Edward Kensik, Correspondent / Record Sports Department
You can call it the Lyndhurst Three.
Lyndhurst High School football is starting to become a pipeline to Montclair State University’s program as the Red Hawks look to work their way to the top of the New Jersey Athletic Conference this fall and earn a NCAA Division III playoff bid.
Two recent Lyndhurst graduates, Matthew Schnoll and Michael Carrino, will be joining redshirt freshman Matt DeMarco for Montclair State.
DeMarco had a tough freshman year at linebacker for MSU as he tore his ACL during practice in the third week of the regular season and was out for the rest of the 2016 season. But DeMarco has a good attitude about the injury.
“I’m a believer in everything happens for a reason so I’m ready to get back out there and do my thing,” said DeMarco who was listed 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds on the 2016 roster. “So going into my redshirt freshman season I feel the strongest and best shape probably in my career.”
Montclair State head football coach Rick Giancola said he is looking forward to having a healthy DeMarco for a full season.
“A hard worker, we expect Matt to be a productive player,” said Giancola. “As a linebacker he is versatile enough to play both inside as well as outside linebacker. He is an active playmaker who will also be a key component on all our special teams.”
DeMarco kept in touch with his former teammates at Lyndhurst in Schnoll and Carrino, who were both named to the All-NJIC Liberty Division first team while Schnoll was named to the All-Bergen County second team. Both of the former Golden Bears played on both sides of the ball and played in the Bergen County All-Star game in June on their home field at Lyndhurst High School.
“We have all been real close friends since we were playing flag football so I knew I had a good shot at getting them to join me because of great relationship we all have,” said DeMarco.
“It’s exciting to have them both joining me at MSU because we have all played for so long together and did great things in Lyndhurst so I’m excited to rejoin with them and succeed and get better with them on my side.”
For Lyndhurst High School head coach Rich Tuero, a Montclair State graduate, he is beyond happy to have the three playing football at his alma mater. “I truly believe that they will all have successful football careers there,” he said.
Despite missing four of the 10 games last season, Schnoll garnered the All-Bergen County honors for his work on both sides of the line.
“He was just a dominating force on the offensive line,” said Tuero about Schnoll’s work. “We ran for 1,600 yards on offense and he was the anchor of that line.”
For Schnoll, it was a combination of Lyndhurst connections and the school that led him to choose Montclair State.
“I picked MSU because it was a perfect fit for me on and off the field,” said Schnoll, who added that he is 100 percent healthy going into camp next week. “It obviously helps having Mike on the same team. One of my best friends (DeMarco) is already on the team since last year so it’s good to have some friends.”
And the ex-Lyndhurst lineman is looking forward to hitting the field at the collegiate level,
“My workouts have been more intense and I have a drive I’ve never had before. I want to go into camp in the best shape of my life,” said Schnoll who was listed at 6-feet-2 and 310 pounds in his senior year.
Giancola said that he likes the ability of Schnoll especially blocking.
“Matt is a big strong offensive lineman who is extremely agile and quick on his feet for a young man of his size,” said the Montclair State head coach. “His run blocking skills at the point of attack are very good and I was quite impressed with his ability to pull and get to the perimeter in order to block his assignment.”
Carrino saw time at running back and linebacker in his senior year. Carrino ran the ball 79 times during the season for 529 yards and five touchdowns. On defense he had 57 tackles including four for a loss while leading Lyndhurst in sacks with nine.
Carrino he was looking at Kean University and Delaware Valley University before choosing MSU.
“MSU felt like it was the right fit for me,” said Carrino who was listed at 6-feet, 185 pounds in his senior year. “It was planned for me and Matt to go there together just happened, but I’m glad we are because we’ve been best friends ever since we were young so glad to have him for another four years.”
Giancola said that he is targeting Carrino for defense on the Red Hawks.
“Michael will come into our pre- season camp as an outside linebacker,” said Giancola. “He is quick and can play both on the line of scrimmage as well as off. He is a versatile football player by evidence of the fact that he played fullback in the Bergen County All-Star football game as well as on special teams. He will be a solid addition to our Montclair State football program.”
