Pope John Lions   

June 22, 2024

2023: 

• 7-4 
• Lost to Don Bosco in the Non-Public A first round 
• Wins included DePaul, Paramus Catholic, Seton Hall Prep, Episcopal Academy (Pa.), and Immaculata 
• Losses were to Delbarton, St. Joe’s (Metuchen), and Cardinal Hayes (Bronx NY) 
• Scored 294 points for a 29.4 average 
• Allowed 226 points for a 22.6 average 

Graduation: 

• QB Chris Dietrich – Temple 
• OL Justin Platt – Wagner 
• TE Johans Bars – Wagner 
• K Jack Morgese – New Haven (Ct.) 
• DB Danny Platt – Union College (NY) 
• LB Sir Paris Jones – Post University (Ct.) 
• DE Joey Smart – enrolled in US Marines 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 7 

Quarterback: 

• Luke Irwin, Junior, 6-0, 200 – projected starter; DePaul transfer 

Running Back: 

• Tylik Hill, Senior, 5-9-½, 185 – 3-year starter; rushed for 1,000 yards each in 2023 and 2022 and caught 21 passes in 2023 per nj.com 
• Luke Gialanella, Sophomore, 5-8, 175 – will see time 

Wide Receiver: 

• Wes Johnston, Senior, 6-3, 205 – 4-year starter; 19 receptions per nj.com 
• Joe Rozynski, Senior, 6-0, 195 – 3-year starter; 28 receptions per nj.com 
• Prince Joshua, 5-10, 160 – projected starter 
• Peyton Fox, Senior, 6-0, 165 – competing and will be part of the rotation 
• Kristian Vozza, Junior, 6-2, 190 – competing and will be part of the rotation 
• Ty Plotts, Sophomore, 6-2, 180 – competing and will be part of the rotation 

Tight End (Situational): 

• Wes Johnston, Senior, 6-3, 205 – will play here in addition to wide receiver 
• Tyler Houser, Senior, 6-2, 230 – will see action; started on defense 
• Nick Struble, Senior, 6-0, 205 – will see action 

Offensive Line: 

• Vincent Giacchi, Junior, 5-10, 275 – returning starter at left guard and may play center 
• Jarrod Cofrancesco, Senior, 6-1, 295 – returning starter at center and may play right tackle 
• Quinn Muli, Senior, 6-3, 300 – returning starter at right guard and may move to the left side 
• Dan O’Leary, Senior, 6-4, 290 – returning starter at right tackle and may play guard 
• Ethan Kennedy, Junior, 6-2, 295 – competing at left tackle 
• Dylan Emond, Sophomore, 5-11, 255 – competing at left tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: Multiple 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line: 

• Damen DeFazio, Senior, 6-1, 205 – returning starter at end 
• Joe Pappa, Senior, 6-1, 255 – returning starter at end 
• Nose guard will come from Giacchi, Muli, O’Leary, and Cofrancesco 

Linebacker: 

• Tyler Houser, Senior, 4-year starter in the middle 
• Wes Johnston, Senior, 6-3, 205 – 4-year starter on the inside 
• Sam Conetta, Junior, 6-2, 200 – competing on the strong side 
• Alex Schreiber, Sophomore, 6-2, 180 – competing on the strong side 
• Shawn Baumann, Junior, 5-11, 205 – competing on the weak side 
• Dave Thompson, Junior, 5-10, 210 – competing on the weak side 

Secondary: 

• Andrew Sanchez, Senior, 6-1, 170 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Alex Rakowsky, Junior, 5-9, 160 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Joe Rozynski, Senior, 6-0, 195 – part of the rotation at cornerback 
• Nick Vannatta, Senior, 5-10, 205 – returning starter at safety 
• Akei Griffin, Junior, 5-11, 195 – projected starter at safety 
• Tylik Hill, Senior, 5-9-½, 185 – part of the rotation at safety 
• Prince Joshua, 5-10, 160 – part of the rotation at safety 

Special Teams:  

• Senior Omar Daniel and freshman Seamus Corcoran are competing at kicker, while Corcoran is in a battle with sophomore Evan Burn, Johnston, and Rakowsky at punter 
• Hill, Joshua, Rozynski, and junior Anthony Castro (5-8, 160) are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/30, at DePaul 
• Saturday, 9/7, Paramus Catholic at home 
• Saturday, 9/14, at Kellenberg (NY) 
• Saturday, 9/21, Bergen Catholic at home 
• 9/27-28, Bye Week 
• Saturday, 10/5, at Delbarton 
• Saturday, 10/12, at Seton Hall Prep 
• Saturday, 10/19, St. Joe’s (Montvale) at home 
• Friday, 10/25, at St. Peter’s Prep 
• Saturday, 11/2, St. Michael the Archangel (Va.) at home 

Concerns: 

• Depth and staying healthy 
• Tough schedule 

Recruiting: 

• Houser verballed to Wake Forest 
• Johnston verballed to Army 
• Rozynski has interest from Marist and schools in the Patriot and Ivy Leagues 
• Hill has an offer from UMass plus interest from Stonehill, Delaware State, Wagner, and others 
• O’Leary has interest from Maine, New Hampshire, and Patriot League schools 
• Miuli has an offer from Grinnell 
• Cofrancesco has interest from Colby, Johns Hopkins, and Brown 
• Pappa and DeFazio have interest from Salve Regina 
• Vannatta has interest from Lehigh and may throw the javelin in college after winning the state title last week 
• Sanchez has interest from Bentley and Ithaca 
• Underclassmen: 
• Most of the starters are receiving interest 
• Sophomores have no game experience 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We have a strong team with four offensive linemen returning and key players on both sides. I expect a good year and our players will be a handful for everyone. We have good classes of seniors and juniors and we want to make a run.” – Head Coach Dom Gaston