Post 828 – Team Preview 2022: Bernards Mountaineers

Bernards Mountaineers  

2021: 

  • 8-3
  • Lost to Haddonfield in Central Jersey Group 2 semi-finals after beating Bound Brook in the first round 
  • Scored 343 points: 31.18 average 
  • Allowed 193 points: 17.54 average 
  • Wins included Hillside, Brearley, and North Plainfield 
  • Losses were to Penns Grove and Delaware Valley 

Graduation: 

  • WR Brady Walsh – Wesleyan 
  • Many players at Bernards choose academics first, even if it means they don’t play sports 

Offense: 

  • Formation: Multiple Spread 
  • Returning Starters: 5 

Quarterback: 

  • Connor Laverty, Junior, 6-2, 180 – returning starter 

Running Back: 

  • Nicky Koulfie, Senior, 5-8, 140 – projected starter and saw action when Mike Leanza was injured 
  • Daniel Ferguson, Sophomore, 6-2, 190 – will spell Koulfie 

Wide Receiver: 

  • Enzo Britez, Senior, 5-10, 140 – returning starter 
  • Tommy Hanratty, Senior, 5-10, 140 – returning starter 
  • Jake Caldwell, Junior, 5-8, 150 – projected starter; started on defense 
  • Aidan Laverty, Senior, 6-2, 160 – projected starter 
  • Nick Villani, Junior, 5-9, 150 – part of the rotation 
  • Logan Marks, Junior, 6-0, 180 – part of the rotation 

Tight End (when used): 

  • Charlie Gonella, Junior, 5-10, 170 – played last year; started on defense 

Offensive Line: 

  • Logan Ritchie, Junior, 6-4, 245 – returning starter at right tackle, moving from guard 
  • Gabe McKinlay, Senior, 6-0, 240 – 3-year starter at left guard 
  • Tim Pagonis, Junior, 6-5, 250 – competing at the other three positions 
  • Atticus Palmer, Junior, 5-10, 240 – competing at the other three positions 
  • RJ Bubnowski, Junior, 6-0, 210 – competing at the other three positions 
  • Luke Hartjen, Junior, 5-11, 180 – competing at the other three positions 
  • David Silva, Sophomore, 6-2, 200 – competing at the other three positions 

Defense: 

  • Formation: 3-3 Stack 
  • Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line: 

  • Pablo Britez, Senior, 6-3, 280 – returning starter at nose guard 
  • Josh Kutakoff, Junior, 6-1, 170 – projected starter at end 
  • Noah Osborne, Senior, 6-0, 180 – projected starter at end 
  • Jake Ballard, Senior, 5-10, 250 – part of nose guard rotation 
  • Grayson Meyer, Sophomore, 5-10, 175 – part of rotation at end 

Linebackers: 

  • Charlie Gonella, Junior, 5-10, 170 – returning starter on inside 
  • Kai Dallimore, Senior, 5-10, 185 – returning starter on inside 
  • Alex Wellington, Senior, 5-8, 210 – competing on inside and outside 
  • Daniel Ferguson, Sophomore, 6-2, 190 – competing on inside and outside 
  • Owen Liming, Junior, 5-10, 180 – competing on inside and outside 
  • Brandon Shafer, Sophomore, 6-0, 160 – competing on the outside only  
  • Mitch Dakin, Junior, 5-10, 150 – competing on the outside only 

Secondary: 

  • Jake Caldwell, Junior, 5-8, 150 – 3-year starter at free safety 
  • Enzo Britez, Senior, 5-10, 140 – returning starter at cornerback 
  • Tommy Hanratty, Senior, 5-10, 140 – returning starter at cornerback 
  • Max Austin, Sophomore, 6-1, 150 – competing for rotation time 
  • Jaden Phillips, Junior, 6-0, 145 – competing for rotation time 
  • Milo DiSabato, Junior, 5-8, 150 – competing for rotation time 
  • Nicky Koulfie, Senior, 5-8, 140 – saw action, but may concentrate on offense 

Special Teams: 

  • Junior Simon Bramwit returns at kicker, but faces challenges from sophomore Jonas Gonzalez and freshman Noah Ochav at kicker and punter 
  • Return men are Koulfie, Caldwell, and senior Julian Martinez (5-10, 155), a track runner out for football 

Schedule: 

  • Friday, 8/26, Overbrook at home 
  • Friday, 9/2, Hillside at home 
  • Saturday, 9/10, at South River 
  • Friday, 9/16, at Voorhees 
  • Friday, 9/23, at Delaware Valley 
  • Friday, 9/30, North Plainfield at home 
  • Friday, 10/7, at Bound Brook 
  • Friday, 10/14, New Providence at home 
  • Friday, 10/21, Governor Livingston at home 

Concerns: 

  • Graduating three offensive linemen who were two and three-year starters 
  • Ambitious schedule, especially the early part 
  • Solving South Jersey in the playoffs 

Recruiting: 

  • Dallimore has Patriot League interest, but could also play D2 or D3
  • Gonella and Enzo Britez are D2/D3 
  • McKinlay is a D2/D3 prospect who wants to play football and baseball 
  • Caldwell will go the lacrosse route 
  • Underclassmen: 
  • Laverty and Ritchie have high potential and much will depend on their junior years 

Coach’s Comments:

“We graduate key offensive linemen and wide receivers. We’re blessed to bring back our quarterback in Colin Laverty, defensive players, and two offensive linemen. We’ll be turning over a new page.” – Head Coach Jon Simoneau 

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.