High Point Wildcats
August 9, 2025
2024:
- 9-2
- Lost to Glen Rock in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 2 semifinals and beat Becton in the quarterfinals
- Wins included Lenape Valley, Vernon, Kittatinny, and Wallkill Valley
- Their other loss was to Newton
- Scored 410 points for a 27.27 average
- Allowed 204 points for an 18.54 average
Graduation:
- C/DL Ryan Jaick – Montclair State
- QB John Elko – Sussex Community College for golf
Offense:
- Formation: Multiple Power Schemes
- Returning Starters: 8
Statistics courtesy of nj.com
Quarterback:
- Joey Elko, Sophomore, 6-0, 160 – competing
- Jerry Empirio, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – competing
Running Back:
- Jerron Martress, Senior, 6-1, 195 – returning starter; rushed for 1,671 yards and 26 touchdowns
- Gio Dureny, Senior, 5-8, 180 – returning starter; rushed for 279 yards and 2 touchdowns
Wide Receiver:
- Slade Muller, Senior, 6-3, 170 – 3-year starter; 16 receptions for 392 yards and 8 touchdowns
- Mark Leach, Junior, 6-3, 155 – returning starter; 18 receptions for 243 yards and 1 touchdown
- Brendon Lehman, Senior, 6-0, 180 – returning starter
- Caden Nardone, Senior, 5-8, 155 – part of the rotation
- Raymond So, Junior, 5-9, 165 – part of the rotation
- Tyler Brarman, Sophomore, 5-8, 155 – part of the rotation
Tight End (situational):
- Landon Sorensen, Junior, 6-0, 185 – will see action
Offensive Line:
- Alex Conway, Junior, 6-0, 220 – returning starter at center
- Conner Hemmer, Senior, 6-4, 250 – returning starter at guard or tackle
- Brandon Kent, Senior, 6-3, 225 – returning starter at guard or tackle
- Kaleb DeFalco, Sophomore, 6-3, 230 – projected starter at guard or tackle
- John McCarthy, Sophomore, 6-1, 220 – competing at guard or tackle
- Thomas Holder, Senior, 6-0, 220 – competing at guard or tackle
- Jack Kithcart, Senior, 6-3, 215 – competing at guard or tackle
- Hayden Hines, Junior, 6-5, 280 – competing at guard or tackle
Defense:
- Formation: 4-3
- Returning Starters: 8
Defensive Line:
- Gio Dureny, Senior, 5-8, 180 – returning starter at end
- AJ Sampson, Junior, 5-10, 220 – projected starter at end
- Ruben Rivera, Senior, 5-10, 250 – returning starter ta tackle
- Conner Hemmer, Senior, 6-4, 250 – frontrunner at tackle
- Alex Conway, Junior, 6-0, 220 – part of the tackle rotation
Linebacker:
- Jerron Martress, Senior, 6-1, 195 – 3-year starter in the middle
- Jayden Ruplall, Senior, 5-10, 180 – returning starter on the outside
- Jacob Woods, Senior, 5-9, 160 – returning starter on the outside
- Landon Sorensen, Junior, 6-0, 185 – part of the rotation
Secondary:
- Brendon Lehman, Senior, 6-0, 180 – returning starter at safety
- Slade Muller, Senior, 6-3, 170 – returning starter at safety
- Raymond So, Junior, 5-9, 165 – part of the safety rotation
- Mark Leach, Junior, 6-3, 155 – projected starter at cornerback
- Caden Nardone, Senior, 5-8, 155 – returning starter at cornerback and competing
- Colton Hornyak, Junior, 5-11, 155 – competing at cornerback
- Tyler Brarman, Sophomore, 5-8, 155 – part of the cornerback rotation
Special Teams:
- Senior Jacob Woods is a 4-year starter as the kicker, and senior Slade Muller is a 3-year starter as the punter
- Dureny and Lehman are the return men
*Offense, defense, and special teams positions are subject to change
Schedule:
- Saturday, 8/20, at Jefferson
- Friday, 9/5, at Hackettstown
- Friday, 9/12, Kittatinny at home
- Friday, 9/19, Parsippany at home
- Friday, 9/26, at Newton
- Friday, 10/3, at Vernon
- Friday, 10/10, Lenape Valley at home
- Friday, 10/17, Sussex Tech at home
- Friday, 10/24, at Whippany Park
Concerns:
- Replacing the quarterback and some of the offensive line
- Staying healthy
Recruiting:
- Martress has interest from Springfield College
- Others are undecided
- The underclassmen are unproven
Coach’s Comments:
“We will be competitive. The senior leadership has been good, with 18 of them. We want to compete for the division title, which we split with Newton last year. We want to get to the states and see where we go.” – Head Coach Bill Percey