Ridgewood Maroons

2021: 

• 7-3 
• Lost to Passaic Tech in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 5 semifinals after beating Columbia 
• Scored 230 points: 23.00 average 
• Allowed 120 points: 12.00 average, including two shutouts 
• Wins included Ramapo, Montclair, Hackensack, and Wayne Hills 
• Losses were to Irvington and Union City  

Graduation: 

• LB Joe Grasso – Franklin & Marshall 
• QB Dan Caiafa – Widener 
• WR/DB Andrew Gioia – Salisbury 
• DB William Nevin – Montclair State 
• RB Cole Dawkins – Monmouth for lacrosse 
• LB Will Anderson – Stony Brook for lacrosse 
• DB Johnny Pilla – Stony Brook for baseball 

Offense: 

• Formation: Wing T 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Quarterback: 

• Jack Foerch, Senior, 6-2, 205 – competing and slightly ahead in the battle; moving from fullback, where he started 
• Jay Wittmaack, Senior, 6-2, 185 – competing; started on  
• Jack Schultz, Junior, 6-2, 180 – competing 

Running Back: 

• Red Kossick, Senior, 6-0, 170 – returning starter 
• Bobby Kuenzler, Junior, 5-9, 165 – returning co-starter at fullback 
• Tahir Kenyatta, Senior, 5-8, 170 – projected starter at halfback; saw action 
• Owen Staunton, Senior, 6-0, 175 – third halfback 

Wide Receiver: 

• Charlie Merrick, Junior, 6-1, 175 – projected co-starter; saw action 
• Victor Souza, Junior, 6-0, 170 – projected co-starter 

Tight End: 

• Brendan Chanley, Senior, 6-4, 215 – returning starter 

Offensive Line: 

• Peter McHugh, Junior, 6-4, 230 – projected starter at left tackle 
• Cole Conneen, Senior, 6-1, 215 – competing at left guard; saw action; started on defense  
• Vann Pineault, Senior, 5-10, 185 – competing at left guard; saw action 
• Mike Dunican, Senior, 6-0, 210 – returning starter at center 
• Carter Gilgen, Senior, 5-11, 190 – projected starter at right guard 
• Brady Kaczmarski, Junior, 6-1, 185 – projected starter at right tackle 
• Chris Nagy, Senior, 6-1, 230 – started in 2020; missed 2021 with injury and was cleared to play recently; may start somewhere  

Defense: 

• Formation: 3-4 
• Returning Starters: 3  

Defensive Line: 

• Max Messineo, Junior, 6-2, 230 – projected starter at nose guard 
• Carlos Bermudez, Senior, 6-3, 230 – returning starter at end 
• Harrison Carridi, Sophomore, 6-1, 210 – projected starter at end 
• Will Pruitt, Senior, 6-1, 195 – part of the rotation 

Linebacker: 

• Cole Conneen, Senior, 6-1, 215 – returning starter on the outside 
• Brendan Chanley, Senior, 6-4, 215 – projected co-starter at opposite outside backer 
• Charlie Merrick, Junior, 6-1, 175 – projected co-starter at opposite outside backer 
• Jay Wittmaack, Senior, 6-2, 185 – returning starter on inside 
• Jack Foerch, Senior, Senior, 6-2, 205 – projected starter on inside 
• Vann Pineault, Senior, 5-10, 185 – part of rotation in inside 
• Jack Frers, Sophomore, 6-1, 190 – may see action on inside 

Secondary: 

• Jack Schultz, Junior, 6-2, 180 – projected starter at safety 
• Owen Staunton, Senior, 6-0, 175 – projected starter at safety; saw action   
• John Gardner, Senior, 5-10, 170 – part of 3-man rotation at two cornerbacks; saw action  
• Jim McNamara, Senior, 6-0, 160 – part of 3-man rotation at two cornerbacks 
• Tahir Kenyatta, Senior, 5-8, 170 – part of 3-man rotation at two cornerbacks  

Special Teams: 

• Senior Red Kossick will kick off and junior Matt Schwindt will kick extra points, while senior Brendan Chanley will punt 
• Kenyatta, Gardner, and Kuenzler are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 9/2, Hackensack at home 
• Friday, 9/9, at Clifton 
• Friday, 9/16, Northern Highlands at home 
• Friday, 9/23, at Passaic Tech 
• Saturday, 10/1, Eastside at home 
• Friday, 10/7, Wayne Hills 
• Friday, 10/14, Montclair at home 
• Friday, 10/21, at Ramapo 

Concerns: 

• Quarterback play 
• Better overall offensive execution 

Recruiting: 

• Conneen will be at a high-academic school, possibly the NESCAC 
• Kossick may want to go for track 
• Chanley verballed to Duke for baseball 
• Others may play lacrosse 
• Underclassmen need to prove it on the field 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We have a lot of experienced players, but a lot of question marks. We have had four kids at quarterback who did not play the position last year: two because of injuries and two who played other positions.” – Head Coach Chuck Johnson