Pompton Lakes Cardinals 

July 24, 2026

2025: 

• 3-6 
• Lost to Hopatcong in the consolation round 
• Wins came against North Arlington, Manchester, and Elmwood Park 
• Losses were to Rutherford, Glen Rock. Waldwick/Midland Park, Hawthorne, and Cresskill/Emerson 
• Scored 166 points for an 18.44 average 
• Allowed 182 points for a 20.22 average 

Graduation: 

• OL/DL Justin Aungst – King’s College (Pa.) 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Matt LaCroix, Sophomore, 6-1, 190 – projected starter; started the last game and threw for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns 
• Mason Morano, Freshman, 5-9, 140 – provides depth 

Running Back:  

• Christian Murcia, Senior, 5-9, 180 – projected starter; saw action and started on defense 
• Jace Knoll, Senior, 5-11, 160 – will spell Murcia 
• Joey Laccitello, Sophomore, 5-6, 145 – provides depth 

Wide Receiver: 

• Mason Garris, Senior, 5-9, 140 – 3-year starter; 13 receptions for 122 yards 
• Freddie Post, Senior, 5-11, 170 – returning starter 
• Sean Daly, Junior, 5-8, 160 – projected starter; started some games late in the year 
• Jonah Carbon, Senior, 5-10, 165 – projected starter; baseball player who is in his first year 
• Brady Morano, Junior, 6-0, 150 – part of the rotation 

H-Back (situational): 

• Michael Epstein, Sophomore, 6-0, 180 – will see action 

Offensive Line: 

• Joey Alloy, Senior, 5-10, 195 – 3-year starter at center 
• Ahmad BazBaz, Senior, 5-8, 215 – returning starter at tackle, moving from guard 
• Erion Murseli, Junior, 6-2, 205 – 3-year starter at tackle 
• Nick Urena, Junior, 6-0, 275 – returning starter at guard 
• Chris Gray, Junior, 5-10, 260 – projected starter at guard 
• Ajdin Reci, Senior, 6-3, 330 – key reserve 
• Joseph Abad, Senior, 6-3, 315 – key reserve 

Defense:  

• Formation: Multiple 4-3 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line:  

• Erion Murseli, Junior, 6-2, 205 – 3-year starter at end 
• Kevin Carlson, Senior, 6-0, 170 – competing at the other end 
• Michael Epstein, Sophomore, 6-0, 180 – competing at the other end 
• Gabe Arequipa, Junior, 6-0, 205 – returning starter at tackle 
• Ahmad BazBaz, Senior, 5-8, 215 – competing at the other tackle 
• Chris Gray, Junior, 5-10, 260 – competing at the other tackle 

Linebacker:  

• Joey Alloy, Senior, 5-10, 195 – returning starter in the middle 
• Christian Murcia, Senior, 5-9, 180 – returning starter on the weak side 
• Jace Knoll, Senior, 5-11, 160 – competing on the strong side 
• Joey Laccitello, Sophomore, 5-6, 145 – competing on the strong side 

Secondary: 

• Mason Garris, Senior, 5-9, 140 – 3-year starter at cornerback 
• Jonah Carbon, Senior, 5-10, 165 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Freddie Post, Senior, 5-11, 170 – returning starter at strong safety 
• Sean Daly, Junior, 5-8, 160 – projected starter at free safety 
• Brady Morano, Junior, 6-0, 150 – part of the safety rotation 

Special Teams: 

• Junior Erion Murseli will do some of the kicking, and senior Ethaniel Verano will punt 
• Carbon and Garris are the return men 
• Senior Joey Alloy is a 4-year starter at long snapper 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/27, at Lakeland 
• Saturday, 9/5, Manchester at home 
• Saturday, 9/12, Elmwood Park at home 
• Thursday, 9/17, at Rutherford 
• Saturday, 9/26, Glen Rock at home 
• Thursday, 10/1, at Waldwick/Midland Park 
• Friday, 10/9, at Cresskill/Emerson 
• 10/15-17, NJIC crossover 
• 10/22-24, NJIC crossover  

Concerns:  

• Staying healthy 
• Finishing games 

Recruiting: 

• Alloy has interest as a long snapper from Villanova, Lafayette, Bucknell, and Delaware 
• Murcia and Baz Baz have D3 interest, including Montclair State 
• Corbin has baseball interest from Felician, Ramapo, and Seton Hall 
• Underclassmen: 
• Museli, Urena, and Araquipa can play at the next level 

Coach’s Comments:   

“We have experience, with 17 seniors and 14 juniors (59 total). We will have to step up and finish games. We want them to play a home playoff game and feel what it was like when we won championships.” – Head Coach Justin Jones