Montgomery Cougars  

August 15, 2023

2022: 

• 7-3 
• Lost to Northern Highlands in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 4 quarterfinals 
• Wins included Somerville, Scotch Plains, and Linden 
• Losses were to North Hunterdon and Watchung Hills 
• Scored 254 points for a 25.4 average 
• Allowed 158 points for a 15.8 average 

Graduation: 

• RB Chris Edwards – Springfield (Mass.) 
• TE/DE Elhadji Diara – Rowan  
• RB/LB Gavin Guidette – U of Rochester 
• DB Joe Rossman – Muhlenberg (Pa.) 
• WR Ethan McManus – Alvernia (Pa.) for lacrosse 

Offense: 

• Formation: Shotgun Wing-T Spread 
• Returning Starters: 7  

Quarterback: 

• Michael Schmelzer, Senior, 5-10, 195 – 3-year starter; passed for 1,658 yards and 21 touchdowns per nj.com  

Running Back: 

• Brady Post, Senior, 5-11, 202 – projected co-starter 
• Vedant Mital, Senior, Senior, 5-5, 145 – projected co-starter 

Wide Receiver: 

• Matt D’Avino, Senior. 6-1, 185 – 3-year starter at slot receiver; 57 receptions for 1,053 yards per nj.com   
• Trey McFadden, Sophomore 6-2, 180 – projected starter at outside receiver 
• Brian Giambra, Sophomore, 5-11, 166 – part of the rotation at slot receiver
• Alessandro Spera, Junior, 5-7, 140 – part of the rotation at slot receiver 
• Eamonn Kyler, Junior, 5-10, 190 – play the wing in special packages 
• Brandon Davis, Senior, 6-1, 195 – play the wing in special packages 
• Aydan Mutton, Senior, 6-0, 185 – play the wing in special packages 

Tight End: 

• Ethan Golubitsky, Senior, 6-2, 210 – projected starter 
• Lucas Clark, Senior, 6-3, 210 – will see action 

Offensive Line: 

• Brandon Rector, Junior, 6-1, 245 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Mike Bellamy, Sophomore, 5-10, 241 – projected starter 
• Landen Dikker, Junior, 6-1, 241 – returning starter at left guard; will line up all over 
• Lucas Szczepanski, Senior, 6-0, 280 – 3-year starter at center 
• Joe Reyes, Senior, 5-8, 226 – returning starter at right guard 
• Shlok Chaurasiya, Senior, 5-6, 207 – 3-year starter at right tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-3 Stack 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Defensive Line: 

• Brandon Rector, Junior, 6-1, 245 – projected starter at end 
• Lucas Clark, Senior, 6-3, 210 – projected starter at end; saw action 
• Lucas Szczepanski, Senior, 6-0, 280 – returning starter at nose guard 
• Mike Bellamy, Sophomore, 5-10, 241 – will share time at nose guard 

Linebacker: 

• Landen Dikker, Junior, 6-1, 241 – returning starter on the strong side, moving from end 
• Brady Post, Senior, 5-11, 202 – returning starter in the middle 
• Eamonn Kyler, Junior, 5-10, 190 – projected starter on the weak side 
• John Lawler, Senior, 5-9, 185 – provides depth in the middle 
• Aydan Mutton, Senior, 6-0, 185 – provides depth on the strong side 
• Brandon Davis, Senior, 6-1, 195 – provides depth on the weak side 
• Ethan Golubitsky, Senior, 6-2, 210 – returning starter on the outside 
• Ethan Kallarackal, Senior, 5-9, 175 – projected starter on the outside 

Secondary: 

• Zach Schick, Senior, 5-10, 170 – returning starter 
• Ayrton Luna, Junior, 5-6, 140 – provides depth at safety 
• Matt D’Avino, Senior, 6-1, 185 – frontrunner at cornerback 
• Trey McFadden, Sophomore 6-2, 180 – frontrunner at cornerback 
• Tim Schwarcz, Senior, 5-8, 160 – competing at cornerback 
• Dylan Roeske, Senior, 6-0, 150 – competing at cornerback 

Special Teams: 

• Sophomore Trey McFadden returns at kicker and punter has not been decided 
• D’Avino and McFadden are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/25, Robbinsville at home 
• Friday, 9/1, Franklin at home 
• Friday, 9/8, Plainfield at home 
• Friday, 9/15, at Somerville 
• Saturday, 9/23, at Hamilton 
• Friday, 9/29, at Watchung Hills 
• Friday, 10/6, at North Hunterdon 
• Friday, 10/13, Scotch Plains-Fanwood at home 
• Friday, 10/20, at Linden 

Concerns: 

• Finalizing the defense 

Recruiting: 

• D’Avino has offers from Lehigh, Columbia, Colgate, and Marist 
• Schmelzer has interest from Lafayette and Davidson 
• Sczepanski has interest from TCNJ and Gettysburg 
• Post has interest from Colby and  Wesleyan 
• Schick has interest from Franklin & Marshall and NESCAC schools 
• Golubitsky has interest from Springfield (Mass.) and Salisbury (Md.) 
• Rector has interest from Lehigh and Fordham 
• Underclassmen: 
• Dikker has 1-AA interest 
• Sophomores McFadden will be 1-AA and Bellamy D3 
• Others need time to develop 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We feel strongly about this team. We return starters on both sides of the ball. We need to stay healthy    to give us a chance for a good season, competing for a conference and state title.” – Head Coach Zoran Milich