Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers

August 2, 2025 

2024: 

• 4-7 
• Lost to Union City in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 5 semifinals and beat Irvington in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Piscataway, Hunterdon Central, and Elizabeth 
• Losses were to Morris Knolls, Phillipsburg, Ridge, Notre Dame, Hillsborough, and Westfield 
• Scored 269 points for a 24.45 average 
• Allowed 428 points for a 38.91 average  

Graduation: 

• WR Jordan Johnson – Hobart (NY) 
• WR/DB Dylan Tierney – Springfield College (MASS) 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 6  

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback: 

• Declan Kurdyla, Senior, 6-4, 190 – returning starter; passed for 1,795 yards and 20 touchdowns, while rushing for 379 yards and 3 touchdowns 

Running Back:

• Denzel Amoafo, Senior, 5-10, 180 – returning starter; rushed for 530 yards and 5 touchdowns 
• Jahmier Black, Junior, 5-10, 180 – will see action; Immaculata transfer, where he rushed for 511 yards and 7 touchdowns 
• Jonathan Okolo, Junior, 5-9, 180 – provides depth 

Wide Receiver: 

• Mikey Bratus, Senior, 5-9, 170 – returning starter; 28 receptions for 347 yards and 4 touchdowns 
• Joey Confalone, Senior, 5-9, 170 – projected starter who saw action 
• James Locrotondo, Junior, 5-7, 165 – projected starter who saw action and started on defense 
• DJ Krizan, Junior, 5-10, 155 – part of the rotation 
• Evan Woodring, Junior, 6-0, 170 – part of the rotation and is also the backup quarterback; started on defense  

Tight End: 

• Connor O’Hare, Senior, 6-0, 200 – competing 
• Anthony Lorino, Junior, 5-10, 190 – competing 

Offensive Line: 

• Justin Simpson, Senior, 6-2, 315 – 3-year starter at left tackle 
• Joseph Day, Sophomore, 6-3, 300 – projected starter at left guard 
• Matt Pizzelanti, Senior, 6-3, 290 – returning starter at center 
• Steve Pikulin, Senior, 5-8, 220 – returning starter at right guard 
• Christian Antunes, Senior, 6-3, 225 – projected starter at right tackle; started on defense 

Defense: 

• Formation: 4-3 
• Returning Starters: 7 

Defensive Line: 

• Jamelle Jones, Junior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter at end 
• Miles Tofte, Senior, 6-0, 185 – returning starter at end who is competing 
• Jonathan Okolo, Junior, 5-9, 180 – competing at the end 
• Christian Antunes, Sebuir, 6-3, 225 – returning starter at tackle 
• Steve Pikulin, Sebuir, 5-8, 220 – returning starter at tackle 
• Jake Markovitch, Junior, 5-8, 160 – part of the tackle rotation 
• Justin Simpson, Senior, 6-2, 315 – part of the tackle rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Jahmier Black, Junior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter on the outside; Immaculata transfer 
• Connor O’Hare, Senior, 6-0, 200 – competing at the other outside linebacker 
• Jack Cifuentes, Senior, 6-2, 180 – competing at the other outside linebacker 
• Nick Crovelli, Junior, 5-8, 150 – competing at the other outside linebacker 
• Anthony Lorino, Junior, 5-10, 190 – competing in the middle 
• Joey Confalone, Senior, 5-9, 170 – competing in the middle 
• Jack Madsen, Junior, 6-0, 170 – competing in the middle 

Secondary: 

• Denzel Amoafo, Senior, 5-10, 180 – returning starter at cornerback 
• James Locrotondo, Junior, 5-7, 165 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Mikey Bratus, Senior, 5-9, 170 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Will Higgins, Senior, 5-11, 170 – competing at cornerback 
• Evan Woodring, Junior, 6-0, 170 – returning starter at safety 
• DJ Krizan, Junior, 5-10, 155 – projected starter at safety; started two games 
• Nick Stark, Senior, 5-10, 150 – part of the safety rotation 
• Jack Winne, Sophomore, 5-10, 160 – part of the safety rotation 
• Jasper Schwamberger, Junior, 5-8, 145 – part of the safety rotation 

Special Teams:

• Senior Joe Squicciarini returns as both the kicker and punter 
• The return game is open 
• Senior Gavin Zeiman returns as the long snapper 

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

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/29, Notre Dame at home 
• Friday, 9/5, Piscataway at home 
• Friday, 9/12, Morris Knolls at home 
• Friday, 9/19, Hunterdon Central at home 
• Friday, 9/26, at Ridge 
• Friday, 10/3, Elizabeth at home 
• Friday, 10/10, at Hillsborough 
• Friday, 10/17, Westfield at home 
• Friday, 10/24, at Phillipsburg 

Concerns:  

• Staying healthy 

Recruiting: 

• Simpson gave a verbal commitment to Bucknell 
• Kurdyla gave a verbal commitment to Rutgers to play lacrosse 
• Bratus gave a verbal commitment to NJIT for lacrosse 
• Cifuentes gave a verbal commitment to Air Force for lacrosse 
• Amoafo and Squicciarini have interest from high-academic 1-AA to D3 schools 
• Pizzelanti has an offer from Middlebury and interest from high-academic D3 schools 
• Antunes will play somewhere 
• Pikulin has interest from high-academic D3 schools 
• Zeiman has an offer from Pace 
• Underclassmen: 
• Black is one to watch 
• Others need to prove themselves 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We are excited about the season and optimistic. This senior class was in their freshman year when I arrived on the staff here. They have put in the time, and it is time for fruition.” Head Coach DJ Catalano