Old Tappan Golden Knights 

August 23, 2024 

2023: 

• 9-2 
• Lost to West Morris in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 3 final, beat Lincoln in the quarterfinals, and Paramus in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Northern Highlands, Pascack Valley, and Paterson Eastside 
• Their other loss was to Ramapo 
• Scored 399 points for a 36.27 average 
• Allowed 92 points for an 8.36 average, including five shutouts 

Graduation: 

• OL/DL Jack Small – Duke 
• K Nico Ottomanelli – Nebraska 
• WR/DB Evan Brooks – LIU 
• OL/DL Dennis Delaney – Norwich (Vt.) 
• OL/DL Zac Falkenstern – McDaniel (Md.) 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 4   

Quarterback: 

• Alex Orecchio, Senior, 5-9, 165 – returning starter; passed for 1,532 yards, 21 touchdowns-to-6 interceptions, rushed for 876 yards and 11 touchdowns per nj.com 

Running Back: 

• Nick Rossi, Senior, 5-11, 205 – returning starter; rushed for 918 yards, 15 touchdowns per nj.com 
• Devyn Radoian, Junior, 5-10, 170 – projected starter; rushed for 206 yards in limited action per nj.com; started on defense  

Wide Receiver:

• Ronan Malady, Senior, 6-1, 190 – returning starter; 12 receptions, 319 yards, 5 touchdowns per nj.com 
• Aidan Nally, Senior, 5-10, 165 – part of the rotation 
• Joey Crescitelli, Junior, 5-9, 165 – part of the rotation 

Fullback/Tight End: 

• Robert Agans, Senior, 6-0, 190 – projected starter; saw action and started on defense  
• Shane Small, Sophomore, 6-4, 200 – will see action at tight end 

Offensive Line: 

• Mike Gracey, Senior, 6-1, 240 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Joey Puccio, Junior, 5-10, 205 – projected starter at right guard 
• Ekin Yucel, Junior, 6-2, 240 – projected starter at center 
• Jack Horgan, Senior, 6-1, 245 – projected starter at left guard 
• Ryan Miceli, Junior, 6-1, 205 – projected starter at left tackle 
• Abdoo Abdellattif, Senior, 6-1, 200 – key reserve pushing for time 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-3 Stack 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Defensive Line: 

• Mike Gracey, Senior, 6-1, 240 – competing and part of the rotation, positions interchangeable; saw heavy action  
• Jack Horgan, Senior, 6-1, 245 – competing and part of the rotation, positions interchangeable 
• Ryan Micelli, Junior, 6-1, 205 – competing and part of the rotation, positions interchangeable 
• Shane Small, Sophomore, 6-4, 200 – competing and part of the rotation, positions interchangeable 
• Abdoo Abdellattif, Senior, 6-1, 200 – competing and part of the rotation, positions interchangeable 

Linebacker: 

• Nick Rossi, Senior, 5-11, 205 – returning starter at stack backer  
• Devyn Radoian, Junior, 5-10, 170 – returning starter at stack backer  
• Nick Blanchard, Sophomore, 5-10, 180 – competing and will play at stack backer 
• Troy Essmann, Senior, 5-10, 175 – competing and will play at stack backer 
• Robert Agans, Senior, 6-0, 190 – returning starter on the outside 
• Ronan Malady, Senior, 6-1, 190 – returning starter on the outside, moving from cornerback 

Secondary: 

• Alex Orecchio, Senior, 5-9, 165 – projected starter at safety; has started in the past 
• Aidan Nally, Senior, 5-10, 165 – competing at cornerback 
• Joey Crescitelli, Junior, 5-9, 165 – competing at cornerback 
• Leo Etter, Sophomore, 5-9, 150 – competing at cornerback 
• Christakis Nicolaou, Sophomore, 5-9, 160 – competing at cornerback 

Special Teams:  

• Senior Cortez Gomez will be the punter and several are still competing at kicker 
• Malady, Orrechio, and Nally will be the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/30, West Essex at home 
• Friday, 9/6, at River Dell 
• Friday, 9/13, Bergenfield at home 
• Friday, 9/20, at Ramapo 
• Friday, 9/27, Paramus at home 
• Saturday, 10/5, Northern Highlands at home 
• 10/11, Bye Week 
• Friday, 10/18, at Wayne Hills 
• Friday, 10/25, at Pascack Valley 

Concerns: 

• There are new faces up front: how they progress and are undersized; on defense, how do they hold up against a power running game? 

Recruiting: 

• Orechio verballed to Johns Hopkins 
• Rossi and Malady are D2/D3 prospects 
• Gracey and Agans are D3 candidates 
• The underclassmen have yet to be determined 

Coach’s Comments: 

“There are new faces and we will be young. We are very new up front and we will be tested early. I think the team will get better as the year progresses.” – Head Coach Brian Dunn