Clifton Mustangs
2021:
- 10-3
- Lost to East Orange in the North Jersey Group 5 regional championship
- Won the North Jersey Section 2 Group 5 title by beating Eastside, in the finals, Phillipsburg in the semifinals, and Hackensack in the first round
- Scored 366 points: 28.15 average
- Allowed 218 points: 16.77 average, including two shutouts
- Wins included Eastside, Old Tappan, Passaic Tech, and Hackensack
- Losses were to Northern Highlands and Delbarton
Graduation:
- OL/DL Tyler Williams – Maine
- RB Bryan Feliciano – Springfield
- DE Nick Burgess – Springfield
- QB Kyle Vellis – Ithaca
- WR/DB Omar Muheisen – Delaware Valley
- DB Chance Blount – Western New England
- WR/DB Donovan Swasey – Caldwell College sprint football
- WR/DB Michael Kristof – Caldwell College sprint football
- RB/LB Jacob Maldonado – Montclair State for lacrosse
- WR/LB Luke Ceneri – Montclair State for lacrosse
- RB AJ Torre – Felician College for lacrosse
Offense:
- Formation: Multiple Spread
- Returning Starters: 2
Quarterback:
- Romelo Tables, Sophomore, 6-0, 180 – projected starter
Running Back:
- Devon Stroble, Junior, 5-11, 185 – projected starter
- Luke Chambers, Senior, 5-10, 175 – will spell Stroble
Wide Receiver:
- Marvin Bailey, Junior, 5-9, 165 – projected starter; started on defense
- Nate Ceneri, Junior, 5-11, 185 – will share position in 2-wide receiver sets
- Alex Franco, Junior, 5-9, 165 – will share position in 2-wide receiver sets
- Jason Crespo, Senior, 5-11, 190 – part of the rotation
- Pete Lichansky, Senior, 5-9, 150 – part of the rotation
Tight End:
- Joe Abill, Senior, 6-0, 215 – 3-year starter
- Marcos Betances, Senior, 6-0, 210 – will spell Abill and play in 2-tight end sets
Offensive Line:
- Trumain Lawson, Junior, 6-5, 245 – returning starter at left tackle, moving from guard
- Jacob Vasquez, Senior, 5-10, 270 – projected starter at left guard
- Jared Donis, Senior, 6-0, 290 – projected starter at center
- Jary Hernandez, Senior, 5-10, 260 – projected starter at right guard
- Nazareth Aquino, Senior, 6-1, 270 – projected starter at right tackle
- DJ Burrell, Senior, 6-3, 240 – provides depth along the line
- Isaac Casimoski, Sophomore, 5-10, 275 – provides depth along the line
Defense:
- Formation: Multiple 3-4
- Returning Starters: 2
Defensive Line:
- Jacob Vasquez, Senior, 5-10, 270 – projected starter at nose guard
- Isaac Casimoski, Sophomore, 5-10, 275 – part of the rotation at nose guard
- Trumain Lawson, Junior, 6-5, 245 – projected starter at end
- Geovany Duran, Senior, 5-11, 225 – projected starter at end
- Nazareth Aquino, Senior, 6-1, 270 – part of rotation at end
Linebacker:
- Joe Abill, Senior, 6-0, 215 – 3-year starter on inside
- Kyano Jimenez, Junior, 5-6, 175 – projected starter on inside
- Marcos Betances, Senior, 6-0, 210 – projected starter on outside
- Alexander Francisco, Sophomore, 5-9, 180 – competing on outside
- Abel Chong, Junior, 5-10, 185 – competing on outside
Secondary:
- Marvin Bailey, Junior, 5-9, 165 – returning starter at cornerback
- Alex Franco, Junior, 5-9, 165 – projected starter at cornerback
- Pete Lichansky, Senior, 5-9, 150 – part of rotation at cornerback
- Nate Ceneri, Junior, 5-11, 185 – projected starter at safety
- Devon Stroble, Junior, 5-11, 185 – projected starter at safety
- Yves Jean, Senior, 5-9, 185 – part of rotation at safety
Special Teams:
- Senior Ryan Liszner returns at kicker and junior Luke Ceneri will be the punter
- Bailey, Chambers, and Franco are the return men
Schedule:
- Thursday, 9/1, East Orange at home
- Friday, 9/9, Ridgewood at home
- Friday, 9/16, Eastside at Kean University
- Saturday, 9/24, at Delbarton
- Friday, 9/20, Passaic at home
- Friday, 10/7, Passaic Tech at home
- Friday, 10/14, at Northern Highlands
- Friday, 10/21, at Union City
Concerns:
- Being able to withstand the first four games with new kida
- Being mentally tough
Recruiting:
- Abill has a Marist offer and also has a wrestling offer
- Betances and Vasquez can play in college
- Other seniors need a good seasons
- Underclassmen:
- Lawson has seven offers, including Syracuse, Temple, Duke, Pitt, and Kansas
- Bailey has potential
- Ceneri can go somewhere with a good year
Coach’s Comments:
“We’re tough kids and we preach being Clifton tough. We graduated 20 seniors with a good number playing college sports. We have good players this year, but we will be junior-oriented and green in a lot of spots.” – Head Coach Ralph Cinque