Kingsway Dragons

August 18, 2023

2022: 

• 7-4 
• Lost to Toms River North in the South Jersey Group 5 sectional finals, beat Cherokee in the semifinals, and Southern in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Cherokee, Washington Township, and Vineland 
• Losses were to Delsea, Holy Spirit, and Williamstown 
• Scored 346 points for a 31.45 average 
• Allowed 214 points for a 19.45 average 

Graduation: 

• QB Nate Meiers – Rowan 
• WR/DB Darrell Brown – West Chester (Pa.) 
• OL/DL Carter Williams – Rowan 
• OL Dallas Brown – Delaware Valley (Pa.) 
• DB Roman Kuzmick – Susquehanna (Pa.) 
• WR/DB Jake Mason – Air Force for lacrosse 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Pro 
• Returning Starters: 3   

Quarterback: 

• Tom Popoff, Senior, 6-1, 195 – projected starter 

Running Back: 

• Neumann Rojas, Senior, 5-9, 185 – projected starter 
• Za’hir Paynter, Sophomore, 5-9, 155 – will spell Rojas 

Wide Receiver: 

• Benny Liles III, Senior, 5-10, 160 – returning starter 
• Kyle Nordone, Junior, 5-11, 160 – projected starter 
• Morrison Brathwaite, Senior, 5-7, 160 – projected starter who will line up all over the field 

Tight End: 

• Kyle Kupsey, Senior, 6-2, 210 – projected starter; started on defense  
• Gregg Campbell, Junior, 6-2, 180 – will see action 

Offensive Line: 

• Matt Shields, Senior, 6-2, 230 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Logan Sweeney, Senior, 6-1, 225 – projected starter at left guard; saw action 
• Brady Whitzell, Junior, 6-0, 205 – returning starter at center 
• Dylan Rickards, Junior, 6-1, 210 – projected starter at right guard; saw action 
• Blake Birbilis, Junior, 6-5, 265 – projected starter at right tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: 4-2-5 
• Returning Starters: 4 

Defensive Line: 

• Brady Whitzell, Junior, 6-0, 205 – returning starter at end 
• The opposite end is still undecided 
• Kyle Kupsey, Senior, 6-2, 210 – returning starter at tackle 
• Amir Washington, Senior, 6-0, 230 – projected starter at tackle 

Linebacker: 

• Brady Williams, Senior, 5-11, 195 – projected starter in the middle; saw action 
• Nick Worley, Junior, 6-0, 190 – projected starter on the weak side 
• Tommy DePietro, Junior, 5-9, 165 – returning starter at rover, moving from safety 
• Za’hir Paynter, Sophomore, 5-9, 155 – will get playing time 

Secondary: 

• Aiden Alexander, Senior, 6-0, 185 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Dominic Hibbs, Junior, 5-9, 165 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Kameron White, Junior, 6-0, 165 – part of rotation at cornerback 
• Christian White, Sophomore, 5-9, 150 – part of rotation at cornerback 
• Kyle Nordone, Junior, 5-11, 160 – projected starter at safety 
• Mason Bryan Sophomore, 5-10, 160 – frontrunner at safety 
• Andrew Wands, Sophomore, 6-0, 165 – competing at safety 

Special Teams: 

• Sophomore Zack Burlingame will be the kicker and punter 
• Liles, Brathwaite, and Bryan will be the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/25, Egg Harbor at home 
• Friday, 9/1, Williamstown at home 
• Friday, 9/8, at Washington Township 
• Friday, 9/15, Vineland at home 
• Friday, 9/22, at Delsea 
• Friday, 9/29, at Eastern 
• Friday, 10/6, Clearview at home 
• Friday, 10/13, Cherokee at home 
• Friday, 10/20, at Holy Spirit 

Concerns: 

• Continue to develop younger talent 

Recruiting: 

• Liles and Alexander are 1-AA/D2 
• Sweeney and Washington may play somewhere
• Others are D3 
• Birbilis is the top junior 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We have to win the close games. I think we will be in them; we need to find a way and improve. We lost a lot of players, but we have some good players, such as our quarterback, Tom Popoff and wide receiver Benny Liles.” – Head Coach Mark Hendrick