Old Tappan Golden Knights

August 21, 2025 

2024: 

• 12-1 
• Won the New Jersey Group 3 Championship by beating Mainland 
• Won the North Jersey Group 3 Regional Championship by beating Pascack Valley 
• Won the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 Sectional Championship by beating West Essex in the finals, Cranford in the semifinals, and Weequahic in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Northern Highlands, West Essex, Ramapo, River Dell, and Wayne Hills 
• Their lone loss was to Pascack Valley 
• Scored 421 points for a 32.38 average 
• Allowed 142 points for a 10.92 average, including three shutouts 

Graduation: 

• WR/DB Alex Orecchio – Johns Hopkins (ND) 
• RB/LB Nick Rossi – RPI (NY) 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 7  

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback: 

• Zach Miceli, Junior, 6-1, 175 – returning starter; passed for 2,269 yards and 19 touchdowns-to-4 interceptions, while rushing for 383 yards and 4 touchdowns 
• Vincent Rossi, Sophomore, 5-10, 180 – provides depth 

Running Back:

• Devyn Radoian Senior, 5-10, 170 – projected starter who started on defense; rushed for 259 yards and 2 touchdowns on 29 carries 
• Damion Du Toit, Senior, 5-9, 165 – will spell Radoian 
• Julius Lai, Junior, 5-7, 150 – will spell Radoian 

Wide Receiver: 

• Joey Crescitelli, Senior, 5-9, 165 – returning starter; 25 receptions for 324 yards and 2 touchdowns 
• Aidan Nally, Senior, 5-10, 165 – returning starter 
• Leo Etter, Junior, 5-10, 155 – projected starter who started late in the season 
• Christakis Nicolaou, Junior, 5-9, 170 – part of the rotation  

Tight End/Fullback: 

• Shane Small, Junior, 6-4, 215 – returning starter; 14 receptions for 296 yards and 6 touchdowns 
• Nick Blanchard, Junior, 5-10, 190 – will see action; started on defense 
• John Bilali, Senior, 6-2, 190 – will see action 

Offensive Line: 

• Kadan Pemberton, Junior, 6-2, 195 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Dylan Park, Junior, 6-0, 200 – projected starter at left guard 
• Joe Puccio, Senior, 5-10, 205 – returning starter at center 
• Ryan Miceli, Senior, 6-1, 205 – returning starter at right guard 
• Ekin Yucel, Senior, 6-2, 225 – projected starter at right tackle 
• Josh Lezama, Senior, 5-10, 200 – provides depth at guard 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-3 Stack 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line: 

• Shane Small, Junior, 6-4, 215 – returning starter at end 
• Ryan Miceli, Senior, 6-1, 205 – returning starter at end 
• Kadan Pemberton, Junior, 6-2, 195 – part of the end rotation 
• Ekin Yucel, Senior, 6-2, 225 – projected co-starter at nose guard 
• Joe Puccio, Senior, 5-10, 205 – projected co-starter at nose guard 

Linebacker: 

• Nick Blanchard, Junior, 5-10, 190 – returning starter on the inside 
• Devyn Radoian, Senior, 5-10, 170 – returning starter on the inside 
• John Bilali, Senior, 6-2, 190 – competing at the third inside post 
• Rocco Bartolomeo, Junior, 5-10, 185 – competing at the third inside post 
• Zach Miller, Senior, 5-10, 180 – competing at the third inside post 
• Damion Du Toit, Senior, 5-9, 165 – projected starter on the outside 
• Anthony Miceli, Senior, 6-2, 160 – projected starter on the outside 
• Dylan Park, Junior, 6-0, 200 – part of the outside rotation 

Secondary: 

• Christakis Nicolaou, Junior, 5-9, 170 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Aidan Nally, Senior, 5-10, 165 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Leo Etter, Junior, 5-10, 155 – projected starter at free safety 
• Marco D’Amore, Senior, 6-1, 165 – part of the safety rotation 

Special Teams:

• The kicker and punter are undecided 
• Senior Anthony Miceli is the long snapper 
• Etter, Crescitelli, Nicolaou, and Radoian are the return men 

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

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/29, at West Essex 
• Friday, 9/5, River Dell at home 
• Saturday, 9/13, at Bergenfield 
• Friday, 9/19, Ramapo at home 
• Friday, 9/26, at Paramus 
• Friday, 10/3, at Northern Highlands 
• 10/10-11, Bye Week 
• Friday, 10/17, Wayne Hills at home 
• Friday, 10/24, Pascack Valley at home 

Concerns:  

• Overall size and the ability to overcome it 

Recruiting: 

• Most seniors are D3 prospects
• Underclassmen: 
• Small, Micelli, Etter, and Nicolau will play somewhere 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We have a fair amount of experience, and there will be expanded roles for them. The guys we lost were marquee. We have to be prepared for the tough teams on our schedule.” – Head Coach Brian Dunn