Montville Mustangs 

August 23, 2026 

2025: 

• 5-4 
• Lost to West Milford in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 3 quarterfinals 
• Wins included Sparta, Warren Hills, and Mendham 
• Losses were to West Morris, Chatham, and Roxbury 
• Scored 231 points for a 25.67 average 
• Allowed 176 points for a 19.55 average 

Graduation: 

• DB Ryan Conlon – FDU (Florham) for lacrosse 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Jackson Gering, Senior, 6-2, 195 – returning starter; passed for 1,636 yards and 13 touchdowns 

Running Back:  

• Clement Hofbauer, Senior, 5-11, 215 – returning starter; 725 yards and 9 touchdowns, and had 10 receptions for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns 

Wide Receiver: 

• Brett Kunkel, Senior, 6-0, 185 – returning starter; 48 receptions for 705 yards and 7 touchdowns 
• Andrew Baginski, Sophomore, 5-11, 190 – projected starter; saw action late in the season and started on defense 
• Pete Matarazzo, Junior, 5-8, 170 – projected starter
• Nick Brandt, Senior, 5-8, 140 – projected starter
• Darren Beard, Sophomore, 5-8, 165 – part of the rotation 
• Anthony Gallipoli, Junior, 5-7, 165 – part of the rotation 
• Liam Daly, Junior, size unavailable – part of the rotation 

Offensive Line: 

• Alex Husti, Senior, 5-11, 200 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Mike Auerbach, Junior, size unavailable – projected starter at left guard 
• Ben Jackson, Senior, size unavailable – projected starter at center 
• Rob Eggers, Senior, size unavailable – returning starter at right guard 
• Matt Allen, Sophomore, 6-2, 215 – projected starter at right tackle 
• Gabe Ujda, Senior, size unavailable – provides depth at guard 

Defense:  

• Formation: Multiple 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Defensive Line:  

• Alex Husti, Senior, 5-11, 200 – returning starter at end 
• Aiden Kovalcik, Senior, projected starter at the opposite end 
• Matt Allen, Sophomore, 6-2, 215 – part of the end rotation 
• Gabe Ujda, Senior, size unavailable – part of the end rotation  
• Rob Eggers, Senior, size unavailable – returning starter at tackle 
• Mike Auerbach, Junior, size unavailable – projected starter at tackle 
• Zion Cyler, Senior, size unavailable – part of the tackle rotation 

Linebacker:  

• Clement Hofbauer, Senior, 5-11, 215 – returning starter on the outside 
• Pete Matarazzo, Junior, 5-8, 170 – projected starter on the outside 
• Carlo Maffuci, Senior, 5-9, 180 – projected starter in the middle 
• Anthony Gallipoli, Junior, 5-7, 165 – part of the rotation 

Secondary: 

• Brett Kunkel, Senior, 6-0, 185 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Nick Brandt, Senior, 5-8, 140 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Darren Beard, Sophomore, 5-8, 165 – part of the cornerback rotation 
• Andrew Baginski, Sophomore, 5-11, 190 – returning starter at safety 
• Liam Daly, Junior, size unavailable – projected starter at safety 

Special Teams: 

• Senior Dominick Grunke returns as the kicker and punter 
• Matarazzo and Kunkel will be the return men 
• Senior Ben Jackson returns as the long snapper 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/27, West Essex at home 
• Friday, 9/4, at Pascack Valley 
• Thursday, 9/10, at Passaic Valley 
• Friday, 9/18, Parsippany Hills at home 
• Friday, 9/25, at Vernon 
• Friday, 10/2, at Sparta 
• Friday, 10/9, West Milford at home 
• Friday, 10/16, at Morristown 
• Friday, 10/23, Old Tappan at home 

Concerns:  

• Staying healthy 

Recruiting: 

• Kunkel gave a verbal commitment to Yale 
• Hofbauer and Gering will play somewhere 
• Husti may wrestle 
• The underclassmen need more film 

Coach’s Comments:   

“I love the way the kids have responded and the senior leadership. We are waiting to play football and getting our guys out there.” – Head Coach Rick DeBonta