Cedar Grove Panthers 

2021: 

• 12-1 
• Won North Jersey Group 1 regional championship by beating Park Ridge 
• Won North Jersey Section 2 Group 1 sectional championship by beating Mountain Lakes in the finals, Boonton in the semi-finals, and Cresskill in the first round 
• Scored 451 points: 34.69 average 
• Allowed 157 points: 12.08 average 
• Wins included Boonton, Pequannock, Shabazz, and University (Florida) 
• Their loss was to Caldwell 

Graduation: 

• RB/DB Mike Marinelli – College of New Jersey (TCNJ) 
• OL/DL Nick Christiano – Montclair State 
• FB/LB Patch McCarthy – Springfield 
• QB Alfonso Lombardi – Stockton State for baseball 
• OL Matt Duarte – Drew for lacrosse 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 4 

Quarterback: 

• Thomas Gabriele, Senior, 6-1, 160 – competing 
• Stephen Paradiso, Sophomore, 5-9, 185 – competing 

Running Back: 

• Mike Willis, Senior, 5-10, 190 – returning starter 
• Matt McAuliffe, Senior, 5-9, 190 – will play the fullback role Patch McCarthy did 

Wide Receiver: 

• Chris Babcock, Senior, 5-11, 165 – returning starter 
• Nick Iannacone, Junior, 5-11, 180 – projected starter in the slot; started on defense 
• Jackson Morrice, Sophomore, 5-9, 165 – projected starter in the slot 
• Edmund Dakar, Senior, 6-1, 190 – competing at opposite wide receiver; started on defense 
• Nick Droge, Junior, 6-0, 160 – competing at opposite wide receiver 
• Lucas Droge, Junior, 6-0, 160 – competing at opposite wide receiver; Nick’s twin 
• Nick Russo, Sophomore, 6-2, 175 – competing at opposite wide receiver 
• Adolfo Cadillo, Senior, 6-1, 165 – competing at opposite wide receiver 

Offensive Line: 

• Denham Ingalls, Senior, 6-2, 230 – returning starter at tackle 
• CJ Morrice, Senior, 5-10, 225 – returning starter at tackle or guard; started at tackle 
• Jean-Carlo Gonzalez, Junior, 6-0, 250 – competing at guard 
• Anthony Paine, Senior, 5-8, 185 – competing at other three positions 
• Bobby Kelly, Junior, 6-0, 190 – competing at other three positions; started two games at tackle 
• Nick Genuario, Junior, 5-7, 155 – competing at other three positions 
• Jake Jordan, Sophomore, 5-8, 215 – competing at other three positions 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 7 

Defensive Line: 

• CJ Morrice, Senior, 5-10, 225 – returning starter at nose guard 
• Denham Ingalls, Senior, 6-2, 230 – returning starter at end 
• AJ Soriano, Senior, 5-8, 200 – returning starter at end 

Linebacker: 

• Mike Willis, Senior, 5-10, 190 – returning starter on outside 
• James Cantarelli, Senior, 6-3, 180 – returning starter on outside 
• Matt McAuliffe, Senior, 5-9, 190 – started six games on inside and is projected there 
• Bobby Kelly, Junior, 6-0, 190 – competing on inside 
• Gianluca Targia, Junior, 5-7, 165 – competing on inside 

Secondary: 

• Nick Iannacone, Junior, 5-11, 180 – returning starter at free safety 
• Edmund Dakar, Senior, 6-1, 190 – returning starter at strong safety, moving from cornerback 
• Chris Babcock, Senior, 5-11, 165 – projected starter at cornerback, where he saw action 
• Dante Martinez, Senior, 5-10, 160 – competing at opposite corner 
• Ben DiChiara, Junior, 5-9, 165 – competing at opposite corner 
• Thomas Gabriele, Senior, 6-1, 160 – competing at opposite corner 
• Adolfo Cadillo, Senior, 6-1, 165 – competing at opposite corner 

Special Teams: 

• Chris Babcock is a 3-year starter at kicker, while punter has not been decided 
• Iannacone, Jackson Morrice, and Willis are the projected return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 8/26, Salem at Ocean City 
• Friday, 9/2, Glen Ridge at home 
• Friday, 9/9, Shabazz at home 
• Friday, 9/16, at Boonton 
• Friday, 9/23, Immaculate Conception at home 
• Saturday, 10/1, at Newark Collegiate 
• Friday, 10/7, Verona at home 
• Friday, 10/14, at Caldwell 
• Friday, 10/21, at Hoboken 

Concerns: 

• Finding an identity 
• Being the hunted 
• Coming out to a fast start 

Recruiting: 

• Willis can go anywhere from 1-AA to D3; can play in the Patriot League, as he has been invited to camps, including Fordham 
• Cantarelli has the same range as WIllis 
• The rest are D3 types if they want to play 
• Underclassmen: 
• Iannacone has the most potential among the underclassmen 

Coach’s Comments: 

“The program is in a good spot with 58 players from grades 9 through 12. We face a grueling schedule, beginning with our opener against Salem. We have 7-8 players back on defense and we will rely on them until the offense hits its stride.” – Head Coach Rob Gogerty