West Essex Knights 

August 21, 2023 

2022: 

• 7-4 
• Lost to West Morris in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 finals, beat Cranford in the semifinals, and Paramus in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included East Orange, Mount Carmel (Md.), and Passaic Valley 
• Losses came to Caldwell, Wayne Valley, and West Morris 
• Scored 267 points for a 24.27 average 
• Allowed 121 points for an 11.0 average, including two shutouts 

Graduation: 

• WR/DB Dante Sellari – Davidson (NC) 
• TW/DL Luca Santoriello – Pace (NY) 
• RB/LB Vin Raniero – Susquehanna (Pa.) 
• RB/LB Mike Maglione – Endicott (Mass.) 
• K Mike Bartley – Delaware Valley (Pa.) 
• QB/DB Jack Massotto – Lafayette for lacrosse 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Wing T 
• Returning Starters: 3  

Quarterback: 

• Sam Long, Senior, 6-0, 170 – projected starter 

Running Back: 

• Riley Ruane, Senior, 5-9, 192 – projected starter at fullback; started on defense 
• Brady Phillips, Junior, 6-2, 205 – will spell Ruane at fullback 
• Ryan Lasher, Senior, 5-9, 168 – projected starter at halfback 
• Jorden Simeone, Senior, 6-1, 175 – projected starter at halfback 
• Max Garcia, Junior, 5-10, 158 – will see action at halfback 
• Nick Sangillo, Junior, 5-9, 172 – will see action at halfback 

Wide Receiver: 

• Anthony Drago, Junior, 6-2, 185 – returning starter 
• Jack Iannuzzi, Senior, 5-9, 149 – will share the reps with Drago 

Tight End: 

• Joe Russo, Junior, 5-11. 195 – competing and may share position 
• Doug Taylor, Senior, 5-10, 172 – competing and may share position 

Offensive Line: 

• Eldin Gashi, Senior, 6-3, 255 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Chris Nigro, Senior, 5-11, 215 – returning starter at left guard 
• Joe Petrullo, Junior, 5-9, 195 – projected starter at center 
• Steve Kimble, Senior, 5-11, 196 – projected starter at right guard 
• Jack Kostick, Junior, 6-1, 211 – projected starter at left tackle 
• Nick Pavlikivskii, Senior, 6-4, 211 – key reserve 

Defense: 

• Formation: Multiple 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 2 

Defensive Line: 

• Eldin Gashi, Senior, 6-3, 255 – projected starter at nose guard 
• Chris Nigro, Senior, 5-11, 215 – projected starter at end 
• Nick Pavlikivskii, Senior, 6-4, 211 – projected starter at end 
• Jack Kostick, Junior, 6-1, 211 – part of the rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Riley Ruane, Senior, 5-9, 192 – returning starter on the inside 
• Brady Phillips, Junior, 6-2, 205 – projected starter on the inside 
• Jake Long, Sophomore, 5-11, 177 – projected starter on the outside 
• Nick Sangillo, Junior, 5-9, 172 – projected starter on the outside 
• Mike Cerisano, Junior, 5-11, 175 – part of the rotation on the outside 
• Steve Kimble, Senior, 5-11, 196 – part of the rotation on the inside 

Secondary: 

• Anthony Drago, Junior, 6-2, 185 – returning starter at safety 
• Jorden Simeone, Senior, 6-1, 175 – projected starter at safety 
• Tyler Gann, Senior, 5-9, 172 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Max Garcia, Junior, 5-10, 158 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Jack Iannuzzi, Senior, 5-9, 149 – part of the rotation at cornerback 
• Vin Giaquinto, Junior, 6-0, 158 – part of the rotation at safety 

Special Teams: 

• Senior John Moss will be the punter and kicker 
• Junior Brady Phillips is the long snapper 
• Drago and Simeone are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/25, at Haddonfield 
• Friday, 9/1, at Westwood 
• Friday, 9/8, Passaic Valley at home 
• Thursday, 9/14, Wayne Valley at home 
• Friday, 9/22, at Caldwell 
• Friday, 9/29, at Nutley 
• Friday, 10/6, West Morris at home 
• Saturday, 10/14, Belleville at home 
• Saturday, 10/21, at East Orange 

Concerns: 

• Inexperienced, but it’s the  same every year with many seniors being first-year starters 

Recruiting: 

• Gashi has interest from 1-AA schools, including the Ivy League 
• Others are D3 prospects who are very good high school football players 
• Underclassmen:
• Drago is a top lacrosse recruit 
• Phillips is a top long snapper and has a chance to be a good player on offense and defense 

Coach’s Comments: 

We’re excited about a new team and the seniors have been great leading the younger guys. The schedule is challenging; we have to be ready every week. If we do that, we’ll be a tough team to beat.” – Head Coach Chris Benacquista