Wood-Ridge Blue Devils   

July 4, 2024

2023: 

• 6-4 
• Lost to Weequahic in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 1 quarterfinals 
• Wins included Cresskill/Emerson, North Arlington, and Wallkill Valley 
• Losses were to Butler, Park Ridge, and St. Mary’s 
• Scored 243 points for a 24.3 average 
• Allowed 193 points for a 19.3 average 

Graduation:

• TE/DL Kledji Elezaj – American International (Mass.)

Offense:

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Quarterback: 

• Chris Rios, Junior, 5-10, 170 – competing 
• Ben Lopez, Senior, 5-8, 165 – competing; started on defense 
• Nicolas Mabel, Sophomore, 5-10, 175 – competing 

Running Back: 

• Za’ki McGhee, Senior, 5-10, 175 – part of a committee 
• Ben Lopez, Senior, 5-8, 165 – part of a committee 
• Dominick Buonomo, Junior, 5-9, 160 – part of a committee 

H-Back/Tight End (situational): 

• Michael Prato, Sophomore, 6-1, 180 – part of h-back rotation; started on defense  
• Nicolas Mabel, Sophomore, 5-10, 175 – part of h-back rotation 
• Melvin Zabaleta, Junior, 6-3, 230 – will play in tight end sets 

Wide Receiver: 

• Jaydin Punt, Senior, 5-11, 170 – returning starter; 13 receptions per nj.com  
• Nick Scalera, Junior, 5-9, 160 – returning starter; 17 receptions per nj.com  
• Chance Iacovino, Sophomore, 5-11, 170 – projected starter 
• Shaun Fernandez, Senior, 6-0, 165 – part of the rotation and started five games; started on defense    
• Owen Dodds, Junior, 5-9, 155 – part of the rotation 
• Nicholas Prato, Freshman, 5-7, 150 – part of the rotation 

Offensive Line: 

• Aidan Kelly, Senior, 6-4, 280 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Derrick Correa, Junior, 5-11, 255 – returning starter at left guard 
• Abdul Elkeshk, Junior, 5-11, 250 – projected starter at center 
• Nico Altamura, Senior, 6-1, 240 – returning starter at right guard 
• Eric Hayes, Junior, 6-4, 265 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Monic Lamichhane, Senior, 5-11, 225 – sixth man along the line; started on defense  
• Dominic Belini, Sophomore, 5-10, 190 – provides depth 
• Jack Cannizzaro, Sophomore, 6-0, 195 – provides depth 

Defense: 

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

Defensive Line: 

• Melvin Zabaleta, Junior, 6-3, 230 – returning starter at end 
• Eric Hayes, Junior, 6-4, 265 – projected starter at end 
• Aidan Kelly, Senior, 6-4, 280 – returning starter at tackle 
• Monic Lamichhane, Senior, 5-11, 225 – returning starter at tackle; may also play end at times  
• Derrick Correa, Junior, 5-11, 255 – part of the tackle rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Michael Prato, Sophomore, 6-1, 180 – returning starter on the inside  
• Nicolas Mabel, Sophomore, 5-10, 175 – projected starter on the inside 
• Ben Lopez, Senior, 5-8, 165 – returning starter on the outside, moving from safety 
• Dominick Buonomo, Junior, 5-9, 160 – pushing for time on the outside 
• Corrado Scarimbolo, Senior, 5-9, 165 – part of the rotation both inside and outside 

Secondary: 

• Za’ki McGhee, Senior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter at cornerback, moving from safety 
• Shaun Fernandez, Senior, 6-0, 165 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Jaydin Punt,Senior, 5-11, 170 – 3-year starter at safety, moving from cornerback 
• Chance Iacovino, Sophomore, 5-11, 170 – projected starter at safety 
• Chris Rios, Junior, 5-10, 170 – part of the rotation at cornerback and safety 
• Nick Scalera, Junior, 5-9, 160 – part of the rotation at cornerback and safety 
• Nicholas Prato, Freshman, 5-7, 150 – part of the rotation at cornerback and safety 

Special Teams:  

• Kicker and punter are open with senior Corrado Scarimbolo in the mix at the kicker and senior Matthew Macchia as the punter 
• Punt and Lopez are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/29, Spotswood at home 
• Friday, 9/6, at Weehawken 
• Friday, 9/13, St. Mary’s at home 
• Friday, 9/20, at Wallington 
• Friday, 9/27, Park Ridge at home 
• Thursday, 10/3, Bogota at home (see below) 
• 10/11-12, To Be Determined 
• 10/18-19, To Be Determined 
• 10/25-26, To Be Determined 
• **The Bogota game is tentatively at Wood-Ridge because Bogota is installing field turf – if the Bogota field is ready, the game will be at Bogota that weekend 

Concerns: 

• Depth and numbers with only 29 players 
• Still a young team, although they gained experience last year 

Recruiting: 

• 1-AA schools are recruiting Punt 
• Kelly is a 1-AA possibility  
• Lopez and McGee are D3 prospects 
• Underclassmen: 
• The top prospect is Zabaelta, a sophomore, who is being looked at 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We are still young without many senior starters. Young guys gained experience as freshmen and we’re still going to be competitive. We can challenge for the NJIC title.” – Head Coach Joe Cutrona