Mainland Mustangs 

August 19, 2024 

2023: 

• 14-0 
• Won the New Jersey Group 4 championship by beating Ramapo 
• Won the South Jersey regional championship by beating Winslow 
• Won the South Jersey Group 4 sectional championship by beating Millville in the final, Colts Neck in the semifinals, and Manalapan in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Washington Township, Atlantic City, Hammonton, and Ocean City 
• Scored 603 points for a 43.07 average 
• Allowed 99 points for a 7.07 average, including six shutouts 

Graduation: 

• RB/DB Stephen Ordille – Princeton 
• TE/LB Hunter Watson – Monmouth 
• RB/LB Cohen Cook – New Hampshire 
• WR/DB Jamie Tyson – Villanova 
• OL Zach Hodges – attempting to walk on at Army 
• DB Anthony Tartaglia – Montclair State 
• DB Connor Kallen – Moravian (Pa.) 

Offense: 

• Formation: Spread Wing T 
• Returning Starters: 5   

Quarterback: 

• John Franchini, Junior, 5-10, 165 – 3-year starter; passed for 1,240 yards and 20 touchdowns-to-2-interceptions per nj.com 

Running Back: 

• Rocco DeBiaso, Senior, 5-11, 207 – 3-year starter at fullback, moving from halfback; rushed for 637 yards and 7 touchdowns plus 14 receptions, 306 yards, and 6 touchdowns per nj.com 
• Chase Hoag, Junior, 5-9, 185 – will spell DeBiaso at fullback 
• Liam Kennedy, Junior, 6-2, 185 – projected starter; started on defense 
• Jake Blum, Junior, 6-2, 185 – projected starter at halfback and will play split end; started on defense 
• Lucas DeBiaso, Sophomore, 5-8, 165 – projected starter at halfback 
• Dylan Granzow, Freshman, 5-9, 165 – provides depth at halfback 

Wide Receiver:

• Jake Blum, Junior, 6-2, 185 – projected starter at split end if he is not playing halfback; started on defense 
• Khaleeb Foster, Senior, 5-9, 165 – will start if Blum is not playing here and will see quality action 

Tight End: 

• Colt Russo, Junior, 6-3, 205 – competing 
• Andrew Gillman, Junior, 6-4, 220 – competing 

Offensive Line: 

• Dan DeFeo, Senior, 6-0, 250 – 3-year starter at right tackle 
• James Barrett, Senior, 6-0, 182 – returning starter at right guard 
• Ethan Schock, Senior, 6-3, 195 – returning starer at center 
• Eban Kuhns, Sophomore, 5-11, 195 – competing at left guard 
• Matt Muits, Senior, 5-9, 210 – competing at left guard; started on defense 
• Jayden Oseguera, Senior, 5-11, 245 – projected starter at left tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line: 

• Matt Muits, Senior, 5-9, 210 – returning starter at end 
• Ethan Schock, Senior, 6-3, 195 – returning starer at end 
• Dan DeFeo, Senior, 6-0, 250 – returning starter at nose guard 
• Tatum McBall, Junior, 6-4, 320 – part of the rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Rocco DeBiaso, Senior, 5-11, 207 – returning starter on the inside 
• Chase Hoag, Junior, 5-9, 185 – projected starter on the inside 
• Andrew Gillman, Junior, 6-4, 220 – projected starter on the outside 
• Colt Russo, Junior, 6-3, 205 – projected starter on the outside 
• Brock Martin, Senior, 5-10, 195 – part of the outside rotation  

Secondary: 

• Jake Blum, Junior, 6-2, 185 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Khaleeb Foster, Senior, 5-9, 165 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Liam Kennedy, Junior, 6-2, 185 – returning starter at safety 
• Ian Reed, Senior, 5-9, 185 – projected starter at safety 
• Nate Rivera, Junior, 5-9, 175 – part of the safety rotation 

Special Teams:  

• Junior Nate Kashey is a 4-year starter at kicker and he will compete as the punter with senior Rocco DeBiaso 
• Blum is the main return man 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/29, Atlantic City at Ocean City 
• Friday, 9/6, Hammonton at home 
• Friday, 9/13, at Millville 
• Friday, 9/20, Cherokee at home 
• Friday, 9/27, at St. Augustine 
• Friday, 10/4, Ocean City at home 
• Thursday, 10/10, at Egg Harbor 
• Friday, 10/18, Winslow at home 
• Friday, 10/25, at Delsea 

Concerns: 

• Time for the juniors who are playing to step up 
• Tough schedule and the need to persevere through it 

Recruiting: 

• DeBiaso is gaining 1-AA attention, including schools from the Ivy League 
• DeFeo has 1-AA and D2 interest 
• Others may play at the D3 level 
• Underclassmen: 
• Franchini, Kennedy, Blum, and Hoag are 1-AA candidates 

Coach’s Comments: 

We are where we always want to be: defending our championship. We must maintain our focus week to week because we have tough opponents. Hopefully we stay healthy. We look forward to the competition.” – Head Coach Chuck Smith