Mountain Lakes Herd  

August 20, 2024 

2023: 

• 11-2 
• Won the New Jersey Group 1 championship by beating Glassboro 
• Won the North Jersey regional championship by beating Shabazz 
• Won the North Jersey Section 1 Group 1 championship by beating Hawthorne in the final, Park Ridge in the semifinals, and Kinnelon in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Madison, Whippany Park, Boonton, and Lenape Valley 
• Their losses were to Caldwell and Hanover Park 

Graduation: 

• OL/DL Cosmo Fusco – Penn 
• RB/DB Ian Radzepagic – Hamilton College (NY) 
• DL Nick Fayo – Caldwell sprint football 
• WR/LB Marco Dzamba – Dartmouth for lacrosse 
• RB Justin Hernando – Bryant (RI) for lacrosse 
• LB Giacomo Bevacqua – Holy Cross for lacrosse 
• WR/DB Justin Brennfleck – Gettysburg for lacrosse 
• LB Aidan Malnati – Rhodes College (Tn.) for lacrosse 

Offense: 

• Formation: Wing T 
• Returning Starters: 1  

Quarterback: 

• Brett Beierle, Senior, 5-11, 175 – projected starter 
• Brad Rodgers, Senior, 6-0, 180 – competing 
• Vincent Cina, Junior, 5-11, 175 – competing 

Running Back: 

• Carson Fitch, Junior, 5-10, 190 – returning starter at fullback; 821 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns per nj.com 
• Jack Bronico, Sophomore, 6-0, 165 – will spell Fitch and may play some halfback 
• Esa Ellahi, Senior, 5-10, 165 – will spell Fitch 
• Nick Signorile, Senior, 5-11, 160 – projected starter at halfback; started on defense 
• Billy Barrett, Junior, 5-8, 175 – competing at halfback and will see action 
• Massimo Corvelli, Junior, 5-7, 150 – competing at halfback and will see action 

Wide Receiver:

• Luke Davi, Senior, 6-3, 195 – projected starter 
• Connor Higgins, Senior, 6-0, 160 – part of the rotation; started on defense 

Tight End: 

• Mario Dzamba, Senior, 6-2, 200 – projected starter at tight end 
• Romano DeConciliis, Junior, 6-1, 190 – in the mix 

Offensive Line: 

• Trey Schneider, Senior, 6-0, 215 – projected starter at left tackle 
• Holden Gillespie, Junior, 5-11, 195 – projected starter at left guard; started on defense 
• Barry Donohue, Senior, 5-10, 215 – projected starter at center  
• Anthony Argen, Senior, 5-7, 170 – competing at right guard 
• Collin Webb, Senior, 5-8, 175 – competing at right guard 
• Will Murphy, Senior, 6-1, 205 – projected starter at right tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-4 base with 3-5 looks
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line: 

• Trey Schneider, Senior, 6-0, 215 – returning starter at nose guard, may play end; missed time with an injury 
• Barry Donohue, Senior, 5-10, 215 – projected starter at end or nose guard 
• Holden Gillespie, Junior, 5-11, 195 – returning starter at end 
• Romano DeConciliis, Junior, 6-1, 190 -competing at end 

Linebacker: 

• Sebastian Borie, Senior, 5-10, 215 – returning starter on the inside 
• Jack Bronico, Sophomore, 6-0, 165 – projected starter on the inside 
• Max Kaplan, Senior, 5-11, 195 – competing on the inside 
• Brad Rodgers, Senior, 6-0, 180 – returning starter on the outside 
• Ty Plotts, Sophomore, 6-1, 175 – competing on the outside 
• Romano DeConciliis, Junior, 6-1, 190 – competing on the outside 

Secondary: 

• Connor Higgins, Senior, 6-0, 160 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Milo Penniston, Senior, 6-2, 195 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Vincent Cina, Junior, 5-11, 175 – competing at cornerback and will be part of the rotation 
• Nick Signorile, Senior, 5-11, 160 – returning starter at safety; missed part of the season with an injury 
• Grant Nikolsky, Senior, 5-11, 180 – projected starter at safety 
• Esa Ellahi, Senior, 5-10, 165 – part of the safety rotation 

Special Teams:  

• Junior Zach Sole will be the kicker and the punter is between junior Carson Fitch and senior Grant Nikolsky 
• The return men are Barrett, Corvelli, Nikolsky, and Signorile 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/30, Weequahic at home 
• Thursday, 9/5 Pequannock at home 
• Friday, 9/13, at Hanover Park 
• Friday, 9/20, Lenape Valley at home 
• Friday, 9/27, at Boonton 
• Saturday, 9/5, at Madison 
• 10/11-12, Bye Week 
• Friday, 10/18, Morris Catholic at home 
• Friday, 10/25, at Newton 

Concerns: 

• Many new starters and getting them in position 
• Early start to the season 

Recruiting: 

• Schneider is a D3 football prospect 
• Penniston verballed to Vermont for lacrosse 
• Underclassmen:
• Fitch, Barrett, and Corvelli are the top juniors 
• Bronico is the top sophomore 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We have a good senior class. We are old school; we flip the page every year, playing many seniors and a few good juniors. We like the group we have and they had a good offseason.” – Head Coach Darrell Fusco