Middletown North Lions 

July 26, 2026

2025: 

• 6-5 
• Lost to Brick Memorial in the Central Jersey Group 4 sectional finals, beat Manalapan in the semifinals, and Middletown South in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Middletown South, Matawan, and Marlboro 
• Losses were to Red Bank Catholic, Holmdel, Rumson-Fair Haven, and Central Regional 
• Scored 229 points for a 20.89 average 
• Allowed 267 points for a 24.27 average 

Graduation: 

• K/P Seamus Montague – Marist 
• OL/DL Shea Mora – Widener (Pa.) 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 7 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Derek Grasso, Junior, 5-10, 175 – projected starter 
• MJ Parulis, Senior, 5-11, 175 – provides depth and can play wide receiver; started on defense 

Running Back:  

• Matt Belenko, Senior, 5-10, 185 – returning starter; rushed for 1,237 yards and 14 touchdowns, and had 19 receptions for 256 yards 
• Pat Jacques, Senior, 5-11, 180 – will spell Belenko 

Wide Receiver: 

• Danny Sigler, Senior, 5-10, 170 – returning starter; 31 receptions for 372 yards and 2 touchdowns 
• Anthony Christiani, Junior, 5-11, 180 – projected starter who started some games and started on defense 
• Brennan Cross, Senior, 5-11, 205 – returning starter; started first three games before he was injured 
• AJ Ventimiglia, Junior, 5-10, 165 – part of the rotation 
• Liam Moran, Junior, 6-0, 175 – part of the rotation 
• MJ Parulis, Senior, 5-11, 175 – may play here and is the backup quarterback; started on defense  

Tight End: 

• Kade Little, Senior, 6-2, 210 – returning starter; 9 receptions for 96 yards and 1 touchdown 
• Brennan Gallagher, Junior, 6-0, 190 – provides depth

Offensive Line: 

• Logan Grenham, Senior, 5-11, 290 – returning starter at tackle 
• Derek Laguna, Senior, 6-0, 285 – returning starter at left guard 
• Liam Sheehan, Senior, 5-10, 190 – competing at center 
• Mike Lenino, Junior, 5-10, 215 – competing at center 
• Josh Johnson, Senior, 5-8, 225 – returning starter at right guard 
• Jordan Gardner, Junior, 6-2, 260 – projected starter at right tackle 

Defense:  

• Formation: Multiple 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line:  

• Derek Laguna, Senior, 6-0, 285 – returning starter at end 
• Evan Koch, Senior, 6-1, 180 – projected starter at the opposite end 
• Logan Grenham, Senior, 5-11, 290 – returning starter at tackle, who will rotate as he did last year 
• Josh Johnson, Senior, 5-8, 225 – returning starter at tackle, who will rotate as he did last year 
• Jordan Gardner, Junior, 6-2, 260 – part of the tackle rotation 
• Mike Lenino, Junior, 5-10, 215 – part of the tackle rotation 

Linebacker:  

• Kade Little, Senior, 6-2, 210 – returning starter 
• Brennan Gallagher, Junior, 6-0, 190 – projected starter; saw action 
• Joey Kimball, Junior, 5-9, 175 – part of the rotation 
• Seamus McAllister, Senior, 5-11, 180 – part of the rotation 
• Gavin Burcio, Senior, 5-10, 175 – part of the rotation 

Secondary: 

• Anthony Christiani, Junior, 5-11, 180 – returning starter at free safety 
• MJ Parulis, Senior, 5-11, 175 – returning starter at the strike safety 
• Brennan Cross, Senior, 5-11, 205 – competing at the rover safety 
• Markus Ragusa, Senior, 5-11, 180 – competing at the rover safety 
• Danny Sigler, Senior, 5-10, 170 – projected starter at cornerback; saw action 
• Micah Phelps, Senior, 5-10, 170 – projected starter at the opposite corner 
• AJ Ventimiglia, Junior, 5-10, 165 – part of the cornerback rotation 
• Liam Moran, Junior, 6-0, 175 – provides depth at the striker safety 
• Ryder Kane, Senior, 5-10, 170 – provides depth at the rover safety 

Special Teams: 

• Junior Liam Moran and junior Nick Panetta are competing at kicker, and Lenino is a possibility as a punter 
• Christiani and Sigler are the return men 
• Long snapper has Parulis, Lenino, and Gardner competing 

Schedule: 

• 8/27-29, Bye Week 
• Thursday, 9/3, at Lacey 
• Friday, 9/11, Shore at home 
• Friday, 9/18, Manasquan at home 
• Friday, 9/25, at Matawan 
• Friday, 10/2, at St. John Vianney 
• 10/8-11, Bye Week 
• Friday, 10/16, Southern at home 
• Thursday, 10/22, Freehold Township at home 
• Thursday, 11/26, at Middletown South 

Concerns:  

• Stay healthy 
• Develop depth 

Recruiting: 

• Belanko and Little are 1AA, including Ivy and Patriot League schools 
• Sigler and Parulis are D2 prospects, while Grenham is D2/D3 
• Cross is a D3 prospect, and Laguna can play somewhere 
• Underclassmen: 
• Christiani can play somewhere 

Coach’s Comments:   

“We’re working hard, and the kids are committed. We have depth at the skill positions, especially at receiver. We have solid returners on defense. We feel good about the team; we just have to stay healthy and execute.” – Head Coach Steve Bush