Middletown North Lions 

August 11, 2023

2022: 

• 3-6
• Lost to North Hunterdon in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 quarterfinals 
• Wins came against Southern, Lacey, and Central Regional 
• Losses were against Toms River North, Middletown South, Ocean, Long Branch, and Manalapan 
• Scored 130 points for a 14.44 average 
• Allowed 197 points for a 2.89 average 

Graduation: 

• OL/DL Jack Lopez – Harvard 
• TE/DE Peter Dempsey – Wagner 
• LB Richie Grabowski – Sacred Heart as a walk-on 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 6  

Quarterback: 

• Luke Sheehan, Senior, 6-2, 190 – returning starter; passed for 1,095 yards per nj.com  

Running Back: 

• Neno Morgan-Acker, Senior, 6-0, 190 – returning starter; rushed for 600 yards per nj.com  
• Shane Violante, Junior, 5-4, 145 – will spell Morgan-Acker 

Wide Receiver: 

• Brian Dunleavy, Senior, 6-0, 185 – returning starter 
• Dylan Briggs, Senior, 5-8, 180 – returning starter 
• Ka’ley Spearman-Young, Senior, 5-7, 165 – projected starter at slot receiver 
• Colin Jacques, Senior, 5-8, 180 – projected starter at slot receiver 
• Frank Zaino, 5-10, 180 – part of the rotation on the outside 
• Jack Viola, Sophomore, 5-9, 175 – part of the rotation at slot receiver 

Tight End: 

• Gavin Halloran, Senior, 6-1, 197 – competing 
• Brody Tooker, Junior, 6-1, 215 – competing 
• Joey Grasso, Junior, 6-4, 180 – competing 

Offensive Line: 

• Michael Dwyer, Junior, 6-4, 225 – projected starter at tackle; started two games and started on defense   
• Anthony Lubrano, Junior, 6-3, 285 – competing at guard 
• Giovanni Antonucci, Senior, 5-10, 295 – competing at guard; started a few games 
• Andrew Klimovich, Junior, 6-0, 230 – returning starter at center 
• Shea Mora, Sophomore, 6-2, 275 – projected starter at guard 
• Thomas Randolph, Senior, 6-4, 220 – returning starter at tackle 
• Chris Dzienisiewski, Junior, 6-1, 195 – key reserve along the line 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-3 Stack 
• Returning Starters: 2 

Defensive Line: 

• Michael Dwyer, Junior, 6-4, 225 – returning starter at end, moving from nose guard 
• Brody Tooker, Junior, 6-1, 215 – projected starter at end 
• Chris Dzienisiewski, Junior, 6-1, 195 – part of rotation at end 
• Giovanni Antonucci, Senior, 5-10, 295 – part of rotation at nose guard 
• Shea Mora, Sophomore, 6-2, 275 – part of rotation at nose guard 
• Andrew Klimovich, Junior, 6-0, 230 – part of rotation at nose guard 

Linebacker: 

• Justin Soto, Senior, 5-10, 210 – 3-year starter in middle 
• Nicky Scerbo, Senior, 5-9, 180 – projected starter on weak side; saw action 
• Gavin Halloran, Senior, 6-1, 197 – competing on the strong side 
• Jake Minson, Senior, 5-11, 200 – competing on the strong side 
• Frank Zaino, 5-10, 180 – part of the rotation on the outside 
• Joey Grasso, Junior, 6-4, 180 – part of the rotation on the outside 

Secondary: 

• Brian Dunleavy, Senior, 6-0, 185 – competing at rover 
• Richie Welton, Senior, 5-9, 170 – competing at rover 
• Brian O’Donnell, Junior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter at free safety 
• Derek Butler, Senior, 5-11, 145 – frontrunner at strong safety 
• TJ Rey, Junior, 5-11, 175 – part of rotation at cornerback 
• Dylan Briggs, Senior, 5-8, 180 – part of rotation at cornerback 
• Colin Jacques, Senior, 5-8, 180 – part of rotation at cornerback 
• Ka’ley Spearman-Young, Senior, 5-7, 165 – part of rotation at cornerback 
• Mekhi Wells, Junior, 5-9, 175 – competing at cornerback 
• Jack Viola, Sophomore, 5-9, 175 – competing at cornerback 

Special Teams: 

• Senior Ian Poole-Morgan returns at kicker and senior Gavin Halloran will be the punter 
• Briggs, Viola, and Spearman-Young are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/25, at Freehold Township 
• Friday, 9/1, at Brick Memorial 
• Friday, 9/8, at Howell 
• Friday, 9/15, Jackson at home 
• Friday, 9/22, at Southern 
• 9/29-30, Bye Week 
• Friday, 10/6, Lacey at home 
• Friday, 10/13, Brick at home 
• Saturday, 10/21, at Marlboro 
• Thursday, 11/23, Middletown South at home 

Concerns: 

• Inexperience, but there is more depth at some spots 
• Staying healthy 

Recruiting: 

• Sheehan has interest from 1-AA/D2 schools
• Morgan-Acker will play somewhere 
• Soto is a D3 prospect and Jacques may play on that level 
• Underclassmen: 
• Dwyer and Mora are promising underclassmen

Coach’s Comments: 

“I am cautiously optimistic. We have a good group of kids who are working hard. We will see how they look in pads. We match up well and will be in the thick of things.” – Head Coach Steve Bush