Northern Highlands Highlanders 

August 2, 2025

2024: 

• 6-5 
• Lost to Phillipsburg in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 finals, beat Woodbridge in the semifinals, and beat Westfield in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Pascack Valley, Wayne Valley, Ridgewood, and Hackensack 
• Losses were to Old Tappan, Union City, Ramapo, and Washington Township 
• Scored 222 points for a 20.18 average 
• Allowed 147 points for a 13.36 average   

Graduation: 

• RB/DB Matt Boydell – Dartmouth 
• DE Jesse DeNobile – Bryant (RI) 
• QB Nate Johnson – Tufts (MASS) 
• WR Shane Hanlon – Trinity (CT) 
• TE AdenReyes – TCNJ (College of New Jersey) 
• LB Mike Pembroke – Franklin & Marshall (PA) 
• K Peter Vafiadis – Bentley (MASS) 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback: 

• Jack O’Callaghan, Senior, 6-3, 190 – projected starter who started the last seven games when the starter was injured; passed for 964 yards and 4 touchdowns 

Running Back:

• Chase Calarco, Senior, 5-11, 205 – 3-year co-starter; rushed for 770 yards and 11 touchdowns 
• Tucker Kanning, Junior, 6-2, 190 – projected co-starter 
• RJ McCleary, Senior, 5-10, 180 – will have some carries 

Wide Receiver: 

• Drew Vandersnow, Senior, 6-3, 180 – projected starter; began each of the last two years as a starter and tore the ACL in one knee two years ago, and did the same to his other knee last year, and had 8 receptions for 144 yards and 1 touchdown in 2024  
• Chase DeLuise, Senior, 6-2, 180 – returning starter; 10 receptions for 116 yards and 1 touchdown 
• Doyle Flatt, Junior, 5-9, 170 – competing 
• Ethan Suh, Senior, 5-10, 190 – competing  

Tight End: 

• Zack Blacher, Senior, 6-0, 200 – competing
• Owen Stecker, Senior, 5-11, 200 – competing; started on defense 
• Dylan DeNobile, Senior, 6-0, 200 – competing; started on defense  

Offensive Line: 

• Carter Blattner, Junior, 6-5, 250 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Liam Soares, Senior, 6-0, 210 – returning starter at left guard 
• Andrew Giordano, Senior, 6-0, 220 – returning starter at center 
• Jack Woods, Junior, 6-4, 240 – competing at right guard; Bergen Catholic transfer 
• Jack Stiegler, Senior, 6-0, 210 – competing at right guard 
• Tyler Baelis, Senior, 6-0, 220 – competing at right guard 
• Dylan Strauss, Junior, 6-1, 240 – competing at right tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: Multiple 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line: 

• Zach Rathburn, Junior, 6-0, 240 – projected starter at nose guard 
• Harris Milston, Junior, 6-0, 220 – provides depth at nose guard 
• Carter Blattner, Junior, 6-5, 250 – returning starter at end 
• Tyler Baelis, Senior, 6-0, 220 – part of the rotation at the opposite end 
• Jack Woods, Junior, 6-4, 240 – part of the rotation at the opposite end 
• Jack Stiegler, Senior, 6-0, 210 – part of the rotation at the opposite end 
• Dylan Strauss, Junior, 6-1, 240 – part of the rotation at the opposite end 

Linebacker: 

• Liam Soares, Senior, 6-0, 210 – returning starter on the inside 
• Jack Venn, Senior, 6-1, 220 – returning starter on the inside 
• Christian Raymond, Senior, 5-10, 200 – part of the inside rotation 
• Dylan DeNobile, Senior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter on the outside 
• Owen Stecker, Senior, 5-11, 200 – returning starter on the outside 
• Zack Blacher, Senior, 6-0, 200 – part of the outside rotation 
• Joss Granas, Junior, 5-10, 180 – part of the outside rotation 

Secondary: 

• Chase Calarco, Senior, 5-11, 205 – 3-year starter at safety 
• Chase DeLuise, Senior, 6-2, 180 – will rotate at the other safety 
• Tucker Kanning, Junior, 6-2, 190 – will rotate at the other safety 
• Sebastian Subrani, Senior, 5-11, 180 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Thomas Rhatigan, Senior, 5-9, 170 – competing at the opposite corner 
• Ethan Suh, Senior, 5-10, 190 – competing at the opposite corner 
• Jonathan Cassell, Senior, 6-0, 160 – competing at the opposite corner 

Special Teams:

• Senior Giannis Nissirios is the projected kicker, and junior Tucker Kanning is the projected punter 
• Calarco and Vandersnow, are the return men 

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

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/28, Holy Spirit at Ocean City in the Battle of the Beach 
• Friday, 9/5, at Wayne Valley 
• Friday, 9/12, Hackensack at home 
• Friday, 9/19, at Pascack Valley 
• Friday, 9/26, at Union City 
• Friday, 10/3, Old Tappan at home 
• 10/11-12, Bye Week 
• Friday, 10/17, at Ridgewood 
• Friday, 10/24, Ramapo at home 

Concerns:  

• Replacing the production of Boydell and Johnson 
• Injuries caused many players to start: will they take the next step? 

Recruiting: 

• Calarco gave a verbal commitment to Cornell 
• Stecker gave a verbal commitment to Army as a long snapper 
• DeNobile and Venn are D3 candidates 
• Nissirios will play at a high-academic D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Blattner has offers from Rutgers, Syracuse, Boston College, USC, Wisconsin, and other Power-4 schools 
• Kanning has 1-AA interest and will have more  

Coach’s Comments: 

“The kids have worked extremely hard this offseason. Young guys started due to injury, and we are looking forward to them taking a step forward.” – Head Coach Dave Cord