August, 27, 2018
2017 In Review: The Knights were 8-2, losing to Hasbrouck Heights in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 1 semi-finals to Hasbrouck Heights after beating Wood-Ridge. They scored 306 points for a 30.6 average and allowed 110 for an 11.0 average, including two shutouts. Wins included Pompton Lakes, Hawthorne, St. Mary, and Wallington and their other loss was to Rutherford.
Graduation Losses: TE/LB Matt McElroy – Penn, QB Ryan Picinic – Stonehill, WR/CB Nick Klein – Ithaca, T/DT Jackson Brown – SUNY Cortland, WR Rhys Farley – Montclair State, OL Tyler Dzadik – Kean
Offense: New Milford runs a Multiple Pro-I, and returns five starters. Taking over the offense at QB will be senior Brian Mackey (6-4, 185). Returning at tailback are senior Bart Nativo (5-9, 165), and senior Alex Molina (6-1, 200), while returning at fullback is senior John DeSena (5-10, 190).
Also returning is junior Tyler Picinic (6-4, 205), who will start at tight end, and also see carries at both fullback and tailback. Junior Matt Gilmour (5-11, 195) will be the TE when Picinic is featured elsewhere. The wide receivers are seniors Elian Valdivia (6-1, 175), Thomas Silverio (6-1, 175), Branden Flecha (5-9, 165) and Tommy Ryan (6-3, 170).
The line returns senior left tackle Emmett McElroy (6-4, 240) and senior Alex Heinemann (6-0, 215), who will move to right tackle from guard. The guards are senior Shane Morgan (5-9, 190) and junior Doug Korzelius (5-10, 185). Center is senior Jonathan DaCruz (6-2, 200). Junior Scott Mackey (6-0, 175) and sophomores Darius Ferreras (5-11, 200) and Fernando Armas (6-2, 210) will have a chance to start or see significant time.
Defense: The Knights employ a 4-4, and return seven starters. Returning at the ends will be McElroy and Gilmour. Defensive tackles will have offensive linemen rotating in who did that last year.
Returning at LB are Picinic, DeSena and Molina, with seniors Christian Mastropierro (6-3, 180) and Kyle Kollias (5-11, 180) in the mix for the fourth spot.
The entire secondary graduated and the cornerbacks will be Valdivia and Silverio. Seeing time at safety will be senior Brian Johnson (6-1, 170), senior Philip Thorne (5-8, 160), junior Jais Juarbe (5-9, 160), Flecha, and Ryan.
Special Teams: The kicker is Johnson and Picinic is the punter. The long snapper is McElroy.
Schedule:
Thursday 8/30, Pompton Lakes at home, 7 PM
Friday, 9/7. at Harrison, 7 PM
Friday 9/14, at Elmwood Park, 7 PM
Friday 9/21, Hawthorne at home, 7 PM
Saturday 9/29, at Lyndhurst, 1 PM
Friday 10/5, Secaucus at home, 7 PM
10/12-13, Bye Week
10/18 or 19 NJIC Semifinals weekend (away TBA), opponent TBA
10/25 or 26 NJIC Championship weekend (home 7 PM), opponent TBA
Recruits: McElroy is receiving strong Ivy and academic D3 interest. Johnson has interest from 1-AA thru D3 as a kicker and Molina could go anywhere from 1-AA to D3. Nativo could be a D3 or academy sprint football recruit. DeSena and Heinemann could possibly play D2/D3, and Valdivia, Silverio and Flecha could be D3. Mackey could be a D3 QB, but is also a strong baseball recruit as a pitcher.
Among juniors, Picinic has Power 5 and Ivy interest, while Gilmour and Juarbe may play somewhere. Sophomores Ferreras and Armas may have potential to play down the road.
Concerns: While numbers are good, there is questionable depth up front.
Coach’s Comments: “We have 24 seniors, the most we’ve had since I’ve been here in my fourteen years here. Practice is more competitive with senior vs. senior, which is important in Group 1. We’re not as big as we’ve been in the past, but we’re fast and athletic; we will spread it out more on offense and we’re also fast on defense.” – Head Coach Billy Wilde