Montgomery Cougars 

August 9, 2024

2023: 

• 8-1-1 
• Lost to Sayreville in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 quarterfinals 
• Wins included Plainfield, Somerville, Watchung Hills, and Robbinsville 
• Their tie was with Linden 
• Scored 328 points for a 32.8 average 
• Allowed 160 points for a 16.0 average 

Graduation: 

• WR/DB Matt D’Avino – Lehigh 
• QB Michael Schmelzer – Lafayette 
• OL/DL Lucas Szczepanski – The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) 
• RB/LB Brady Post – Franklin & Marshall (Pa.) 
• TE/LB Ethan Golubitsky – Franklin & Marshall (Pa.) 

Offense: 

• Formation: Shotgun Spread 
• Returning Starters: 4    

Quarterback: 

• Jack Kristjanson, Junior, 5-8, 160 – projected starter 
• Walcott Gesira, Junior, 5-7, 152 – competing 
• Jonnas Filak, Senior, 6-0, 215 – competing 

Running Back: 

• Fab Gesira, Senior, 5-9, 170 – projected starter 
• Neil Nair, Junior, 5-8, 172 – will spell Gesira 
• Caiden Miller, Junior, 5-8, 176 – will spell Gesira 

Wide Receiver: 

• Trey McFadden, Junior, 6-3, 193 – 3-year starter; 25 receptions, 393 yards, 2 touchdowns per nj.com 
• Brian Giambra, Junior, 5-11, 185 – returning starter; 10 receptions per nj.com 
• Alessandro Spera, Senior, 5-7, 150 – projected starter 
• Jaden Bartley, Junior, 5-9, 145 – competing 
• Obinna Obuba, Junior, 6-5, 182 – competing 
• Tyler Sokoloff, Senior, 5-11, 155 – competing 
• Jakob Espana, Senior, 5-9, 156 – competing 

Tight End: 

• Eamonn Kyler, Senior, 5-10, 185 – competing; started on defense 
• Matthew Cudmore, Senior, 6-1, 185 – competing 
• Evan Puleio, Junior, 5-11, 170 – competing 
• Zain Tirmizi, Sophomore, 6-3, 220 – competing 

Offensive Line:

•  Brandon Rector, Senior, 6-2, 275 – 3-year starter at left tackle 
• Yousef El-Sherbini, Junior, 6-1, 230 – projected starter at left guard 
• Mike Bellamy, Junior, 5-10, 250 – returning starter at center 
• Aidan Mireider, Junior, 6-1, 246 – projected starter at right guard 
• Jack Dowling, Sophomore, 6-4, 225 – projected starter at right tackle 
• Drago Georgiev, Junior, 6-3, 230 – key reserve and competing 
• Landen Dikker, Senior, 6-1, 235 – key reserve and competing; started two years ago and also starts on defense 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line: 

• Brandon Rector, Senior, 6-2, 275 – 3-year starter at end 
• Mike Bellamy, Junior, 5-10, 250 – returning starter at nose guard 
• Yousef El-Sherbini, Junior, 6-1, 230 – competing at end 
• Matthew Cudmore, Senior, 6-1, 185 – competing at end 

Linebacker: 

• Eamonn Kyler, Senior, 5-10, 185 – returning starter on the inside 
• Drago Georgiev, Junior, 6-3, 230 – projected starter on the inside 
• Landen Dikker, Senior, 6-1, 235 – 3-year starter on the strong side 
• Ben Hoberman, Senior, 6-0, 200 – projected starter on the weak side 
• Jack Schmelzer, Sophomore, 5-10, 175 – competing on the strong side 
• Josh Malek, Senior, 5-9, 150 – competing on the weak side 
• Evan Xu, Junior, 5-9, 187 – competing on the inside 
• Mac Priebracha, Junior, 5-9, 170 – competing on the inside 

Secondary: 

• Trey McFadden, Junior, 6-3, 193 – returning year starter at cornerback 
• Jaden Bartley, Junior, 5-9, 145 – competing at cornerback 
• Walcott Gesira, Junior, 5-7, 152 – competing at cornerback  
• Fab Gesira, Senior, 5-9, 170 – competing at cornerback 
• Zach Mutton, Sophomore, 5-9, 160 – competing at cornerback 
• Brian Giambra, Junior, 5-11, 185 – returning starter at safety 
• Alessandro Spera, Senior, 5-7, 150 – projected starter at safety 
• Tyler Sokoloff, Senior, 5-11, 155 – competing at safety 
• Ayrton Luna, Senior, 5-6, 160 – competing at safety 

Special Teams:  

• Junior Trey McFadden returns as the kicker and the punter 
• Bellamy and Dowling are both good long snappers 
• McFadden and Fab Gesira are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/30, Hopewell Valley at home 
• Saturday, 9/7, at Summit 
• Friday, 9/13, Somerville at home 
• Friday, 9/20, at North Hunterdon 
• Friday, 9/27, at Watchung Hills 
• Saturday, 10/5, at Linden 
• Friday, 10/11, at Woodbridge 
• Friday, 10/18, Sayreville at home 
• Friday, 10/25, Rahway at home 

Concerns: 

• Not much experience 
• Offensive line depth 

Recruiting: 

• Rector has offers from Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg, and TCNJ with interest from high-academic schools 
• Dikker has interest ranging from 1-AA to D3 schools 
• Others may play D3 football 
• Underclassmen: 
• McFadden has an offer from Columbia 
• Bellamy, a good high school football player, will play somewhere 
• Dowling is a sophomore who is drawing attention 

Coach’s Comments: 

“There are many new faces and we are not sure what we are getting: we will find out in the first three games. There are talented players, they just haven’t played.” – Head Coach Zoran Milich