Southern Rams 

July 30, 2026

2025: 

• 9-2 
• Lost to Kingsway in the South Jersey Group 5 sectional semifinals and beat Williamstown in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Central Regional, Toms River North, Jackson, and Brick 
• Their other loss was to Brick Memorial 
• Scored 314 points for a 28.54 average 
• Allowed 92 points for an 8.36 average, including three shutouts 

Graduation: 

• OL Brayden Scherlin – Kutztown (Pa.) 
• TE Colton Oravets – Montclair State 
• OL Ben Recker – Chestnut Hill (Pa.) sprint football 
• DB Nick Germann – Chestnut Hill (Pa.) sprint football 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 3 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Carson Abbato, Senior, 6-1, 190 – returning starter; passed for 1,442 yards and 16 touchdowns, and ran for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns 

Running Back:  

• Niko Iliescu, Junior, 5-10, 225 – projected starter; rushed for 382 yards and 7 touchdowns in limited action; started on defense  
• Levi Foote, Senior, 6-0, 225 – will spell Iliescu 
• Jack Ramsey, Senior, 5-10, 180 – will spell Iliescu 

Fullback/H-Back/Tight End: 

• Lukas Iliescu, Junior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter; 13 receptions for 216 yards and 3 touchdowns  

Wide Receiver: 

• Chris Raub, Senior, 5-9, 180 – 3-year starter; 33 receptions for 641 yards and 6 touchdowns 
• Luke Iorio, Senior, 6-1, 185 – projected starter; started on defense 
• Cole Celeste, Junior, 6-1, 175 – projected starter 
• Mason O’Brien, Freshman, 6-0, 185 – part of the rotation and will be the fourth receiver in four-wide receiver sets 

Offensive Line: 

• John McGinnis, Senior, 6-1, 225 – projected starter at left tackle; started on defense 
• Logan Smith, Senior, 6-0, 210 – projected starter at right guard 
• Mason Pavao, Junior, 5-10, 225 – competing at the other three positions 
• Liam Barker, Senior, 5-10, 185 – competing at the other three positions 
• Parker Kriews, Junior, 6-0, 230 – competing at the other three positions  
• Jacob Hook, Senior, 6-4, 250 – competing at the other three positions 
• Dan Perina, Senior, 6-1, 240 – competing at the other three positions 

Defense:  

• Formation: Multiple 50 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Defensive Line:  

• Levi Foote, Senior, 6-0, 225 – projected starter at end; started in 2024 
• Jack Ramsey, Senior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter at end 
• John McGinnis, Senior, 6-1, 225 – returning starter at tackle 
• Logan Smith, Senior, 6-0, 210 – projected starter at tackle 
• Jayden Krug, Junior, 5-10, 200 – projected starter at nose guard 

Linebacker:  

• Niko Iliescu, Junior, 5-10, 225 – returning starter 
• Lukas Iliescu, Junior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter 

Secondary: 

• Luke Iorio, Senior, 6-1, 185 – returning starter at strong safety 
• Cole Celeste, Junior, 6-1, 175 – competing at safety 
• TJ Kelly, Junior, 5-9, 160 – competing at safety 
• Sawyer Grose, Junior, 5-10, 180 – competing at safety 
• Noah Perna, Senior, 6-0, 175 – competing at cornerback 
• Julian Ratt, Senior, 6-1, 170 – competing at cornerback 
• JC Jones, Junior, 5-9, 160 – competing at cornerback 
• Chris Raub, Senior, 5-9, 180 – competing at cornerback 
• Kaelen Gordon, Junior, 5-9, 165 – competing at cornerback 

Special Teams: 

• Junior Cole Celeste returns as the kicker and punter 
• Raub and Iorio are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Saturday, 8/29, Bridgeton at Ocean City in the Battle of the Beach 
• Friday, 9/4, Belmont Charter (Pa.) at home 
• Friday, 9/11, at Jackson 
• Friday, 9/18, Point Pleasant Boro at home 
• Friday, 9/25, at Donovan Catholic 
• Friday, 10/2, Central Regional at home 
• Friday, 10/9, Toms River North at home 
• Friday, 10/16, at Middletown North 
• Friday, 10/23, at Brick Memorial 

Concerns:  

• Inexperienced offensive line and secondary 

Recruiting: 

• Abbato and Raub have interest from Villanova and TCNJ 
• Iorio has a verbal commitment to New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) for lacrosse 
• Foote will wrestle in college 
• Underclassmen:
• The Iliescu twins have received interest from Ivy and Patriot League schools 

Coach’s Comments:   

“This is my first year after being a defensive coordinator for a long time. Coaching my son is exciting. We return some good skill players, and we jump to the A South division, which brings a tougher schedule. If our offensive line comes together, we will be fine.” – Head Coach Matt Abbato