Cherokee Chiefs 

2020: 

• 5-2 
• 243 points scored; 34.71 average 
• 109 points scored; 15.57 average 
• Wins: Woodrow Wilson, Hun School,  Shawnee, Seneca, Pennsauken 
• Losses: Lenape, St. Joe’s (Montvale) 

Graduation:  

• OL/DL Josh Toner – James Madison 
• QB Billy Osborn – East Coast Prep (Mass.) 
• OL/DL Matt Ellis – Mount Marty (SD) 
• WR/DB Caden Burti – NJ Gators as a post-grad 
• WR Chima Opara – New Haven 
• DB Darnell Hightower – Bloomsburg (Pa.) 
• K Mike Fitzpatrick – Montclair State 
• OL Ryan Doyle – Ursinus (Pa.) 
• C Austin Angradi – Kean for lacrosse 
• LB Chris Bonfiglia – baseball 

2021 Captains:  

• Not named 

Offense:  

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 2 

Quarterback: 

• Ryan Bender, Sophomore, Sophomore, 6-3, 190 – competing 
• Luke Brown, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – competing 

Running Back: 

• Brandon Boria, Junior, 5-10, 170 – 3-year starter 
• Sean Cole, Junior, 5-8, 170 – will spell Boria 

Wide Receiver: 

• Cam Burti, Junior, 5-10, 165 – projected starter 
• Tom Pajic, Sophomore, 5-11, 165 – projected starter 
• Tyler Kellenberger, Senior, 5-10, 165 – projected starter 
• Jake Zubricky, Junior, 6-2, 190 – projected starter; will also play tight end 

Offensive Line: 

• Tom Nigro, Senior, 5-11, 230 – projected starter at left tackle; started on defense 
• Jake Ellis, Junior, 5-11, 260 – projected starter at left guard 
• DJ Mondile, Senior, 5-11, 270 – projected starter at center 
• Dom DeChurch, Junior, 5-11, 250 – projected starter at right guard 
• Aidan Geisenheimer, Senior, 6-1, 280 – returning starter at right tackle 

Defense:  

• Formation: 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 

Defensive Line: 

• Tom Nigro, Senior, 5-11, 230 – returning starter at end 
• Bill Westerby, Senior, 5-10, 205 – 3-year starter at end 
• Leo Bluestein, Sophomore, 6-1, 200 – part of rotation at end 
• Jacob Jones, Senior, 6-1, 230 – part of rotation at end 
• Dom DeChurch, Junior, 5-11, 250 – competing and will rotate at nose guard 
• Jake Ellis, Junior, 5-11, 260 – competing and will rotate at nose guard 

Linebacker: 

• Mike Muckensturm, Senior, 5-9, 180 – 3-year starter on inside  
• Roman Dougherty, Junior, 6-1, 195 – projected starter on inside; started one game 
• Aiden Nelson, Senior, 5-9, 170 – projected starter on outside 
• Austin Leonart, Sophomore, 6-0, 200 – competing on outside 
• Zach Franz, Senior, 5-11, 190 – 5-11, 190 – competing on outside 

Secondary: 

• Miles Jefferson, Senior, 5-10, 165 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Tony Campbell, Senior, 5-11, 170 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Brian Mitchell, Junior, 5-9, 160 – projected starter at safety 
• Sean Cole, Junior, 5-8, 170 – projected starter at safety 
• Christian Park, Senior, 5-10, 170 – part of rotation at safety 
• Tyler Kellenberger, Senior, 5-10, 165 – part of rotation at cornerback 

Special Teams: 

• Pajic will be the kicker and punter 
• Boria and Cole are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Thursday, 9/2, Lenape at home 
• Friday, 9/10, St. Joe’s (Hammonton) at home 
• 9/17-18, Bye Week 
• Friday, 9/24, Washington Township at home 
• Friday, 10/1, at Eastern 
• Friday, 10/8, Shawnee at home 
• Saturday, 10/16, at Rancocas Valley 
• Friday, 10/22, Kingsway at home 
• 10/29-30, Bye Week 
• Thursday, 11/25, at Seneca 

Concerns:  

• Youth and inexperience 

Recruiting:

• Geissenheimer and Nigro are D2/D3 because of height issues
• Most are D2/D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Boria will become a Power-5 running back 

Coach’s Comments:  

“We’re looking forward to the season and the normalcy we’re accustomed to. The kids are working hard; we may be young, but we have a core we can build around. We are looking forward to the competitive schedule we have.” – Head Coach Brian Glatz