Park Ridge Owls
2018 in Review:
- 9-2 record
- Lost to Butler in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 1 finals
- Beat Boonton in the semi-finals and Cresskill in the first round
- Scored 384 points – 34.91 average
- Allowed 179 points – 16.27 average
- Wins Included: New Milford, Emerson, St. Mary
- Losses: Hasbrouck Heights
Departing Seniors:
- Zach Lewis – Montclair State
*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: 6
Quarterback:
- Vincent Pinto, Senior, 5-10, 185 – 3-year starter
Running Back:
- Daniel Kim, Junior, 5-10, 185 – competing
- Luke Papataros, Junior, 5-9, 165 – competing
Wide Receiver:
- Brendan Hughes, Junior, 5-11, 180 – returning starter in the slot
- Justin Wagner, Senior, 5-7, 170 – returning starter and may see time at running back
- Steven LaQuidara, Senior, 5-10, 160 – will start
- Ethan Giacomelli, Senior, 6-0, 185 – will start
- Jimmy Brazofsky, Junior, 5-11, 190 – competing and is also backup quarterback
Tackle:
- Ryan Misciagna, Senior, 6-0, 185 – returning starter
- Kevin Hunt, Junior, 6-3, 255 – will start
Guard:
- Dylan Conkling, Senior, 5-10, 245 – returning starter
- Ayden Giacomelli, Sophomore, 5-9, 180 – will start
- Dylan DiLeo, Senior, 5-8, 185 – making a push to start
Center:
- Casey Allen, Junior, 5-10, 205 – returning starter
Defense:
- Formation: 3-4
- Returning Starters: 5
End:
- Dylan Conkling, Senior – returning starter who may play nose guard
- Kevin Hunt, Junior – competing
- Ayden Giacomelli, Sophomore – competing
- Ryan Misciagna, Senior – competing
Nose Guard:
- Dylan Conking, Senior – if he is not playing end
- Casey Allen, Junior – competing
Outside Linebacker:
- Daniel Gutin, Junior, 6-3, 195 – returning starter
- Ethan Giacomelli, Senior – will start here or in the secondary
- Jimmy Brazofsky, Junior – reserve and competing
- Jimmy Kennedy, Senior, 5-9, 165 – reserve and competing
Inside Linebacker:
- Brendan Hughes, Junior – will start
- Daniel Kim, Junior – will start
Cornerback:
- Stephen LaQuidara, Senior – returning starter
- Other corner open:
- Liam O’Connor, Sophomore, 5-7, 155 – competing
- Ethan Giacomelli, Senior – competing and will start here is he’s not playing linebacker
Safety:
- Vincent Pinto, Senior – returning starter; moving from inside linebacker to strong safety
- Justin Wagner, Senior – returning starter
Special Teams:
- Kicker and punter are undecided
- The return men will likely come from Wagner, Hughes, and Papataros
Schedule:
- Friday, 9/6, Wood-Ridge at home
- Friday, 9/13, at Wallington
- Bye Week
- Saturday, 9/28, at Bogota
- Friday, 10/4, St. Mary at home
- Friday, 10/11, Emerson at home
- Friday, 10/18, Weehawken at home
- 10/25-16, NJIC Playoffs/Crossover
- 11/1-2, NJIC Playoffs/Crossover
Concerns:
- Health: if they’re healthy, they will vie for a league title; if not, they won’t
- Replacing two very good linemen who went both ways in Jonah Schectman and Joe DiRienzo
Recruiting:
- Pinto is a D3 prospect who can play wide/slot receiver or safety/outside linebacker at lower 1-AA to D3 – he is a very good student who is a touch undersized, but there is interest from Springfield with more interest to follow for a very good football player
- Conkling has a good motor, a good kid who is dedicated to the weight room every day
- Underclassmen:
- Hughes is D3 in football or baseball, making 1st Team All-State Group 1 in baseball at second base as a sophomore
- Hunt has ability, but needs to prove it
Coach’s Comments:
“We’ll be alright; we’ve been trending upwards the last few years. We have good senior leadership and they want to win, get to a sectional final, and go a little further. They’re all good kids – lunch pail types that show up and want to work. They have fun doing it and that’s what we try to convey.” – Head Coach Tom Curry Jr.