Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers   

July 8, 2024

2023: 

• 3-7 
• Lost to Watchung Hills in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 5 quarterfinals 
• Wins came against Edison, Elizabeth, and Old Bridge 
• Losses were against Phillipsburg, Ridge, Union, Hunterdon Central, Watchung Hills, and Hillsborough 
• Scored 241 points for a 24.1 average 
• Allowed 244 points for a 24.4 average 

Graduation: 

• TE/LB Joe Spirra – Ithaca (NY) 
• RB/DB Dane Sorenson – Dickinson (Pa.) 
• DL James McDermott – Norwich (Vt.) 
• LB Nick Markovitch – Norwich (Vt.) 
• DL Chris Lopez – Kean 
• RB Devin Goldberg – Tampa for baseball 
• OL Cam Kurdyla – NJIT for lacrosse 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 3 

Quarterback: 

• Declan Kurdyla, Junior, 6-4, 175 – competing 
• Evan Woodring, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – competing 

Running Back: 

• Denzel Amoafo, Junior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter 
• Ja’sante Johnson, Senior, 6-2, 200 – will be on the field often in a variety of positions 

Wide Receiver: 

• Jordan Johnson, Senior, 6-2, 200 – projected starter, injured much of 2023 
• Nick DiEsso, Senior, 5-10, 170 – projected starter; started on defense 
• Mike Bratus, Junior, 5-9, 170 – competing 
• Joey Canfalone, Junior, 5-9, 170 – competing 

Tight End (Situational):  

• Dylan Tierney, Senior, 5-11, 205 – will see action; started on defense 

Offensive Line: 

• Justin Simpson, Junior, 6-1, 280 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Jack Schroeder, Senior, 6-1, 280 – returning starter at guard 
• Gabe Medina, Junior, 5-10, 240 – projected starter at guard 
• Nick Parsio, Senior, 6-0, 270 – competing at right tackle 
• Nick Righetti, Senior, 6-2, 230 – competing at right tackle 
• Mason Francz, Senior, 6-3, 280 – competing along the line 
• Steve Pikulin, Junior, 6-3, 290 – returning starter at center who may not play as much offense because he also starts on defense 
• Matt Pizzelanti, Junior, 6-3, 290 – competing at center 
• Christian Antunes, Junior, 6-3, 230 – competing at guard and tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: 4-3 
• Returning Starters: 5  

Defensive Line: 

• Ja’sante Johnson, Senior, 6-2, 200 – returning starter at end 
• Chris DelSantro, Senior, 5-9, 185 – returning starter at end; part of the end rotation 
• Nick Righetti, Senior, 6-2, 230 – part of the end rotation 
• Miles Tofte, Junior, 6-0, 185 – part of the end rotation 
• Christian Antunes, Junior, 6-3, 230 – part of the end rotation 
• Steve Pikulin, Junior, 6-3, 290 – returning starter at tackle 
• Jack Schroeder, Senior, 6-1, 280 – part of the tackle rotation 
• Justin Simpson, Junior, 6-1, 280 – part of the tackle rotation 
• Gabe Medina, Junior, 5-10, 240 – part of the tackle rotation 
• Nick Parsio, Senior, 6-0, 270 – part of the tackle rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Nick DiEsso, Senior, 5-10, 170 – returning starter on the outside 
• Dylan Tierney, Senior, 5-11, 205 – returning starter in the middle 
• Matt Kronengold, Senior, 5-10, 165 – projected starter on the outside 

Secondary: 

• Alex Berberian, Senior, 6-0, 165 – projected starter at safety 
• Joey Canfalone, Junior, 5-9, 170 – competing at safety 
• Carter Grant, Senior, 5-10, 170 – competing at safety 
• DJ Krizan, Sophomore, 5-10, 160 – competing at safety 
• Nick Stark, Junior, 51-10, 160 – competing at safety 
• Denzel Amoafo, Junior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Mike Bratus, Junior, 5-9, 170 – competing at cornerback 
• Evan Woodring, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – competing at cornerback 
• James Locrotondo, Sophomore, 5-8, 140 – competing at cornerback 
• Jordan Johnson, Senior, 6-2, 200 – competing at cornerback 

Special Teams:  

• Junior Joe Squiccerini will be the punter and kicker 
• Junior Gavin Zeiman is the long-snapper 
• DiEsso and Amoafo will be the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/30, at Notre Dame 
• Friday, 9/6, at Piscataway 
• Saturday, 9/14, at Morris Knolls 
• Friday, 9/20, at Hunterdon Central 
• Friday, 9/27, Ridge at home  
• Friday, 10/4, at Elizabeth 
• Thursday, 10/10, Hillsborough at home 
• Saturday, 10/19, at Westfield 
• Friday, 10/25, Phillipsburg at home 

Concerns: 

• The secondary is very young with new faces. There is young talent that needs to be developed 

Recruiting: 

• Je’sante Johnson, Tierney, and Jordan Johnson are D2/D3 candidates 
• Francz is very intriguing and needs a good senior year 
• Underclassmen: 
• Simpson is a very good football player who is shorter than what colleges look for 
• Antunes has promise 
• Kurdyla may play lacrosse 

Coach’s Comments: 

“I am very excited with the team’s development in the offseason. We had younger guys getting reps in practice last year and that’s beneficial – it wasn’t easy with the logistics but we made it happen. There are new guys coming in, but we’re optimistic, especially up front.” – Head Coach AJ Catalano