Butler Bulldogs 

June 20, 2026 

2025: 

• 11-1 
• Lost to Cedar Grove in the North Jersey regional final 
• Won the North Jersey Section 1 Group 1 championship by beating Kinnelon in the final, New Milford in the semifinals, and Hawthorne in the quarterfinals 
• Wins came against Hasbrouck Heights, Becton, New Milford, and Rutherford 
• Scored 416 points for a 35.5 average 
• Allowed 165 points for a 13.75 average  

Graduation: 

• WR/DB Nick Parkinson – Susquehanna (Pa.) 
• OL/DL Cole Benicasa – Rowan 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Evan Croker, Senior, 6-3, 185 – 3-year starter, moving from wide receiver; 31 receptions for 448 yards and 4 touchdowns 
• Chris Costa, Junior, 5-11, 165 – provides depth 

Running Back:  

• AJ Kilmat, Senior, 5-8, 190 – competing; started on defense 
• Alex Lopez, Sophomore, 5-9, 165 – competing 
• Ethan Diaz, Junior, 5-10, 185 – competing; DePaul transfer 

Wide Receiver: 

• Will Jones, Senior, 5-8, 155 – returning starter at slot receiver 
• Steven Spadaro, Senior, 6-0, 175 – competing 
• Cameron Baylor, Senior, 6-1, 165 – competing 
• Giancarlo Batista, Senior, 5-8, 140 – competing 
• Evan Griffith, Junior, 5-10, 165 – competing 

Tight End: 

• Ryder Higbie, Senior, 6-1, 225 – returning starter 
• Skyler Cavallo, Senior, 5-10, 160 – provides depth and can play in two-tight end situations 

Offensive Line: 

• Tom Henehan, Senior, 6-2, 235 – 3-year starter at right guard 
• Cristian Franco, Junior, 6-2, 235 – returning starter at left guard 
• Jasin Cira, Junior, 6-1, 210 – competing at tackle and center 
• Amin Cira, Junior, 6-1, 210 – competing at tackle and center 
• Francois Reyes, Senior, 5-11, 225 – competing at tackle and center 
• Dimitri Bozarov, Junior, 6-0, 225 – competing at tackle and center 
• John Kozak, Junior, 6-3, 235 – competing at tackle and center 
• Ryan Batista, Junior, 5-7, 185 – competing at tackle and center 

Defense:  

• Formation: 4-3 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Defensive Line:  

• Ryder Higbie, Senior, 6-1, 225 – returning starter at end 
• Cristian Franco, Junior, 6-2, 235 – competing at the opposite end 
• Jake Welsh, Sophomore, 6-4, 200 – competing at the opposite end 
• Tom Henehan, Senior, 6-2, 235 – 3-year starter at tackle 
• One of the offensive linemen will start here 

Linebacker:  

• Evan Croker, Senior, 6-3, 185 – returning starter on the outside 
• AJ Kilmat, Senior, 5-8, 190 – returning starter in the middle 
• Ethan Diaz, Junior, 5-10, 185 – competing on the outside 
• Alex Lopez, Sophomore, 5-9, 165 – competing on the outside 

Secondary: 

• Will Jones, Senior, 5-8, 155 – returning starter at safety 
• The listed wide receivers and Skyler Cavallo are competing at cornerback, and the other safety 

Special Teams: 

• Junior Jason Hernandez will be the kicker, and senior Ryder Higbie will be the punter 
• Senior Steven Spadaro will be the long snapper 
• The return game is undecided 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/27, Saddle Brook at home 
• Thursday, 9/3, at Secaucus 
• Friday, 9/11, New Milford at home 
• Friday, 9/18, North Arlington at home 
• Friday, 9/25, at Hawthorne 
• Friday, 10/2, at Hasbrouck Heights 
• 10/9-10, Bye Week 
• 10/16-17, NJIC crossover 
• 10/23-24, NJIC crossover 

Concerns:  

• New quarterback, moving over from wide receiver 
• New running back, three new offensive linemen, and three new players in the secondary 

Recruiting: 

• Henehan, as a defensive lineman, and Croker, as a wide receiver, are D2/D3 prospects 
• Other seniors might play D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Higbie and Diaz are juniors who will play somewhere 
• Franco can also play somewhere, but may play basketball 
• Ryan Batista could play somewhere 

Coach’s Comments:   

“We play in a tough division that we have won the last two years, and we have a target on our backs. We will get our opponents’ best shot, but we have the potential to be a good team.” – Head Coach Jason Luciani