Post 337 – HS Football Preview 2019: Pope John

Pope John Lions  

2018 in Review:  

  • 2-9 record 
  • Lost to Red Bank Catholic in Non-Public Group 3 semifinals  
  • Beat St. John Vianney in the first round 
  • Scored 123 points – 11.18 average
  • Allowed 303 points – 27.54 average 
  • Wins Included: Seton Hall Prep 
  • Losses: St. Joe’s (Montvale), Bergen Catholic, St. Peter’s Prep, Don Bosco, DePaul 

Departing Seniors:   

  • DE Ireland Burke – Boston College 
  • WR/DB Tajimier Jones – UMass 
  • DL Louis Montana – Richmond 
  • OL Giovanni Potente – Fordham 
  • QB Niko Hroncich – Montclair State 
  • WR Ryan Dengler – Lafayette 
  • DB Bryan Vargas – Marist 
  • DB Anthony Holmes – Pace 
  • LB Chris Sabo – Merrimack 
  • RB Jacob Huhn – Richmond as a walk-on 
  • DL Nick DeSenzo – Susquehanna 

*The bold print below is a returning starter. This includes one who had playing time and one who started on the other side of the ball only in 2018, with explanation included after their name.   

Offense: 

Formation: Multiple Spread
Returning Starters: 5 

Quarterback:  

  • Peter Delaportas, Sophomore, 6-2, 195 – will start and saw limited action 

Running Back:  

  • Mike DeNucci, Senior, 6-0, 212 – will share position and started on defense 
  • Elijah Pitts, Junior, 5-10, 170 – will share position 
  • Tyler Zummo, Junior, 5-10, 170 – will share position 

Wide Receiver: 

  • Jarelle Robinson, Junior, 5-9, 175 – returning starter 
  • Omari Hutchinson, Junior, 6-1, 200 – projected starter 
  • Connor Milks, Senior, 6-4, 190 – projected starter and started on defense 
  • Sean Brennan, Junior, 5-10, 175 – will see action in the slot 

H-back: 

  • Sawyer Tantleff, Senior, 6-1, 215  – will see action 
  • Cole Seidel, Senior, 5-9, 220 will see action 

Offensive Line:     

  • David Heath, Senior, 6-4, 280 – returning starter at right tackle 
  • Michael Maglio, Senior, 6-2, 265 – returning starter at right guard 
  • Jake Sledge, Senior, 5-11, 260 – returning starter at center 
  • Ethan Doumbe, Senior, 6-2, 260 – returning starter at left guard 
  • Sebastian Flamenco, Senior, 6-4, 300 – projected starter at left tackle 

Defense:  

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

End:  

  • Charlie Lauzon, Junior, 6-2, 230 – saw some action 
  • Isaiah Robinson, Senior, 6-1, 230 – missed most of last year with injury 
  • Frankie Schomp, Senior, 6-3, 230 – will rotate as third end    

Tackle:  

  • Jasmir Taylor, Senior, 5-10, 250 – returning starter 
  • Ethan Doumbe, Senior – will rotate 
  • Jacob Brennan, Sophomore, 6-0, 260 – will rotate 

Linebacker:  

  • Mike DeNucci, Senior – will start inside 
  • Pedro Calderone, Senior, 5-10, 230 – will see action 
  • Jake Rubin, Sophomore, 6-0, 220 – will see action 

Cornerback:  

  • Warren Lynch, Junior, 5-11, 190 – projected starter 
  • Jack Stoll, Sophomore, 5-10, 180 – projected starter 
  • Jarelle Robinson, Junior – provides depth 
  • Omari Hutchinson, Junior – provides depth 

Safety:  

  • Connor Milks, Senior – returning starter 
  • Sean Brennan, Junior – returning starter 

Special Teams: 

  • Senior Justin Hertlein returns at kicker and punter 
  • The return men are Brennan and junior Billy Gould 

Schedule: 

  • Friday, August 30, at DePaul 
  • Saturday, 9/7, Paramus Catholic at home 
  • Saturday, 9/14, Iona Prep (NY) at Giants Stadium, 2:00 
  • Friday, 9/20, at Livingston 
  • Bye Week 
  • Saturday, 10/5, Don Bosco at home 
  • Saturday, 10/12, at Delbarton 
  • Saturday, 10/19, Bergen Catholic at home 
  • Saturday, 10/26, at St. Peter’s Prep 
  • Saturday, 11/2, Seton Hall Prep at home 

Concerns: 

  • Getting off to a fast start, especially after a down season 
  • Overall depth 

Recruiting:  

  • DeNucci has offers from New Hampshire, Holy Cross, and Lehigh 
  • Heath has strong interest from Princeton, plus interest from Monmouth, Harvard, Bucknell, Bryant, and Lafayette
  • Milks has interest from Fordham, Columbia, Bucknell, and Lafayette 
  • Maglio will go a high-academic institution such as Amherst, Lehigh, and Stony Brook 
  • Doumbe has interest from Stonehill, Assumption, and others 
  • Sledge has interest from Colby, Trinity, and Middlebury 
  • Taylor is a DB prospect 
  • Flamenco is a current sleeper, but that could change 
  • Underclassmen: 
  • Robinson is a 1-AA and lower 1-A prospect, such as the MAC schools 
  • Brennan is being recruited by 1-AA schools
  • Delapaortas, a sophomore, has interest from Rutgers, Boston College, North Carolina, Syracuse, Penn State, and Pitt

Coach’s Comments:  

“We’re really excited. We have a very good coaching staff; having former head coaches such as Jim Matsakis running the offense and Mike Beach running the defense, along with several others. This brings an older, more experienced staff and that’s the biggest difference I’ve seen. The team chemistry is great. There are no superstars, but they get along, play for each other, and play for the school.” – Head Coach Brian Carlson  

Bonus – Player Comments:  

“I played between 186 and 190 last year and I weigh 212 right now; I feel faster and more explosive. When coaches left late last offseason, we had a new defense and it took time to adjust. This year, we have new coaches, but they arrived early and we are more comfortable entering the season.” – Senior running back/linebacker Mike DeNucci 

“I’m looking forward to the season. I feel more comfortable. I learned a lot last year. Niko Hroncich was very helpful to me and by observing on gameday, I learned a lot, looking at defenses and listening to coaches.” – Sophomore quarterback Peter Delaportas 

 

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