Somerville Pioneers

July 30, 2025

2024: 

• 12-1 
• Lost to Winslow in the South Jersey Group 3 Regional Finals 
• Won the Central Jersey Group 3 Sectional Championship by beating Delsea in the finals, Ocean City in the semifinals, and Absegami in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Hillsborough, Cranford, Rahway, Hillside, Summit, Plainfield, and Watchung Hills 
• Scored 450 points for a 34.62 average 
• Allowed 2134 points for a 10.31 average 

Graduation: 

• RB Terrell Mitchell – Rutgers 
• DE Jayden Loftin – Tennessee 
• WR Josh Rodriguez – Old Dominion 
• WR/DB Brady Scheier – Hun School as a post-grad, followed by Princeton 
• OL Jonathan LoStocco – Kutztown (PA) 
• LB Max Nuzzi – Muhlenberg (PA) 
• OL/LB Sean O’Neill – Mass Maritime (MASS) 
• DB Zahid Lee-Jackson – Monroe College (NY JUCO) 
• DL Matt Chubenko – Susquehanna (PA) for lacrosse 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 1  

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback: 

• Dylan Boehm, Freshman, 5-10, 170 – projected starter 
• Griffin Kaye, Senior, 5-10, 160 – competing 

Running Back:

• Justin Bowen, Junior, 6-0, 180 – projected starter; saw action and started on defense 
• Dante Manochio, Junior, 5-10, 160 – will spell Bowen 
• Austin Rynearson, Senior, 5-9, 160 – will spell Bowen 

Wide Receiver: 

• Aidan Vesuvio-Bush, Senior, 5-11, 160 – projected starter who started on defense 
• Dario Lozano, Senior, 5-10, 170 – projected starter 
• Troy Hampton, Senior, 6-1, 160 – competing 
• James Hampton, Sophomore, 5-10, 160 – competing 
• Dushawn Dorsey, Sophomore, 5-9, 150 – competing 
• Zak Lindia, Senior, 5-10, 160 – competing 

Tight End: 

• Shyheim Hobbs-Harris, Junior, 6-1, 200 – competing 
• Michael Murphy, Sophomore, 5-11, 190 – competing 

Offensive Line: 

• Ceanan Zlapkov, Senior, 6-0, 220 – projected starter at tackle who started two games 
• Kieran McKenna, Senior, 6-1, 230 – projected starter at tackle 
• Sam Muse, Senior, 5-11, 185 – returning starter at guard 
• Elijah Jagroop, Junior, 6-0, 230 – competing at guard 
• Tommy Zaninelli, Senior, 6-0, 220 – competing at guard 
• Connor McCormick, Senior, 5-11, 195 – competing at center 
• Ryan Kappmeier, Junior, 5-10, 200 – competing at center 
• Nate Gottlieb, Sophomore, 6-1, 180 – competing at center 
• Tyler Van Doren, Junior, 6-0, 180 – competing at tackle 
• Anthony Triolo, Junior, 6-4, 210 – competing at tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 3 

Defensive Line: 

• Nikhai Smith, Junior, 6-0, 220 – projected  starter at end 
• Kieran McKenna, Senior, 6-1, 230 – competing at the opposite end 
• Tommy Zaninelli, Senior, 6-0, 220 – competing at the opposite end 
• Ceanan Zlapkov, Senior, 6-0, 220 – competing at the opposite end 
• Elijah Jagroop, Junior, 6-0, 230 – competing at nose guard 
• Ryan Kappmeier, Junior, 5-10, 200 – competing at nose guard 
• Donald Freitas, Senior, 6-0, 190 – competing at nose guard   

Linebacker: 

• Sam Muse, Senior, 5-11, 185 – returning starter on the inside 
• Dario Lozano, Senior, 5-10, 170 – competing at the other inside post 
• Shyheim Hobbs-Harris, Junior, 6-1, 200 – competing at the other inside post 
• Z’kye Knowles, Senior, 5-10, 170 – competing at the other inside post 
• Justin Bowen, Junior, 6-0, 180 – returning starter on the outside 
• Alijah Boyce, Senior, 5-10, 165 – projected starter on the outside 
• Dante Manochio, Junior, 5-10, 160 – provides depth on the inside 
• Michael Murphy, Sophomore, 5-11, 190 – provides depth on the inside 
• Nate Gottlieb, Sophomore, 6-1, 180 – provides depth on the inside 

Secondary: 

• Aidan Vesuvio-Bush, Senior, 5-11, 160 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Troy Hampton, Senior, 6-1, 160 – competing at cornerback 
• James Hampton, Sophomore, 5-10, 160 – competing at cornerback 
• Evan Beaugris, Senior, 5-11, 175 – competing at cornerback 
• Griffin Kaye, Senior, 5-10, 160 – projected starter at safety, and he played often 
• Dushawn Dorsey, Sophomore, 5-9, 150 – projected starter at safety 
• Xavier Senior, Junior, 6-3, 170 – competing at cornerback 

Special Teams:

• Senior Evan Beaugris and junior Jackson Przybylski are competing at kicker, while punter is undecided 
• Vesuvio-Bush, Dorsey, and James Hampton are the return men 

*Offense, defense, and special teams positions are subject to change 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/29, at Schalick 
• Friday, 9/5, Cranford at home 
• Friday, 9/12, Montgomery at home 
• Saturday, 9/20, at Rahway 
• Friday, 9/26, Hillside at home 
• Saturday, 10/4, at Summit 
• Friday, 10/10, at North Hunterdon 
• Friday, 10/17, at Plainfield 
• Friday, 10/24, at Watchung Hills 

Concerns:  

• Inexperience: Can they step up and be varsity football players? 

Recruiting: 

• Vesuvio-Bush has the attention of the Patriot League and other high-academic schools 
• The rest of the seniors could be D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Bowen and Hobbs-Harris are the top juniors 
• Dorsey and James Hampton are the top sophomores 
• Boehm is a freshman who should have a big career 

Coach’s Comments: 

“The team has been working hard. It will come down to whether they can take the next step and prove they belong on the field.” – Head Coach Matt Bloom