West Essex Knights 

August 21, 2024 

2023: 

• 10-4 
• Lost to Delsea in the New Jersey Group 3 final 
• Won the North Jersey Group 3 regional championship by beating West Morris 
• Won the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 championship by beating Passaic Valley in the final, Summit in the semifinals, and Cranford in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included West Morris, Passaic Valley, and Wayne Valley 
• Losses were to Westwood, Caldwell, and Haddonfield 
• Scored 284 points for a 20.28 average 
• Allowed 189 points for a 13.5 average 

Graduation: 

• OL/DL Eldin Gashi – Montclair State 
• OL/DL Chris Nigro – Endicott (Mass.)  

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Wing T 
• Returning Starters: 5    

Quarterback: 

• Jake Long, Junior, 5-11, 182 – competing; started on defense  
• Gaetano Iavarrone, Sophomore, 5-10, 151 – competing 

Running Back: 

• Brady Phillips, Senior, 6-2, 211 – returning co-starter at fullback 
• Ryan McInerney, Junior, 5-11, 163 – provides depth 
• Nick Sangillo, 5-10, 178 – projected starter; started on defense 
• Max Garcia, Senior, 5-10, 163 – projected starter; started on defense 
• Vincent Giaquinto, Senior, 6-0, 168 – competing 
• TJ Barbella, Senior, 5-9, 146 – competing 

Wide Receiver: 

• Anthony Drago, Senior, 6-2, 188 – 3-year starter 
• Justin Perini, Junior, 6-3, 177 – part of the rotation 

Tight End: 

• Cole DiMarco, Senior, 5-10, 168 – competing 
• Matt Capra, Senior, 5-11, 217 – competing 

Offensive Line: 

• Michael Conforti, Senior, 6-2, 226 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Mike Cerisano, Senior, 5-11, 185 – returning starter at right guard 
• Joe Russo, Senior, 5-11, 216 – returning starter at center 
• Yeshua Cuello, Senior, 6-5, 348 – competing on the left side 
• Matt Celentano, Junior, 5-10, 201 – competing on the left side 
• Jack Kostick, Senior, 6-1, 211 – competing on the left side 
• Michael Brier, Senior, 6-0, 190 – competing on the left side    

Defense: 

• Formation: Multiple 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Defensive Line: 

• Santino Perri, Junior, 5-10, 231 – competing at nose guard and end  
• Yeshua Cuello, Senior, 6-5, 348 – competing at nose guard and end 
• Jack Kostick, Senior, 6-1, 211 – competing at nose guard and end 
• Michael Conforti, Senior, 6-2, 226 – competing at nose guard and end 
• Michael Brier, Senior, 6-0, 190 – competing at nose guard and end 
• Matt Celentano, Junior, 5-10, 201 – competing at nose guard and end 

Linebacker: 

• Nick Sangillo, 5-10, 178 – returning starter on the inside 
• Brady Phillips, Senior, 6-2, 211 – returning starter on the inside 
• Jake Long, Junior, 5-11, 182 – returning starter on the outside 
• Mike Cerisano, Senior, 5-11, 185 – frontrunner on the outside 
• TJ Barbella, Senior, 5-9, 146 – competing on the outside 
• Joe Petrullo, Senior, 5-9, 194 – competing on the outside   

Secondary: 

• Anthony Drago, Senior, 6-2, 188 – 3-year starter at safety 
• Vincent Giaquinto, Senior, 6-0, 168 – competing at safety 
• Cole Fiore, Junior, 5-11, 178 – competing at safety 
• Mike Corbo, Junior, 6-2, 171 – competing at safety 
• Max Garcia, Senior, 5-10, 163 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Justin Perini, Junior, 6-3, 177 – competing at cornerback 
• Oliver Kik, Senior, 5-9, 186 – competing at cornerback 
• Gaetano Iavarrone, Sophomore, 5-10, 151 – competing at cornerback 

Special Teams:  

• Junior Mike Corbo will be the punter with senior Anthony Drago in reserve, while sophomore Robert Warmington will be the kicker 
• Drago and Garcia are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/30, at Old Tappan 
• Friday, 9/6, at Wayne Hills 
• Friday, 9/13, Caldwell at home 
• Friday, 9/20, Lakeland at home 
• Saturday, 9/28, Nutley at home 
• Saturday, 10/5, at Passaic Valley 
• 10/11-12, Bye Week 
• Friday, 10/18, at Hanover Park 
• Friday, 10/25, Morris Knolls at home 

Concerns: 

• Tough schedule with a tough opener in Old Tappan 
• Depth, develop second and third teams quickly to give starters a rest if they need it 

Recruiting: 

• Drago verballed to Duke for lacrosse 
• Phillips is a top player with Ivy attention, including Dartmouth and Harvard 
• Quello is receiving attention and has improved his speed and agility 
• Sangillo has strong interest from Pace 
• Garcia will probably play baseball 
• Kostick and others are D3 prospects 
• There are no underclassmen prospects yet 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We have some returning skill players with speed and athleticism. We also have open spots with competition. We like what we have, but still have a long way to go.” – Head Coach Chris Benaquista