Old Bridge Knights 

June 6, 2026

2025: 

• 10-2 
• Lost to Washington Township in the Central Jersey Group 5 finals, beat Sayreville in the semifinals, and beat Freehold Township in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Cedar Creek, Colonia, and Hunterdon Central 
• Their other loss was to Piscataway 
• Scored 382 points for a 31.83 average 
• Allowed 195 points for a 16.25 average, including three shutouts 

Graduation: 

• QB Brody Nugent – Monmouth 
• K Michael Firetto – Montclair State 
• DL Noble Herron – FDU (Florham) 
• LB Justin Valinotti – FDU (Florham) 
• DB Jayden Endz – FDU (Florham) 
• DB Xavier Diaz – FDU (Florham) 
• LB Tommy Kasoff – Kean 
• OL Christian Madison – Keystone College (Pa.) 
• WR Mike Chiarella – Brookdale Community College for baseball 
• DL Zach Florio – may wrestle in college 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Power Spread 
• Returning Starters: 8 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Aiden Rios, Junior, 5-10, 180 – returning starter at wide receiver, and is competing here 
• Gavin Flynn, Senior, 6-1, 170 – competing 

Running Back:  

• Chase Rizzo, Senior, 5-10, 180 – returning starter; rushed for 1,262 yards and 20 touchdowns, with 28 receptions for 536 yards and 3 touchdowns 
• Kweku Koomson, Junior, 6-1, 205 – will see action 
• Danny Kosoff, Sophomore, 5-10, 190 – will see action 
• John Raimondi, Junior, 5-9, 215 – may see action as a fullback 

Wide Receiver: 

• Amari Alsbrook, Junior, 6-1, 178 – 3-year starter; 49 receptions for 923 yards and 10 touchdowns 
• Jordan Mercado, Senior, 5-10, 170 – returning starter; 9 receptions for 83 yards  
• Latrell Alexander, Junior, 6-1, 190 – projected starter 
• Calvin James, Senior, 5-10, 165 – projected starter 
• Christian Callahan, Sophomore, 6-3, 180 – will see action 
• Aiden Rios, Junior, 5-10, 180 – returning starter who will play here if he is not playing quarterback 

Tight End (situational): 

• Jaxon Cronin, Junior, 5-11, 230 – returning starter 
• Jeff Kansas, Senior, 6-5, 225 – may play here; Red Bank Catholic transfer 

Offensive Line: 

• Connor Long, Senior, 6-8, 315 – 3-year starter at left tackle 
• Dylan Finkelstein, Senior, 6-3, 330 – projected starter who played half the snaps 
• Dante Pluchino, Junior, 5-9, 245 – returning starter at center 
• Matt Caruso, Junior, 6-2, 240 – returning starter at right guard 
• Preston Luke, Senior, 6-2, 240 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Michael Fisher, Junior, 6-2, 235 – competing and will be the sixth man, who may also play some tight end 

Defense:  

• Formation: 4-2-5 
• Returning Starters: 2 

Defensive Line:  

• Justin Barkaszi, Senior, 6-2, 205 – returning starter at end 
• Latrell Alexander, Junior, 6-1, 190 – competing at the opposite end 
• Jeff Kansas, Senior, 6-5, 225 – competing at the opposite end 
• John Jablonski, Junior, 6-0, 200 – competing at the opposite end 
• Hunter Erickson, Senior, 6-2, 275 – projected starter at tackle 
• Kyle Cunningham, Junior, 6-0, 245 – competing at the other tackle and will play 
• Chase Ford, Junior, 6-5, 240 – competing at the other tackle and will play 

Linebacker:  

• Griffin Nugent, senior, 5-9, 175 – projected starter on the outside 
• Konrad Lewocha, Senior, 5-9, 205 – projected starter on the outside 
• Chris Ventarola, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – may be part of the outside rotation 
• Arain Mezera, Junior, 6-1, 200 – may be part of the outside rotation 
• Thomas Boyhan, Senior, 5-11, 180 – competing on the inside 
• Jaxon Cronin, Junior, 5-11, 230 – competing on the inside 
• John Raimondi, Junior, 5-9, 215 – competing on the inside 

Secondary: 

• Luke Mercil, Senior, 5-8, 170 – projected starter at safety or cornerback; saw quality time at cornerback  
• Carl Nila, Junior, 6-0, 180 – competing at safety 
• Justin Burch, Junior, 5-11, 170 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Prince Asomaning, Junior, 5-10, 165 – competing at the opposite corner 
• Chris Ventarola, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – competing at the opposite corner
• Jordan Mercado, Senior, 5-10, 170 – competing at the opposite corner

Special Teams: 

• Competing at kicker and punter are senior Tomas Santos and junior Arain Mezera 
• Junior Jayson Benford will be the long snapper 
• Alsworth, Rizzo, and Mercado are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/28, Shawnee at Ocean City in the Battle of the Beach 
• Friday, 9/4, at Montgomery 
• Friday, 9/11, at South Brunswick 
• Friday, 9/18, St. Thomas Aquinas at home 
• Friday, 9/25, Piscataway at home 
• Friday, 10/2, at Sayreville 
• Friday, 10/9, at Monroe 
• Friday, 10/16, East Brunswick at home 
• Friday, 10/23, Ridge at home 

Concerns:  

• They have talent, but the defense needs to gain starting experience

Recruiting: 

• Long verballed to Syracuse 
• Barkaszi ranges from 1-AA to D3 
• Mercado has D3 interest 
• Others may play D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Alsbrook has interest from Syracuse, UConn, Fordham, Monmouth, and Villanova 
• Others are D3 types who may move up a level or two 

Coach’s Comments:   

“We are excited to get going this summer and into the fall. We have a taste of what it is like to make the finals. The loss stung, and the players have hit the weight room hard; this is the strongest team I have had. There is a lot of competition, and we want to get back and win a championship.” – Head Coach Matt Donaghue