Cranford Cougars 

August 25, 2024 

2023: 

• 4-5 
• Lost to West Essex in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 quarterfinals 
• Wins included Woodbridge, Rahway, and Scotch Plains-Fanwood 
• Losses included St. Thomas Aquinas, Summit, North Brunswick, and Linden 
• Scored 169 points for an 18.78 average 
• Allowed 189 points for a 21.0 average 

Graduation: 

• OL Julius Byram – William Paterson 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 4   

Quarterback: 

• Tyler Veltre, Senior, 6-1, 190 – returning starter

Running Back: 

• Amari Petgrave, Senior, 6-1, 215 – competing; started several games; started on defense 
• Dylan Jones, Senior, 5-10, 180 – competing; started several games; started on defense 
• Joseph Acinapura, Junior, 6-2, 190 – will see action 
• Sam Slayton, Junior, 5-10, 175 – will see action 
• Gabe Worrell, Sophomore, 6-1, 195 – competing and having an impressive preseason 

Wide Receiver:

• Luciano Fiorenza, Senior, 6-2, 175 – returning starter 
• Niko Aloi, Senior, 6-2, 175 – returning starter 
• Quinn Smith, Junior, 5-11, – – will see action 
• Jake Teixeira, Junior, 6-0, 190 – in the mix 
• Jake Zarzecki, Senior, 5-9, 165 – in the mix 
• Ryan Gregersen, Senior, 5-9, 170 – projected starter at slot receiver 
• Brandon DiPaolo, Senior, 5-9, 165 – will see action at slot receiver 
• Ryder Connors, Junior, 5-9, 165 – will see action at slot receiver 
• Michael Tripodi, Junior, 5-9, 175 – will see action at slot receiver 

Tight End/H-Back: 

• Justin Hoefler, Senior, 6-1, 220 – saw extensive action 
• Arthur Hrycak, Senior, 6-4, 235 – saw extensive action 
• Yousf Elashry, Senior, 6-2, 235 – saw extensive action 

Offensive Line: 

• Max Brown, Senior, 6-2, 250 – returning starter at center 
• Mike Scotti, Senior, 6-2, 260 – projected starter at guard 
• Louis Kruk, Senior, 6-1, 265 – projected starter at guard  
• Lucas Ruela, Junior, 5-11, 280 – competing at guard 
• Austin Hooey, Junior, 6-5, 260 – competing at tackle 
• Hunter Quinn, Senior, 6-0, 225 – competing at tackle 
• Andre Pereira, Junior, 6-4, 235 – competing at tackle 
• Jake Ulicki, Senior, 5-9, 215 – competing at tackle 
• Joseph Petino, Junior, 6-4, 260 – competing at tackle 

Defense: 

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

Defensive Line: 

• Mike Scotti, Senior, 6-2, 260 – returning starter at nose guard 
• Amari Petgrave, Senior, 6-1, 215 – returning starter at end 
• Arthur Hrycak, Senior, 6-4, 235 – projected starter at end; started some games 
• Yousf Elashry, Senior, 6-2, 235 – part of the rotation at end; saw extensive action 
• Andre Pereira, Junior, 6-4, 235 – part of the rotation at end 

Linebacker: 

• Justin Hoeffler, Senior, 6-1, 220 – returning starter in the middle 
• Joseph Acinapura, Junior, 6-2, 190 – projected starter at at stack backer 
• Kevin Gormley, Senior, 5-10, 170 – projected starter at stack backer or elsewhere on defense 
• Lucas Gutierrez, Senior, 6-1, 175 – part of the rotation 
• Ryan Coon, Senior, 5-10, 190 – competing at stack backer 

Secondary: 

• Dylan Jones, Senior, 5-10, 180 – returning starter at safety 
• Gabe Worrell, Sophomore, 6-1, 195 – competing at safety and having an impressive preseason 
• Niko Aloi, Senior, 6-2, 175 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Quinn Smith, Junior, 5-11, 175 – competing at cornerback 
• Ryder Connors, Junior, 5-9, 165 – competing at cornerback 
• Jake Zarzecki, Senior, 5-9, 165 – competing at cornerback 
• Ryan Gregersen, Senior, 5-9, 170 – projected starter at strong safety 
• Brandon DiPaolo, Senior, 5-9, 165 – part of the rotation at strong safety 
• Vincent Silva, Junior, 5-10, 170 – competing at strong safety 
• Sam Slayton, Junior, 5-10, 175 – competing at strong safety 

Special Teams:  

• Senior Dylan Jones will be the punter and junior Cristiano Ambrosio will be the kicker 
• The return men will be senior Brandon DiPaolo and junior Ryder Connors

Schedule: 

• Friday, 9/6, Somerville at home 
• Friday, 9/13, Carteret 
• Friday, 9/20, at South Plainfield 
• Saturday, 9/28, at Summit 
• Friday, 10/4, at Rahway 
• Friday, 10/11, at Scotch Plains-Fanwood 
• Friday, 10/18, Colonia at home 
• Friday, 10/25, Hillside at home 

Concerns: 

• Rebound from the first losing season in a while; is it an aberration or trend? 

Recruiting: 

• Hoeffler and Petgrave have 1-AA interest 
• Scotti has 1-AA interest 
• Hrycak has interest from the Ivy and Patriot League, along with high-academic D3 schools
• Aloi, Jones, and Fiorenza will play somewhere in college 
• The underclassmen will be determined in time

Coach’s Comments: 

“ We’re excited about the prospect of getting out there and winning again, to get the taste of losing out of our mouths. We lost our last three games and want to start winning again and playing a championship level of football.” – Head Coach Erik Rosenmeier