Somerville Pioneers    

2018 in Review:  

• 11-1 record 
• Lost to Rumson-Fair Haven in the Central Jersey Group 3 finals 
• Beat Holmdel in the semifinals and Raritan in the first round 
• Scored 537 points – 44.75 average
• Allowed 194 points – 16.17 average, including two shutouts  
• Wins Included: Delbarton, Rahway, Cranford, Warren Hills, Governor Livingston 
• Losses: None 

Departing Seniors:   

• QB Jalahn Dabney – Albany 
• RB Rob Fiorentino – Kansas as a walk-on 
• TE/LB Joe Ciempola – College of New Jersey 
• OL Charley Burkhardt – College of New Jersey 
• WR/DB Duke McDuffie – Delaware Valley 
• WR/DB Da’Shaun Smith – King’s College 
• DE Quron Smith – Utica 

*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: Air Raid
Returning Starters: 5

Quarterback:  

• Justin Brenner, Senior, 6-1, 185 – projected starter 

Running Back:  

• Cookie Desiderio, Junior, 6-1, 220 – will share the position 
• Deondre Gibson, Junior, 6-1, 200 – will share the position 
• Tristan Garcia, Sophomore, 6-0, 184 – will share the position 

Wide Receiver:  

• Ethan Hilliman, Senior, 6-4, 215 – returning starter 
• Kyree Hinton, Senior, 6-0, 175 – returning starter 
• Otto Kornas, Senior, 6-1, 175 – projected starter 
• Thomas Cantilon, Junior, 5-8, 155 – projected starter 
• Jaimen Bryant, Sophomore, 5-8, 150 – competing and will see action 
• Eric Bryant, Senior, 5-8, 150 – competing and will see action
• Austin Sasiak, Junior, 58, 150 – competing and will see action
• Nigel Tucker, Sophomore, 5-8, 130 – competing and will see action 

Tight End (when used):   

• Ethan MacNair, Sophomore, 6-0, 200  
• Owen O’Neill, Junior, 6-3, 200  
• Sal Altomonte, Junior, 6-4, 195   

Offensive Line:  

• Pat Peluso, Senior, 6-2, 230 – returning starter at guard 
• Noah Garcia, Junior, 5-10, 180 – returning starter at guard 
• Jeff Pan, Senior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter at tackle 
• AJ Pena, Junior, 6-2, 225 – projected starter at tackle 
• Sal Longo, Sophomore, 5-10, 200 – competing 
• Garrett Koplitz, Sophomore, 5-10, 230 – competing 
• Juan Jimenez, Junior, 5-10, 220 – competing 
• Ryan Manhardt, Sophomore, 6-3, 295 – competing 
• AIdan Vostrovsky, Sophomore, 6-3, 280 – competing 
• The five best players will start 

Defense:  

• Formation: 4-3
• Returning Starters: 5  

End:  

• AJ Pena, Junior – returning starter 
• Ethan Hilliman, Senior – returning starter 
• Jeff Pan, Senior – provides depth 
• Ryan McLamore, Junior, 5-8, 195 – provides depth 

Tackle:  

• Noah Irwin, Senior, 5-9, 195 – returning starter at nose guard 
• Owen O’Neill, Junior – competing at tackle 
• Noah Garcia, Junior – competing at tackle 
• Pat Peluso, Senior – provides depth 

Linebacker:   

• Will McIntyre, Senior, 5-10, 185 – competing 
• Sean Aira-Spiess, Senior, 5-11, 220 – competing 
• Drew Curielo, Junior, 5-11, 190 – competing  
• Ethan MacNair, Sophomore – competing  
• Deondre Gadson, Junior – competing 
• Cookie Desiderio, Junior – competing 
• Tristan Garcia, Sophomore – competing 
• All will play 

Cornerback:  

• Eric Bryant, Senior – returning starter 
• Otto Kornas, Senior – competing at other corner 
• Thomas Cantilon, Junior – competing at other corner 
• Nigel Tucker, Sophomore – competing at other corner  

Safety:  

• Kyree Hinton, Senior – returning starter at free safety 
• Jaimen Bryant, Sophomore – projected starter at strong safety 
• Austin Sasiak, Junior – provides depth 

Special Teams: 

• Kicker and punter will be decided in camp 
• Hinton, Jaimen Bryant, and Desiderio will be the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 9/6, Hamilton at home 
• Friday, 9/13, at North Plainfield 
• Friday, 9/20, at Voorhees 
• Friday, 9/27, at Cranford 
• Saturday, 10/5, at Summit 
• Friday, 10/11, Warren Hills at home 
• Friday, 10/18, Rahway at home 
• Friday, 10/25, Governor Livingston at home 
• Friday, 11/1, Immaculata at home 

Concerns: 

• Lack of experience, but there is talent to work with 

Recruiting:  

• Hilliman is a 1-AA or 1-A candidate 
• Eric Bryant, Huinton, Peluso, and Korves are D3 prospects 

• Underclassmen:
• Desiderio is 1-AA or 1-A, depending on his junior year with the potential to be very good
• AJ Pena is a 1-AA/1-A candidate 

Coach’s Comments:  

“We’re excited to compete at the highest level. We have the talent to do it and it’s a matter of gaining experience every week.” – Head Coach Dallas Whitaker