Pope John Lions 

2021: 

• 1-9 
• Lost to St. Peter’s Prep in the Non-Public A playoffs 
• Scored 113 points: 11.30 average 
• Allowed: 325 points: 32.50 average 
• Their win came against Paramus Catholic 
• Losses included Bergen Catholic, DePaul, St. Joe’s (Montvale), Seton Hall Prep, Delbarton, and St. Peter’s Prep 

Graduation: 

• OL Brady Anderson – Wagner 
• LB Jack Stoll – Central Connecticut 
• C/DL Jake Rubin – Union 
• TE/DE Billy Guthrie – Union 
• OL Alex Harby – Muhlenberg 
• WR/DB Brendan Coffey – Mississippi State as a walk-on 
• OL Jacob Brennan – St. Bonaventure for Rugby 
• OL Chase Orlando – U of New England 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread
• Returning Starters: 4 

Quarterback: 

• Chris Dietrich, Junior, 6-3, 215 – competing; Bernards transfer 
• Tyler Houser, Sophomore, 6-1, 200 – competing; started late in season 

Running Back: 

• Tylik Hill, Sophomore, 5-9, 195 – returning starter here and in the slot 
• Zac Cusick, Junior, 5-10, 190 – returning starter, moving from quarterback 
• Sean Line, Senior, 6-0, 220 – will see action; started on defense 
• All will play 

Wide Receiver: 

• Wes Johnston, Sophomore, 6-2, 195 – projected starter who played often 
• Charlie Mulligan, Junior, 5-10, 195 – projected starter who was injured much of last year 
• Terrance Sumter, Junior, 5-6, 180 – returning starter in the slot and also played running back last year 
• Joey Rozynski, Sophomore, 5-9, 175 – projected starter in the slot 

Tight End: 

• Joe Pallay, Sophomore, 6-1, 215 – projected starter 

Offensive Line: 

• Justin Platt, Junior, 6-4, 255 – returning starter at left tackle 
• Alex Gori, Senior, 6-2, 240 – competing at left guard 
• Markane Elliot, Sophomore, 5-10, 280 – competing at left guard 
• Jarrod Cofrancesco, Sophomore, 6-1, 245 – projected starter at center 
• Quinn Muli, Sophomore, 6-2, 275 – projected starter at right guard 
• Dan O’Leary, Sophomore, 6-3, 255 – projected starter at right tackle 
• Cardin Madry, Senior, 6-2, 240 – could play; started on defense 
• Eric Sanabria, Sophomore, 5-11, 250 – could play 

Defense: 

• Formation: Multiple 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 8 

Defensive Line: 

• Cardin Madry, Senior, 6-2, 240 – projected starter at end 
• Eric Sanabria, Sophomore, 5-11, 250 – projected starter at nose guard 
• Joey Smart, Junior, 6-2, 215 – projected starter at end 
• Damon DeFazio, Sophomore, 6-1, 200 – part of rotation at end 

Linebacker: 

• Sean Line, Senior, 6-0, 220 – 3-year starter on inside 
• Nick Castorina, Senior, 6-1, 225 – returning starter on inside 
• Sir Paris Jones, Junior, 6-0, 225 – projected starter inside and outside; was projected to start last year before being injured 
• Joey Walton, Junior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter 
• Justin Fontana, Senior, 6-2, 195 – returning starter, moving from safety 
• All five players will play with each receiving 60 snaps per game 

Secondary: 

• Omari Gaines, Sophomore, 6-2, 185 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Chaas McCoy, Junior, 5-11, 185 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Danny Platt, Junior, 6-2, 200 – returning starter at safety 
• Jazaire Aurelus, Sophomore, 5-10, 185 – projected starter at safety 
• Zac Cusick, Junior, 5-10, 190 – competing at safety; saw action here 
• Wes Johnston, Sophomore, 6-2, 195 – part of rotation at cornerback and safety 

Special Teams: 

• Junior Jack Morgese returns at kicker and punter 
• Cusick, Hill, and McCoy are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Saturday, 8/27, Immaculate Conception at home 
• Saturday, 9/3, Seton Hall Prep at Rutgers 
• Saturday, 9/10, Paramus Catholic at home 
• Sunday, 9/18, Cardinal Hayes (NY) at Rutgers 
• 9/23-24, Bye Week 
• Saturday, 10/1, Immaculata at home 
• Saturday, 10/8, at Delbarton 
• Saturday, 10/15, DePaul at home 
• Friday, 10/21, at Hudson Catholic 
• Saturday, 10/29, at St. Joe’s (Metuchen) 

Concerns: 

• Youth, especially up front – the team had a productive offseason and have had strong leadership 

Recruiting: 

• Line verballed to Harvard
• Fontana has interest from 1-AA and he will attend a high-academic institution, possibly a NESCAC school 
• Castorina has 1-AA interest 
• Madry is a D2/D3 candidate 
• Underclassmen: 
• Morgese has an offer from North Carolina State 
• Several juniors will play on the 1-AA/D2 level: Justin and Danny Platt (cousins), Cusick, McCoy, Walton, Sumter, and Dietrich 
• Smart may play at a military school 
• Gaines, a sophomore, has offers from Penn State, Rutgers, Boston College, Illinois, Ole Miss, and others 
• Johnston is a Power-5 candidate as a sophomore 
• Hill has speed and vision 
• Houser is another intriguing player 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We will be real young, just like last year, with 6 seniors, 17 juniors, and 23 sophomores. There is varsity experience, we’re just young. It’s a matter of how quickly we grow up and adjust to the speed of the game.” – Head Coach Dom Gaston