Mount Olive Marauders 

August 21, 2026

2025: 

• 8-2 
• Lost to Northern Highlands in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 4 semifinals and beat Nutley in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Roxbury, Chatham, Morris Knolls, and Wayne Valley 
• Their other loss was to West Morris 
• Scored 368 points for a 36.8 average 
• Allowed 160 points for a 16.0 average 

Graduation: 

• OL/DL James Rizzo – Monmouth 
• OL/DL James Giammanco – Sacred Heart 
• WR/LB Tommy Canning – Susquehanna (Pa.) 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 7 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Justin Reed, Senior, 6-3, 180 – competing; started on defense 
• Rocco Gallo, Sophomore, 6-1, 190 – competing 

Running Back:  

• Brayden Longo, Senior, 5-11, 195 – returning starter; rushed for 1,363 yards and 22 touchdowns, and had 17 receptions for 159 yards and 1 touchdown 
• Malcolm Gilyard, Senior, 5-11, 185 – will see action here and at wide receiver; saw action, rushing for 259 yards and 5 touchdowns; started on defense 

Wide Receiver: 

• Justin Bullock, Senior, 5-11, 195 – returning starter; 31 receptions for 303 yards and 1 touchdown 
• Tyler Castillo, Junior, 6-4, 215 – returning starter, moving from tight end; 9 receptions for 104 yards 
• Gabe Valverde, Sophomore, 6-1, 180 – part of the rotation 
• Malcolm Gilyard, Senior, 5-11, 185 – will see action here and at running back 
• Colby Batsch, Senior, 5-8, 160 – part of the rotation 
• Parker Cook, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – part of the rotation 

Tight End: 

• Jared Martini, Senior, 6-1, 250 – returning starter 

Offensive Line: 

• Josh Rizzo, Junior, 6-3, 230 – projected starter at left tackle; started two games 
• Ben Zilberman, Senior, 5-10, 215 – returning starter at left guard 
• Sam Lagattuta, Senior, 6-2, 215 – returning starter at center 
• Shane Oblen, Senior, 5-11, 215 – returning starter at right guard 
• Mason Kilka, Senior, 6-1, 245 – projected starter at right tackle 

Defense:  

• Formation: 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line:  

• Jared Martini, Senior, 6-1, 250 – returning starter at tackle 
• Connor Schiller, Senior, 5-9, 210 – part of the tackle rotation 
• Noah Cantillo, Senior, 5-9, 185 – projected starter at nose guard 
• Sam Lagattuta, Senior, 6-2, 215 – part of the rotation 
• Josh Rizzo, Junior, 6-3, 230 – part of the rotation 
• Ben Zilberman, Senior, 5-10, 215 – part of the rotation 

Linebacker:  

• Brayden Longo, Senior, 5-11, 195 – returning starter on the inside 
• Tyler Castillo, Junior, 6-4, 215 – returning starter on the inside 
• Malcolm Gilyard, Senior, 5-11, 185 – returning starter on the outside 
• Luke Carter, Junior, 5-10, 185 – competing at the other outside post 
• Gabe Valverde, Sophomore, 6-1, 180 – competing at the other outside post 
• Louis Carter, Junior, 6-0, 180 – part of the inside rotation 

Secondary: 

• Justin Bullock, Senior, 5-11, 195 – returning starter at strong safety 
• Justin Reed, Senior, 6-3, 180 – returning starter at free safety 
• Rich Darbig, Junior, 5-11, 175 – part of the safety rotation 
• Parker Cook, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – frontrunner at one cornerback 
• Myles Eason, Junior, 5-9, 170 – frontrunner at the other cornerback 
• Cayden Beachem, Senior, 6-2, 180 competing at cornerback 
• Colby Batsch, Senior, 5-8, 160 – competing at cornerback 

Special Teams: 

• Senior Colby Batsch is a 3-year starter as the kicker, and junior Joe Wilkes returns as the punter 
• Longo, Gilyard, and Bullocka are the return men 
• Senior Sam Lagattuta returns as the long snapper 

Schedule: 

• 8/27-29, Bye Week 
• Friday, 9/4, Randolph at home 
• Thursday, 9/10, at Mendham 
• Friday, 9/18, Chatham at home 
• Friday, 9/25, at Morris Knolls 
• Friday, 10/2, at Passaic Tech 
• Friday, 10/9, Morristown at home 
• Friday, 10/16, at Roxbury 
• Friday, 10/23, West Morris at home  

Concerns:  

• Depth 
• Both lines 

Recruiting: 

• Longo gave a verbal commitment to Rutgers for baseball
• Bullock has Ivy and Patriot League interest, along with high academic D3 schools 
• Gilyard and Martini are D2/D3 prospects 
• Lagattuta is a D3 prospect 
• Reed will play somewhere 
• Underclassmen:
• Castillo has been receiving looks from high academic schools as high as 1AA 
• Others need film 

Coach’s Comments:   

“We are looking forward to the season with high expectations. The skill players are very good, but we need depth on the line. We need to stay healthy; if we can, we can make a nice run.” – Head Coach Brian O’Connor