Northern Highlands Highlanders

July 13, 2026

2025: 

• 8-3 
• Lost to Ramapo in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 4 finals, beat Mount Olive in the semifinals, and Morris Knolls in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Holy Spirit, Wayne Valley, Union City, and Ridgewood  
• Losses were to Ramapo and Old Tappan 
• Scored 285 points for a 25.91 average 
• Allowed 158 points for a 14.36 average 

Graduation: 

• RB/DB Chase Calarco – Cornell 
• LS Owen Stecker – Army 
• LB Dylan DeNobile – Bentley (Mass) 
• LB Jack Venn – Denison (Oh.) 
• QB Jack O’Callaghan – Bates (Me.) for lacrosse 
• WR/DB Ethan Suh – SUNY Binghamton for lacrosse 
• TE Zack Blacher – King’s College (Pa.) for basketball 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Justin Kolakowski, Senior, 5-10, 180 – competing 
• Cole Vinci, Sophomore, 5-10, 180 – competing 
• Jack Branagh, Sophomore, 6-2, 200 – competing 

Running Back:  

• Tucker Kanning, Senior, 6-1, 190 – returning co-starter; will have role to himself; rushed for 1,171 yards and 9 touchdowns 

Wide Receiver: 

• Doyle Flatt, Senior, 5-9, 180 – returning starter; 18 receptions for 249 yards and 4 touchdowns 
• Max Foster, Senior, 5-11, 180 – projected starter 
• EJ Jens, Senior, 6-1, 170 – competing 
• Brody Sacks, Junior, 6-2, 175 – competing 
• Noah Stecker, Junior, 5-11, 160 – competing 

Tight End: 

• Joss Granas, Senior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter 

Offensive Line: 

• Carter Blattner, Senior, 6-5, 250 – 3-year starter at left tackle 
• Jack Woods, Senior, 6-4, 260 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Dylan Kohler, Junior, 6-4, 230 – returning starter at right guard 
• Ian Esterbrook, Senior, 6-0, 220 – competing at left guard and center 
• Dylan Strauss, Senior, 6-1, 230 – competing at left guard and center 
• Zach Rathbun, Senior, 6-0, 230 – competing at left guard and center; started on defense  
• Noah Castaneda, Junior, 5-10, 210 – competing at left guard and center 

Defense:  

• Formation: Multiple 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 4  

Defensive Line:  

• Harris Milston, Senior, 6-0, 230 – returning starter at end 
• Carter Blattner, Senior, 6-5, 250 – returning starter at end 
• Ian Park, Junior, 6-2, 220 – competing at nose guard 
• Zach Rathbun, Senior, 6-0, 230 – returning starter at nose guard who may rotate if he starts on offense 
• Jack Woods, Senior, 6-4, 260 – part of the nose guard rotation 
• Dylan Kohler, Junior, 6-4, 230 – part of the nose guard rotation 

Linebacker:  

• Doyle Flatt, Senior, 5-9, 180 – projected starter on the inside who saw action 
• Jimmy Tarleton, Junior, 5-10, 185 – projected starter on the inside 
• Joss Granas, Senior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter on the outside 
• Hudson Wall, Junior, 5-11, 190 – competing on the outside 

Secondary: 

• Tucker Kanning, Senior, 6-1, 190 – returning starter at safety 
• Max Foster, Senior, 5-11, 180 – competing at the other safety 
• Michael Strandes, Junior, 5-9, 170 – competing at the other safety 
• Carter Paquin, Senior, 5-10, 180 – competing at cornerback 
• Devin Alex, Junior, 5-11, 180 – competing at cornerback 
• Joe Castelano, Junior, 5-9, 165 – competing at cornerback 
• Nick Strandes, Junior, 5-9, 170 – competing at cornerback 

Special Teams: 

• The kicker and punter have junior Chayce Goudallier, senior Alec Putrino, and junior Mateo Michelis competing 
• The return game has not been decided 
• Long snapper has junior Harry Ritchley and senior Dylan Strauss competing 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/28, Toms River North at home 
• Friday, 9/4, at Wayne Hills 
• Thursday, 9/10, at Hackensack 
• Friday, 9/18, Wayne Valley at home 
• Friday, 9/25, at Ridgewood 
• Friday, 10/2, at Ramapo 
• 10/9-10, Bye Week 
• Friday, 10/16, Old Tappan at home 
• Friday, 10/23, Pascack Valley at home 

Concerns:  

• Replacing departed seniors 
• Staying healthy 

Recruiting: 

• Blattner gave a verbal commitment to Penn State 
• Kanning gave a verbal commitment to Army 
• Woods gave a verbal commitment to Bucknell 
• Flatt has D3 interest, including NESCAC schools and Union College 
• Others have a chance to play D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Kohler is a 1AA prospect 
• Others need more film 

Coach’s Comments:   

“We have a lot of work to do. There is experience on our lines. We’re working hard, getting better every day. We have 6-8 weeks before the product is on the field, and we will continue to improve.” – Head Coach Dave Cord