, 215 – returning starter at nose guard 
• Finn Kirwan, Senior, 6-2, 250 – part of the nose guard rotation 
• Luke Gurba, Senior, 5-10, 225 – part of the end rotation 
• Harrison Kearney, Senior, 6-2, 225 – part of the end rotation 
• Peter Amerio, Senior, 6-3, 215 – part of the end rotation 
• Martin Shifar, Junior, 5-10, 225 – part of the end rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Carter Cooney, Senior, 6-1, 210 – returning starter on the inside 
• Jack Snyder, Junior, 6-1, 205 – projected starter on the inside 
• Cole Seyffer, Junior, 6-2, 210 – part of the outside rotation 
• Shane LaDuca, Senior, 6-1, 200 – part of the outside rotation 
• Liam Hayward, Senior, 6-2, 195 – part of the outside rotation 
• Marello Tirri, Junior, 6-1, 200 – part of the outside rotation 

Secondary: 

• Michael Ballan, Senior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Joe Yessis, Senior, 6-1, 185 – competing at cornerback; started early before being injured 
• Jahzier Bryant, Senior, 5-8, 165 – competing at cornerback and started a few games 
• Gavin Cordisco, Senior, 5-10, 175 – competing at cornerback 
• Louie Treboski, Junior, 5-9, 170 – competing at cornerback 
• Scott Larsen, Senior, 6-0, 180 – competing at cornerback 
• Tyler Ramiccio, Senior, 6-1, 185 – returning starter at safety 
• Gino Gorga, Senior, 5-7, 175 – returning starter at safety 
• Brian Shanley, Senior, 6-2, 180 – competing at safety 
• Luke Wiacek, Junior, 5-10, 180 – competing at safety 

Special Teams:

• The kicker will be between senior Gavin Perro and sophomore Chris Colangelo, while the punter will have senior Tyler Ramiccio and sophomore Devin Hunt competing 
• Livoti and Yessis are the return men 

*Offense, defense, and special teams positions are subject to change 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/29, Irvington at home 
• 9/5-6, Bye Week 
• Friday, 9/12, at Ridgewood 
• Friday, 9/19, at Old Tappan 
• Friday, 8/26, Montclair at home 
• Friday, 10/3, at Passaic Tech 
• Friday, 10/10, Wayne Valley at home 
• Friday, 10/17, Hackensack at home 
• Friday, 10/24, at Northern Highlands 

Concerns:  

• Linebackers coming together 
• Picking up where they left off last year 

Recruiting: 

• Grusser has a verbal commitment to Merrimack 
• Ramiccio has a verbal commitment to Manhattan for lacrosse 
• Cooney has interest from Brown, Cornell, and Holy Cross 
• Livoti has interest from New Haven, Central Connecticut, and Southern Connecticut 
• Ballan has interest from Williams, Tufts, and Bates 
• Yessis has interest from Lafayette, Sacred Heart, and NESCAC schools 
• Kearney and Gorba are D3 prospects 
• Hayward has a baseball option, but may play football 
• Underclassmen: 
• To Be Determined 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We want to pick up where we left off. We started slowly and improved. We have a lot on offense and defense with starting experience. We feel good about the older guys and are excited about the younger ones. If we pick up where we left off, the sky is the limit.” – Head Coach Nick Guttuso