Newton Braves 

August 13, 2025

2024: 

• 5-4 
• Lost to Hanover Park in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 2 quarterfinals 
• Wins included High Point, Jefferson, and Kittatinny 
• Losses were to Sparta, Mountain Lakes, and Lenape Valley 
• Scored 198 points for a 22.0 average 
• Allowed 158 points for a 17.55 average 

Graduation: 

• None are playing college sports 

Offense: 

• Formation: Wing T
• Returning Starters: 7  

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback: 

• Matt Ellsworth, Senior, 5-10, 175 – 3-year starter; passed for 563 yards and 5 touchdowns

Running Back:

• Nick Kurilko, Senior, 6-1, 190 – returning starter at fullback; rushed for 933 yards and 14 touchdowns, with 15 receptions for 143 yards 
• Evan Cotter, Junior, 5-9, 165 – returning starter; rushed for 570 yards and 4 touchdowns 
• Sean Carson, Senior, 5-9, 165 – competing at the other halfback 
• Jaden Roberts, Senior, 6-0, 190 – competing at the other halfback 
• Braxton Guerra, Junior, 6-0, 180 – competing at the other halfback 

Wide Receiver: 

• Hunter Wolfe, Junior, 5-8, 155 – returning starter; 8 receptions for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns 
• Kayden Phillips, Junior, 5-7, 150 – part of the rotation 
• Juzziah Sheppard, Sophomore, 6-4, 170 – part of the rotation and a Sussex Tech transfer 

Tight End: 

• Ethan Collier, Sophomore, 6-0, 185 – competing 
• Ethan Cooke, Junior, 5-11, 175 – competing 

Offensive Line: 

• Max Faye, Senior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter at left tackle, moving from tight end 
• Ty Morodan, Senior, 5-9, 175 – returning starter at left guard 
• Tim McNamara, Junior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter at center; saw action 
• Joey Melillo, Junior, 5-8, 185 – projected starter at right guard; saw action and started on defense 
• Sean Dietz, Senior, 5-10, 230 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Michael Cooke, Senior, 6-3, 195 – will be the sixth man 

Defense: 

• Formation: 5-2 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Defensive Line: 

• Michael Cooke, Senior, 6-3, 195 – projected starter at end who saw action 
• Ethan Collier, Sophomore, 6-0, 185 – projected starter at end 
• Braxton Guerra, Junior, 6-0, 180 – part of the end rotation 
• Ethan Cooke, Junior, 5-11, 175 – part of the end rotation 
• Max Faye, Senior, 6-0, 200 – 3-year starter at tackle 
• Steven Martinez, Senior, 5-11, 200 – projected starter at tackle 
• Sean Dietz, Senior, 5-10, 230 – part of the tackle rotation  
• Tim McNamara, Junior, 5-10, 180 – part of the tackle rotation 
• Joey Melillo, Junior, 5-8, 185 – returning starter at nose guard 

Linebacker: 

• Nick Kurilko, Senior, 6-1, 190 – 3-year starter 
• Brayden Alpaugh, Sophomore, 6-2, 190 – projected starter 
• Evan Cotter, Junior, 5-9, 165 – will see plenty of action  

Secondary: 

• Hunter Wolfe, Junior, 5-8, 155 – returning starter at safety 
• Matt Ellsworth, Senior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter at safety 
• Caden Armstrong, Senior, 5-9, 180 – part of the safety rotation 
• Kayden Phillips, Junior, 5-7, 150 – competing at cornerback 
• Juzziah Sheppard, Sophomore, 6-4, 170 – competing at cornerback 
• Reid Corino, Sophomore, 5-9, 155 – competing at cornerback 
• Noah Decker, Sophomore, 5-9, 150 – competing at cornerback 

Special Teams:

• Senior Nick Kurilko returns as the punter, and junior Kayden Phillips is the frontrunner as the kicker 
• Cotter. Guerra, Roberts, and Wolfe are the return men 
• Sophomore Jameson Trout is the long snapper 

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

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/28, at Pequannock 
• Friday, 9/5, Sussex Tech at home 
• Friday, 9/12, at Lenape Valley 
• Friday, 9/19, at Sparta 
• Friday, 9/26, High Point at home 
• Friday, 10/3, Jefferson at home 
• Friday, 10/10, at Hackettstown 
• Friday, 10/17, Kittatinny at home 
• Friday, 10/24, at Mountain Lakes 

Concerns:  

• Depth 
• Newer kids getting up to varsity speed 

Recruiting: 

• Kurilko can go anywhere from 1-AA to D3
• Ellsworth can play D3 as a defensive back 
• Underclassmen: 
• Cotter is the top junior 
• Sheppard is the top sophomore 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We are super excited. We have experience back and we are higher on the younger guys. We have a good mix and we will be pretty solid.” – Head Coach Matt Parzero