Hopewell Valley Bulldogs 

July 24, 2026

2025: 

• 7-3
• Lost to Neptune in the Central Jersey Group 3 sectional quarterfinals 
• Wins were: Notre Dame, Seneca, Steinert
• Losses included Montgomery, Burlington Township, and Neptune
• Scored 317 points for 31.7 per game 
• Allowed 175 points for 17.5pts per game 

Graduation: 

• Carther Horvath – Endicott College
• Luke Hemmer – Endicott College
• Jude Berman – Endicott College
• Ryan Tackacs – Lebanon Valley College
• Gehrig Teza – Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 3 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Jeremy English, Junior, 6-4, 180 – competing 
• John Rowe, Junior, 6-4, 195 – competing 

Running Back:  

• Ethan Valenza, Senior, 6-0, 190 – returning starter; rushed for 1,073 yards and 14 touchdowns  
• Preston Horvath, Junior, 5-11, 180 – will spell Valenza; saw action and rushed for 119 yards and 3 touchdowns 

Wide Receiver: 

• Luke Lebson, Senior, 5-11, 185 – projected starter 
• Matt Rich, Senior, 6-1, 170 – projected starter
• Will Flannery, Senior, 5-9, 155 – part of the rotation  
• Jacob Berman, Junior, 6-0, 180 – part of the rotation 
• Anthony Rinaldi, Junior, 5-7, 145 – part of the rotation  

H-Back/Tight End: 

• Will Everett, Senior, 6-0, 190 – competing in the rotation 
• Ben Franco, Junior, 5-10, 200 – competing in the rotation 
• Alden Levy, Junior, 5-9, 175 – competing in the rotation 
• Michael Zambrano, Sophomore, 5-10, 190 – competing in the rotation 

Offensive Line: 

• Sam Dede, Senior, 6-4, 280 – returning starter at tackle 
• Scott Mangan, Senior, 5-11, 210 – returning starter at guard 
• Gavin Barker, Junior, 5-10, 240 – projected starter at center; started on defense 
• Stephen Bates, Senior, 5-10, 195 – competing at guard 
• Keneth Pineda, Senior, 5-10, 235 – competing at guard 
• John Grgurich, Junior, 5-10, 210 – competing at guard 
• Mateen Griffin, Senior, 6-1, 190 – competing at tackle 
• Ben Crisci, Sophomore, 6-4, 270 – competing at tackle 

Defense:  

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

Defensive Line:  

• Tristan Allevik, Senior, 6-0, 170 – returning starter at end; injured most of last season 
• Gavin Barker, Junior, 5-10, 240 – returning starter at nose guard 
• Keneth Pineda, Senior, 5-10, 235 – part of the nose guard rotation 
• DJ Johnson, Senior, 6-2, 210 – part of the end rotation 
• Stephen Bilobran, Senior, 5-10, 185 – part of the end rotation 
• Leif Boukhelifa, Senior, 5-9, 175 – part of the end rotation 

Linebacker:  

• Tony Noble, Senior, 5-9, 175 – returning starter on the outside 
• Ben Franco, Junior, 5-10, 200 – returning starter on the inside 
• Preston Horvath, Junior, 5-11, 180 – competing 
• Landon Novak, Junior, 5-10, 165 – competing 
• Alden Levy, Junior, 5-9, 175 – competing 

Secondary: 

• Ryan Lawn, Senior,  5-11, 170lbs – returning starter at cornerback 
• Jacob Berman, Junior, 6-0, 180 – returning starter at safety 
• Holden Rich, Sophomore, 5-11, 180 – competing at cornerback 
• Khamir Smith, Sophomore, 5-9, 155 – competing at cornerback 
• Earl Grell, Sophomore, 5-10, 165 – competing at cornerback 
• Patrick Hallock, Sophomore, 5-9, 155 – competing at safety 

Special Teams: 

• Juniors Jacob Berman, Anthony Rinaldi, and Micah Wachtin, plus sophomore Landon Rassam, are competing at kicker and punter 
• Khamir Smith and Berman are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/28, at Montgomery
• Thursday, 9/3, at Trenton
• Thursday, 9/10, at Burlington City
• Friday, 9/18, Ewing at home 
• Thursday, 9/24, at Allentown
• Friday, 10/2, Seneca at home 
• Friday, 10/9, Steinert at home 
• Thursday, 10/15, at Hightstown
• Friday, 10/23, Princeton at home 

Concerns:  

• Having graduated a good amount of production from last season, how quickly the inexperience can adapt to the speed and demands of varsity football. 

Recruiting: 

• Ethan Valenza has D3 interest  
• Dede has FCS/D2/D3 Interest
• Allevik has D3 interest

Coach’s Comments:   

“We are excited about the upcoming season. We have a solid senior class, paired with a really talented group of sophomores and juniors. The entire roster has bought into the process and continues to work hard. We expect to compete in every single game and win a sectional and state title.” – Head Coach Dave Caldwell