High Point Wildcats 

July 31, 2026

2025: 

• 8-2 
• Lost to Ramsey in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 2 quarterfinals 
• Wins included Newton, Kittatinny, and Lenape Valley 
• Their other loss was to Vernon 
• Scored 349 points for a 34.9 average 
• Allowed 170 points for a 17.0 average 

Graduation: 

• RB/LB Jerron Martress – Sussex County Community College 
• FB/DE Gio Dureny – Penn State – Behrend for track & field 
• LB Jayden Ruplall – Springfield (Mass.) for wrestling 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Pro 
• Returning Starters: 8 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Joe Elko, Junior, 6-0, 160 – returning starter who missed much of the season with an injury 

Running Back:  

• AJ Sampson, Senior, 5-11, 190 – projected starter; gained 599 yards and 8 touchdowns in a part-time role; and played on defense  
• Trevor Hopp, Junior, 5-11, 185 – projected starter at fullback 
• Domenic Parise, Junior, 6-1, 175 – will spell Sampson 
• Padric Ferry, Sophomore, 5-10, 160 – will spell Sampson 

Wide Receiver: 

• Mark Leach, Senior, 6-3, 175 – 3-year starter; 9 receptions for 198 yards and 1 touchdown 
• Ray So, Senior, 5-11, 180 – returning starter 
• Tyler Brarman, Junior, 5-8, 165 – projected starter 
• Colton Hornyak, Senior, 5-11, 165 – part of the rotation; started on defense  

Tight End: 

• Landon Sorenson, Senior, 6-0, 185 – 3-year starter 
• Jerry Emperio, Junior, 5-11, 185 – will see action 

Offensive Line: 

• Hayden Hines, Senior, 6-2, 275 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Kaleb DeFalco, Junior, 6-1, 220 – 3-year starter at left guard 
• Alex Conway, Senior, 6-0, 205 – 3-year starter at center 
• John McCarthy, Junior, 5-11, 205 – returning starter at right guard 
• Zach Longcor, Junior, 6-6, 315 – projected starter at right tackle and played often on defense 

Defense:  

• Formation: 4-3 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line:  

• Kaleb DeFalco, Junior, 6-1, 220 – rotated regularly at end 
• John McCarthy, Junior, 5-11, 205 – rotated regularly at end 
• AJ Sampson, Senior, 5-11, 190 – rotated regularly at end 
• Hayden Hines, Senior, 6-2, 275 – rotated regularly at tackle 
• Zach Longcor, Junior, 6-6, 315 – rotated regularly at tackle 
• Alex Conway, Senior, 6-0, 205 – rotated regularly at tackle 
• Anthony Longo, Senior, 5-11, 215 – rotated regularly at tackle 

Linebacker:  

• Chase Conklin, Senior, 5-10, 185 – will compete and play on the inside 
• Trevor Hopp, Junior, 5-11, 185 – will compete and play on the inside 
• Jerry Emperio, Junior, 5-11, 185 – will compete and play on the inside 
• Landon Sorenson, Senior, 6-0, 185 – will compete and play on the outside 
• Domenic Parise, Junior, 6-1, 175 – will compete and play on the outside 

Secondary: 

• Mark Leach, Senior, 6-3, 175 – returning starter at cornerback  
• Colton Hornyak, Senior, 5-11, 165 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Padric Ferry, Sophomore, 5-10, 160 – part of the cornerback rotation 
• Tyler Brarman, Junior, 5-8, 165 – projected starter at safety, and saw action at cornerback  
• Ray So, Senior, 5-11, 180 – projected starter at safety; started two games 
• Peter LaChance, Junior, 5-11, 180 – competing at safety 

Special Teams: 

• Junior Domenic Parise is the projected kicker and punter 
• Sampson, Brarman, and Leach are the return men 
• Junior Jerry Emperio returns as the long snapper 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/27, West Milford at home 
• Friday, 9/4, Kittatinny at home 
• Friday, 9/11, at Morris Catholic 
• Friday, 9/18, at Hackettstown 
• Friday, 9/25, Jefferson at home 
• Friday, 10/2, Newton at home 
• Friday, 10/9, at Passaic Valley 
• Friday, 10/16, at Pequannock 
• Friday, 10/23, Vernon at home 

Concerns:  

• Staying healthy 

Recruiting: 

• Hines ranges from 1AA to D3 
• Leach and Sampson will go based on their senior years 
• Conway is a D3 prospect 
• Others could end up playing D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Elko is a 3-sport athlete who could play football or baseball 
• Longcor is intriguing 

Coach’s Comments:   

“We have a lot of experience offensively, on the defensive line, and at cornerback. We will have new faces at safety and linebacker. We can’t wait to get going and build the program.” – Head Coach Will Nahas