Post 49 – HS Football – Preview: Newton

August 21, 2018

2017 In Review:  The Braves were 12-0, winning the North Jersey Section 1 Group 2 championship by beating Lakeland after beating Westwood and Pequannock.  They scored 410 points for a 34.17 average, while allowing 99 for an 8.25 average, including two shutouts.  Wins included Lenape Valley, Lakeland, and Hackettstown.

Graduation Losses:  QB/DB Luke Young – College of New Jersey, RB/DB Chase Cramer – Lycoming (Pa.), RB/LB Will Larsen – Albright, TE/LB Jonathan Van Ness – Albright, WR/DB Jaiden Elliott – College of New Jersey

Offense:  Newton runs a multiple Wing-T and returns two starters.  The quarterback will be senior Michael Freda (5-8, 180), who played some in the secondary last year.  The fullback will be senior Ryan Kaiser (5-11, 215), who started on defense.  One halfback also features another defensive starter in senior Nick Brigante (6-0, 190) and the other halfback has sophomore Peyton Nolan (5-9, 165) rotating with senior Kevin Lupo (5-9, 160).

The tight end will be senior Ryan Miller (6-2, 220) and split end will have sophomore Aaron Fantasia (5-10, 160) with sophomore Dylan Bailey (6-1, 165) also getting time. 

Two three-year starters return to the line in senior center Justin Mayhood (6-0, 210) and senior left guard Matt Somers (5-11, 195).  Right tackle will have senior Jimmy Harding (5-10, 230) and he started defensively last year.  Senior Joe Gubenard (5-9, 175) will be the right guard and senior Cullen Orabone (6-1, 225) will play left tackle.  A talented underclassman is sophomore Jacob Tonking (6-3, 260) and he may factor in at tackle.

Defense:  The Braves run a 5-2 and return three starters and another who played.  Brigante and Harding are three-year starters at end and tackle, respectively.  Mayhood will be the other end, while junior John Kreusch (5-11, 200) is at tackle and Somers starting at nose guard.  Tonking will rotate at both nose guard and tackle.

Linebacker has a three-year starter in Kaiser and Guberbard will be his partner.  Rotating in will be junior Julian Sibblies (5-10, 170).

Freda saw time at safety, especially late in the year and Fantasia will be paired with him.  Possibly getting time is sophomore Ryan Pappas (5-10, 160).  The corners will be Lupo and Nolan.

Special Teams:  The kicker will be Bailey, while Kreusch will punt.  Nolan will return punts and kickoffs, while Brigante returns kickoffs.

Schedule:

Friday, 8/31, at Lenape Valley, 7 PM
Friday, 9/7, Pequannock at home, 7 PM
Friday, 9/14, Whippany Park, 7 PM
Friday, 9/21, at High Point, 7 PM
Friday, 9/28, at Hopatcong, 7 PM
Friday, 10/5, North Warren at home, 7 PM
Saturday, 10/13, at Wallkill Valley, 1 PM
Friday, 10/19, Kittatinny at home, 7 PM
Friday, 10/26, Madison at home, 7 PM

Recruits:  Kaiser is drawing interest from Kutztown and Shippensburg, while Brigante is a D2 prospect.

The sophomore class features Tomking, who is raw but talented.

Concerns:  Staying healthy and relying on the eighteen who play and how quickly incoming sophomores develop.

Coach’s Comments:  “We were 12-0 last year, looking to build a tradition and sustain success.  We have a few three-year starters in the trenches and that gives me confidence.” – Head Coach Matt Parzero

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