St. John Vianney Lancers 

2021: 

• 4-7 
• Lost to Seton Hall Prep in the Non-Public A playoffs 
• Scored 235 points: 21.36 average 
• Allowed 249 points: 22.64 average 
• Wins included Freehold Boro, Toms River South, Howell, and Toms River East 
• Losses included Donovan Catholic, Manalapan, Long Branch, and Toms River North 

Graduation: 

• DB Corey Pitts – Marist 
• LB Joey Abarno – Salve Regina 
• WR/DB Isaac Montalvo – Susquehanna 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Wing-T 
• Returning Starters: 4 

Quarterback: 

• Mike Foley, Senior, 6-4, 215 – competing; started on defense  
• Aaron Van Trease, Senior, 5-10, 175 – competing; started on defense  

Running Back: 

• Luca Minardo, Junior, 5-10, 195 – competing at fullback 
• Christain Buchanan, Senior, 5-11, 215 – competing at fullback; started on defense  
• Kyle Verriest, Senior, 6-0, 185 – 4-year starter at halfback, moving from wide receiver 
• Nick Galamb, Senior, 5-8, 175 – competing at other halfback 
• Joey Marcello, Junior, 5-9, 175 – competing at other halfback 
• Pearson Barc, Senior, 5-9, 185 – provides depth at halfback  

Wide Receiver: 

• Kyle Pettus, Senior, 6-1, 180 – projected starter 
• Jack Farah, Senior, 5-10, 180 – projected starter; started on defense  

Tight End (Situational): 

• Mike McCormack, Sophomore, 6-0, 190 – will play often 

Offensive Line: 

• Tim O’Dowd, Senior, 6-2, 255 – returning starter at left tackle, moving from guard 
• Myles Byrd-Rice, Junior, 6-0, 245 – projected starter at left guard; started on defense 
• Zach Scully, Senior, 6-0, 235 – 3-year starter at center 
• Ryan Buchanan, Junior, 6-1, 265 – projected starter at right guard; saw action 
• Andrew Chemo, Senior, 6-2, 265 – returning starter at tackle, moving from guard 
• Matthew DeFelice, Senior, 6-4, 265 – sixth man along the line 

Defense: 

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

Defensive Line: 

• Elijah Portales, Senior, 5-11, 215 – returning starter at end 
• Myles Byrd-Rice, Junior, 6-0, 245 – returning starter at end 
• Ryan Buchanan, Junior, 6-1, 265 – projected starter at tackle; saw action 
• Andrew Chemo, Senior, 6-2, 265 – returning starter at tackle 
• Tim O’Dowd, Senior, 6-2, 255 – part of rotation at tackle 
• Matthew DeFelice, Senior, 6-4, 265 – part of rotation at tackle 
• Zach Scully, Senior, 6-0, 235 – part of rotation at end 
• Nicco Aquilone, Sophomore, 6-1, 185 – part of rotation at end 

Linebacker: 

• Mike Foley, Senior, 6-4, 215 – returning starter on outside 
• Christain Buchanan, Senior, 5-11, 215 – returning starter in middle 
• Tommy Cleary, Senior, 6-0, 185 – projected starter on outside 
• Luca Minardo, Junior, 5-10, 195 – part of rotation 
• Mike McCormack, Sophomore, 6-0, 190 – part of rotation 

Secondary: 

• Jack Farah, Senior, 5-10, 180 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Aaron Van Trease, Senior, 5-10, 175 – returning starter at cornerback 
• Kyle Verriest, Senior, 6-0, 185 – 3-year starter at safety 
• Nick Galamb, Senior, 5-8, 175 – competing at other safety  
• Joey Marcello, Junior, 5-9, 175 – competing at other safety  
• Dirk Hohenkirk, Sophomore, 5-11, 175 – part of rotation at safety and cornerback 

Special Teams: 

• Sophomore Mike McCormack is the punter and he is competing with sophomore Brendan Allen at kicker 
• Galamb and sophomore Jay Griffith (5-8, 155) are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Saturday, 8/27, Red Bank Catholic at Ocean City 
• Saturday, 9/3, at Colts Neck 
• Friday, 9/9, at Holmdel 
• Friday, 9/16, Monmouth at home 
• Friday, 9/23, Manasquan at home 
• Saturday, 10/1, at Marlboro 
• Friday, 10/7, Raritan at home 
• 10/14-15, Bye Week 
• Friday, 10/21, Point Pleasant Boro at home 

Concerns: 

• Playing one game at a time 
• Recapturing the glory years from 2014-2017 
• Keep fighting back, no matter the situation 

Recruiting: 

• Verriest has an offer from Saint Anselm plus other interest 
• Christian Buchanan has interest from Stonehill 
• Others are the D2/D3 variety 
• Underclassmen: 
• The top juniors may be Byrd-Rice and Ryan Buchanan 
• Aquilone, Hohenkirk, and McCormack are the top sophomores 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We’re excited and the kids are working hard. We are trying to get back to where we were about 5-7 years ago. We have a tough opening opponent in Red Bank Catholic this weekend, but it’s a good opportu\nity on a big stage.” – Head Coach Jeff Papcun