Northern Highlands Highlanders 

2021: 

• 12-1 
• Lost to Irvington in the North Jersey Group 4 regional championship 
• Won the North Jersey Section 1 Group 4 championship by beating Ramapo in the finals, Mount Olive in the semifinals, and Montgomery in the first round 
• Scored 437 points: 33.62 average 
• Allowed 152 points: 11.69 average, including three shutouts 
• Wins included West Morris, Clifton, Eastside, Passaic Tech, Somerville, and West Essex 

Graduation: 

• QB Enzo Arjona – Monmouth 
• WR/DB Ian Langan – Lafayette 
• OL/DL Charlie Johnson – Union 
• DB Austin Calarco – Bentley 
• RB/LB Jayden Dorilas – New Haven 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 2 

Quarterback: 

• Steven Walley, Junior, 5-11, 170 – competing 
• Nate Johnson, Sophomore, 5-10, 180 – competing 

Running Back: 

• Charlie Sparago, Senior, 5-11, 190 – part of committee; played late and started on defense 
• John Aboussleman, Junior, 5-10, 185 – part of committee 
• Cole Stecker, Junior, 5-11, 175 – part of committee 

Wide Receiver: 

• Zach Madison, Senior, 6-3, 195 – returning starter 
• Fred Kanning, Junior, 6-2, 190 – projected starter 
• Luke Saturn, Senior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter 
• William Prince, Sophomore, 5-10, 170 – provides depth 

Tight End: 

• Danny Smiechowski, Junior, 5-10, 185 – competing 
• Alex Hajal, Senior, 6-0, 185 – competing 

Offensive Line: 

• Scott Christie, Senior, 6-3, 250 – returning starter at right tackle 
• David Barrantas, Junior, 5-11, 250 – projected starter at right guard 
• Will Paquin, Junior, 5-11, 210 – projected starter at center 
• Blake Taranto, Junior, 5-11, 205 – projected starter at left guard 
• Chase Fishman, Senior, 6-0, 200 – projected starter at left tackle; started on defense 
• John Golden, Junior, 6-1, 200 – competing along the line 
• John Lavinio, Senior, 5-11, 195 – competing along the line; started on defense 

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 6 

Defensive Line: 

• John Lavinio, Senior, 5-11, 195 – returning starter at nose guard 
• Jack Inserra, Senior, 6-2, 215 – returning starter at end 
• Chase Fishman, Senior, 6-0, 200 – returning starter at end 

Linebacker: 

• Zach Chostaka, Senior, 5-11, 210 – returning starter on inside 
• Roman Dario, Senior, 5-9, 190 – projected starter on inside 
• John Aboussleman, Junior, 5-10, 185 – projected starter on outside 
• Pierson DeBruyn, Senior, 6-3, 220 – projected starter on outside; first year on team and plays on hockey in winter  

Secondary: 

• Charlie Sparago, Senior, 5-11, 190 – returning starter at strong safety, moving from linebacker 
• Zach Madison, Senior, 6-3, 195 – returning starter at free safety; could play cornerback 
• Cole Stecker, Junior, 5-11, 175 – competing at free safety 
• Danny Smiechowski, Junior, 5-10, 185 – competing at free safety 
• Andre Johnson, Senior, 5-9, 175 – projected starter at cornerback 
• Matt Boydell, Sophomore, 6-0, 175 – competing at opposite corner 
• Michael Danza, Junior, 6-1, 180 – competing at opposite corner 

Special Teams: 

• Junior Daniel Moor returns at kicker and will add punting duties 
• Prince and Stecker will be the return men 

Schedule: 

• Sunday, 9/4, Winslow at Rutgers 
• Friday, 9/9, at Old Tappan 
• Friday, 9/16, at Ridgewood 
• Friday, 9/23, Pascack Valley at home 
• Friday, 9/30, at Ramapo 
• Friday, 10/7, Hackensack at home 
• Friday, 10/14, Clifton at home 
• Friday, 10/21, at Wayne Hills 

Concerns: 

• Inexperience 

Recruiting: 

• Madison, Inserra, and Chostaka are high academic 1-AA prospects
• Sparago will go anywhere from 1-AA to D3 
• Christie will only be playing his second year of football and can also range from 1-AA to D3 
• The sleeper of the group is DeBruyn who is in his first year after playing hockey 
• Others may be able to play D3 
• Underclassmen: 
• Too early to tell with this being their first varsity year for all of them 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We’re very talented and there are many new faces. We graduated fifteen starters and there are seven starters back who are being great leaders. There is talent coming up and I love their work ethic, but we will need to gel quickly.” – Head Coach Dave Cord