Saddle Brook Falcons 

June 9, 2026 

2025: 

• 3-7 
• Beat Tenafly in the consolation round 
• Wins were against Wallington and North Arlington 
• Losses included Hasbrouck Heights, Butler, New Milford, Kittatinny, and Bogota 
• Scored 184 points for an 18.4 average 
• Allowed 223 points for a 22.3 average 
• Won the last three games of the season 

Graduation: 

• RB/DB Dylan Cerciello – Lycoming (Pa.) 
• WR Jayden Gaytas – Wilkes (Pa.) 

*College choices are good until they enter the transfer portal 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 7 

Statistics courtesy of nj.com 

Quarterback:  

• Chris Vermilyea, Junior, 6-0, 175 – projected starter; started on defense 
• Charlie Callea, Freshman, 5-9, 155 – provides depth 
• Anthony Way, Senior, 5-10, 170 – provides depth and starts at wide receiver 

Running Back:  

• Andrew Filan, Freshman, 5-10, 180 – competing 
• Zion Jones, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – competing 
• Mason Morales, Sophomore, 5-8, 155 – competing 
• Colin Taylor, Senior, 5-10, 180 – will get carries and is a returning starter at wide receiver 

Fullback (situational): 

• TJ Zangara, Sophomore, 5-9, 170 – will see action 
• Jacob Ferrer, Junior, 5-10, 175 – will see action; started on defense 

Wide Receiver: 

• Colin Taylor, Senior, 5-10, 180 – 3-year starter at slot receiver; 14 receptions for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns 
• TJ Filan, Junior, 6-2, 195 – 3-year starter at slot receiver; 13 receptions for 186 yards; can also play tight end 
• Anthony Way, Senior, 5-10, 170 – returning starter on the outside 
• Matthew Tedesco, Sophomore, 5-10, 165 – competing 
• Brandon Zapata, Junior, 5-10, 165 – competing 
• Mark Francin, Senior, 6-3, 190 – competing 
• Danilo Jasnic, Senior, 6-1, 170 – competing; started on defense 

Offensive Line: 

• Jake Francin, Sophomore, 6-3, 260 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Sal Zucaro, Senior, 6-0, 210 – 3-year starter at left guard 
• Savion Lee, Junior, 6-0, 245 – returning starter 
• Rocco Zucaro, Sophomore, 5-11, 220 – competing at right guard 
• Jonathan Shnaper, Senior, 6-0, 205 – competing at right guard; started on defense 
• Ryan Mielnicki, Junior, 6-2, 255 – returning starter at right tackle 
• Ryan Post, Sophomore, 6-2, 230 – competing along the line 
• Pasquale Giovannone, Sophomore, 6-1, 190 – competing along the line 

Defense:  

• Formation: Multiple 4-3 
• Returning Starters: 10 

Defensive Line:  

• Sal Zucaro, Senior, 6-0, 210 – 3-year starter at end 
• Mark Francin, Senior, 6-3, 190 – competing at the opposite end 
• Pasquale Giovannone, Sophomore, 6-1, 190 – competing at the opposite end 
• Jacob Ferrer, Junior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter and competing at the opposite end 
• Jonathan Shnaper, Senior, 6-0, 205 – returning starter at tackle 
• Ryan Post, Sophomore, 6-2, 230 – competing at the other tackle 
• Ryan Mielnicki, Junior, 6-2, 255 – competing at the other tackle 
• Jake Francin, Sophomore, 6-3, 260 – competing at the other tackle 
• Rocco Zucaro, Sophomore, 5-11, 220 – competing at the other tackle 
• Savion Lee, Junior, 6-0, 245 – competing at the other tackle 

Linebacker:  

• Dmitri Clarke, Senior, 5-11, 190 – 3-year starter on the inside; moving from end 
• Lucas LaMonte, Senior, 5-10, 185 – 3-year starter on the inside 
• TJ Filan, Junior, 6-2, 195 – 3-year starter on the outside, moving from the inside  
• Andrew Filan, Freshman, 5-10, 180 – competing on the inside 
• Zion Jones, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – competing on the inside 

Secondary: 

• Danilo Jasnic, Senior, 6-1, 170 – returning starter at cornerback, moving from safety 
• Chris Vermilyea, Junior, 6-0, 175 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Matthew Tedesco, Sophomore, 5-10, 165 – competing at cornerback 
• Charlie Callea, Freshman, 5-9, 155 – competing at cornerback 
• Jaden Abdelhafiez, Sophomore, 5-11, 165 – competing at cornerback 
• Brandon Zapata, Junior, 5-10, 165 – competing at cornerback 
• Anthony Way, Senior, 5-10, 170 – 3-year starter at safety, moving from cornerback 
• Colin Taylor, Senior, 5-10, 180 – 3-year starter at safety; moving from outside linebacker 

Special Teams: 

• The kicker and punter will be decided in camp 
• Taylor and Way are the return men 
• Lee will be the long snapper 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 8/27, at Butler 
• Saturday, 9/5, at Pingry 
• Friday, 9/11, Hasbrouck Heights at home 
• Friday, 9/18, Hawthorne at home 
• Thursday, 9/24, at North Arlington 
• Friday, 10/2, New Milford at home 
• Friday, 10/9, at Secaucus 
• 10/16-17, NJIC crossover 
• 10/23-24, NJIC crossover 

Concerns:  

• Staying healthy is a must for Group 1 teams 

Recruiting: 

• Taylor, Clark, Sal Zucaro, and Way have chances to play college football 
• Underclassmen: 
• TJ Filan and Vermilyea are the top juniors 

Coach’s Comments:   

“We’re going to surprise some people. It’s the second year, and there is familiarity for the players and coaches. We lost some good players, but plenty return, with 35-40 in our program at the Group 1 level.” – Head Coach Joe Cutrona