State of the Program: Bogota football searching for the right QB to lead veteran group

 

State of the Program: Park Ridge football sustaining a winning culture

 

State of the Program: Wood-Ridge football wants to prove last year was no fluke

 

State of the Program: Hawthorne football looking to ‘make some noise’

State of the Program: Wallington football gearing up for a bigger challenge

By Sean Farrel / NorthJersey.com

The story in Wallington last summer was the arrival of a new football coach.

The big news this year is the arrival of a new challenge.

The Panthers have bumped back into mainstream competition in the NJIC after moving from the Union Division (for struggling programs) to the Patriot Division. The timing may seem unusual after a 3-4 season, but coach Justin Avedissian likes the young core in place and the direction of the program. Participation is slightly up with the Panthers hoping to reach 40 players by September.

“The team seems to be growing,” Avedissian said. “The program is growing. We have a full-time strength and conditioning coach being approved. We had a full offseason compared to last season when I got in so late. So things are definitely looking up.”

When asked about the biggest change since he’s taken over, Avedissian points to the culture. One of the things he’s underscored is building consistent habits in practice and the need to make sacrifices to be successful. Sometimes that means re-scheduling a vacation or not going at all. It could mean having a freshman go up to a senior if the effort or technique is off.

All the little details can add up when you’re one of the smallest schools on the Group 1 level.

“What I like about this team most and my assistant coaches feel the same way is there’s really no ego on this team,” Avedissian said. “Everybody holds each other accountable.”

The tradition

This year is the 70th anniversary of Wallington’s first football season. The Panthers have claimed three sectional title since then, including two in the modern playoff era (1990 and 2010).

Their two most common opponents are current division rivals Wood-Ridge and Park Ridge.

The challenge

Wallington needs to acclimate to a higher level of competition after finishing fifth in the NJIC Union. The Patriot is arguably the deepest division in the conference with three teams coming off winning seasons.

“Is it going to be easy? Absolutely not. Would a lot of coaches and programs have done it right now? Probably not,” Avedissian said. “But that’s how we feel we’re going to advance our program and get to where we need to be over the next two years.”

The perennial challenge for Wallington is being in a square-mile town where some of the best athletes play soccer. Success is predicated on doing more with less and relying on two-way players to hold up.

Expectations

This looks like a year to build for the future with a big sophomore class and a small group of seniors.

However, the Panthers still have a fair amount of experience with eight starters back on defense led by junior Matthew Sudol on the line.

Senior QB Filip Lyczko is back after throwing 13 touchdowns last year and slides from safety to corner on defense due to a teammate’s ACL tear. The team’s leading receiver has a new title as well with senior Dariel Gil Polanco shifting over to running back.

Avedissian has developed a better sense of personnel now after being hired last year in July.

“We’re able to plan a little better based on their skillsets,” Avedissian said. “I think everybody around the program feels like we’re in a better spot compared to a year ago today.”

2023 schedule

Aug. 31: vs. Saddle Brook

Sept. 8: vs. Butler

Sept. 15: at Wood-Ridge

Sept. 23: vs. St. Mary

Sept. 29: at Park Ridge

Week 6: NJIC game TBD (away)

Week 7: NJIC game TBD (away)

Week 8: NJIC game TBD (home

State of the Program: Rutherford football taking aim at history

BY: Greg Tartaglia / NorthJersey.com

Rutherford heads into the 2023 football season in search of two things: One new quarterback and one extra inch.

The two-time reigning North Jersey Interscholastic Conference champions will bring back most of their starters as they take aim at an unprecedented third straight NJIC tournament trophy.

How the Bulldogs go about their title defense will be markedly different. With All-North Jersey QB Van Weber (31 touchdown passes, 1 interception) having graduated, the offense must adjust how it moves the ball.

“We can’t replace Van, because we’re never going to get that kind of production,” fourth-year coach Steve Dunn said. “But we’re not looking for the same production, because we’re going to be a different team. We’re hoping we’ll get similar results, though.”

Except for the season’s final game, of course. Rutherford fell in the 2022 North 1, Group 2 sectional final, 21-20, after Westwood stopped the potential winning two-point try inside the 1-yard line.

“That’s a tough one to sleep on at night,” admitted Dunn, whose team began last season 10-0. “But all I can say is that this group, the 2023 squad, should certainly be motivated by coming up one inch short and try to find a way to do things better.”

The tradition

Rutherford has the best record in NJIC tournament action (8-2) since the conference playoffs began in 2016. Only Hasbrouck Heights (5-5) has played as many games in the event’s history.

The Bulldogs have appeared in four NJIC finals and captured three championships – both tourney records – and are the only team to date to win back-to-back crowns.

The program claims 12 NJSIAA sectional titles from the pre-playoff era (before 1974), but its two most recent triumphs came in North 2, Group 2 in 2017-18. The latter led up to Rutherford winning the inaugural North Group 2 regional championship.

The challenge

One factor that should ease the transition for Rutherford’s next quarterback is the presence of Ryan Ward, who enters his fourth year as a starter.

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound rising senior received more than two dozen Division I offers, including one from Alabama, and is committed to North Carolina. He caught 35 passes for 776 yards and 13 TDs at wide receiver last season.

“Whoever is our quarterback, he’ll certainly be the first target they’ll look at now,” said Dunn, who added, “this year, I’d be surprised if he takes too many snaps at wideout. He’ll be a wingback and a fullback and tailback and slot receiver – he’ll be moved all over the place. We can’t go wrong if he’s got the ball in his hands.”

Rutherford also will have a larger talent pool to help meet this year’s challenges. Nearly 20 freshmen are expected out for the program, which would raise participation to around 50 players. “We haven’t had 50 kids probably in seven or eight years,” Dunn said.

STATE OF THE PROGRAM:Inside look at every HS football team in North Jersey

Expectations

There will be one significant change to the Bulldogs’ expectations this fall, but it has nothing to do with their high bar they set for their performance. In 2021, largely due to regular-season success – and partly due to scheduling quirks – Rutherford closed its schedule with seven consecutive home games.

“I told the kids back then, ‘This will never happen again. You are so lucky’,” Dunn recalled. “And sure enough, the next year [2022], it happens again.”

This year’s NJIC schedule has the Bulldogs on the road for one crossover game in October, and should they retain the Colonial title, that division’s champ is slated to be on the road for the conference final. After that, a high seed in the state playoffs (and the home games that go with it) remains a possibility.

“We love playing at Tryon Field, and it was it was a special group of kids for the last couple of years,” Dunn said. “We’re hoping we can get it going again.”

2023 schedule

Aug. 31: at Lodi

Sept. 8: at Glen Rock

Sept. 15: vs. Garfield

Sept. 22: vs. Becton

Sept. 30: vs. Lyndhurst

Oct. 6: NJIC game TBD (away)

Oct. 13: NJIC game TBD (home)

Oct. 20: NJIC game TBD (away)

Rutherford heads into the 2023 football season in search of two things: One new quarterback and one extra inch.

The two-time reigning North Jersey Interscholastic Conference champions will bring back most of their starters as they take aim at an unprecedented third straight NJIC tournament trophy.

How the Bulldogs go about their title defense will be markedly different. With All-North Jersey QB Van Weber (31 touchdown passes, 1 interception) having graduated, the offense must adjust how it moves the ball.

“We can’t replace Van, because we’re never going to get that kind of production,” fourth-year coach Steve Dunn said. “But we’re not looking for the same production, because we’re going to be a different team. We’re hoping we’ll get similar results, though.”

Except for the season’s final game, of course. Rutherford fell in the 2022 North 1, Group 2 sectional final, 21-20, after Westwood stopped the potential winning two-point try inside the 1-yard line.

“That’s a tough one to sleep on at night,” admitted Dunn, whose team began last season 10-0. “But all I can say is that this group, the 2023 squad, should certainly be motivated by coming up one inch short and try to find a way to do things better.”

The tradition

Rutherford has the best record in NJIC tournament action (8-2) since the conference playoffs began in 2016. Only Hasbrouck Heights (5-5) has played as many games in the event’s history.

The Bulldogs have appeared in four NJIC finals and captured three championships – both tourney records – and are the only team to date to win back-to-back crowns.

The program claims 12 NJSIAA sectional titles from the pre-playoff era (before 1974), but its two most recent triumphs came in North 2, Group 2 in 2017-18. The latter led up to Rutherford winning the inaugural North Group 2 regional championship.

The challenge

One factor that should ease the transition for Rutherford’s next quarterback is the presence of Ryan Ward, who enters his fourth year as a starter.

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound rising senior received more than two dozen Division I offers, including one from Alabama, and is committed to North Carolina. He caught 35 passes for 776 yards and 13 TDs at wide receiver last season.

“Whoever is our quarterback, he’ll certainly be the first target they’ll look at now,” said Dunn, who added, “this year, I’d be surprised if he takes too many snaps at wideout. He’ll be a wingback and a fullback and tailback and slot receiver – he’ll be moved all over the place. We can’t go wrong if he’s got the ball in his hands.”

Rutherford also will have a larger talent pool to help meet this year’s challenges. Nearly 20 freshmen are expected out for the program, which would raise participation to around 50 players. “We haven’t had 50 kids probably in seven or eight years,” Dunn said.

STATE OF THE PROGRAM:Inside look at every HS football team in North Jersey

Expectations

There will be one significant change to the Bulldogs’ expectations this fall, but it has nothing to do with their high bar they set for their performance. In 2021, largely due to regular-season success – and partly due to scheduling quirks – Rutherford closed its schedule with seven consecutive home games.

“I told the kids back then, ‘This will never happen again. You are so lucky’,” Dunn recalled. “And sure enough, the next year [2022], it happens again.”

This year’s NJIC schedule has the Bulldogs on the road for one crossover game in October, and should they retain the Colonial title, that division’s champ is slated to be on the road for the conference final. After that, a high seed in the state playoffs (and the home games that go with it) remains a possibility.

“We love playing at Tryon Field, and it was it was a special group of kids for the last couple of years,” Dunn said. “We’re hoping we can get it going again.”

2023 schedule

Aug. 31: at Lodi

Sept. 8: at Glen Rock

Sept. 15: vs. Garfield

Sept. 22: vs. Becton

Sept. 30: vs. Lyndhurst

Oct. 6: NJIC game TBD (away)

Oct. 13: NJIC game TBD (home)

Oct. 20: NJIC game TBD (away)

State of the Program: Manchester football laying new foundations in coach’s second year

By Greg Tartaglia/ NorthJersey.com

Since Manchester Regional made its varsity football debut in 1960, playing for the Haledon school often has required the patience of a New Orleans Saint.

The Falcon faithful waited 36 years for the program’s first league title, then 22 more for its first state-playoff victory. Even the Saints’ NFL-title drought didn’t last beyond five decades.

But as New Orleans’ fortunes changed when Sean Payton and Drew Brees got to town, hopes are higher for Manchester given this year’s move to the NJIC Union Division, a league for struggling programs.

“We have a very good group of young sophomores, and a lot of juniors as well,” second-year coach Burim Ala said. “The idea is to build this program and really take off for next year, so we can go back into the NJIC [mainstream].”

Positive signs did begin taking place last fall, despite an 0-9 record. Manchester opened a brand-new turf field and played under home lights for the first time, which drew some players to return to the program after time away.

The time it took for those returnees to shake off the rust hurt, though, as inexperience showed at inopportune moments. The 2023 squad should enjoy better continuity with the return of many underclassmen who saw playing time.

“We’ve got this younger group of kids, and they’re all buying into the weight room – which I think is the is the most important aspect of building the program,” Ala said. “They’re working hard in there, and then they’re carrying it out onto the football field.”

STATE OF THE PROGRAM:Inside look at every HS football team in North Jersey

The tradition

Ala is familiar with both the rich and lean times in the Falcons’ history. The 2004 graduate helped them reach the postseason in 2003 (as a player) and 2017 (as defensive coordinator), which accounts for two-thirds of their playoff appearances all-time.

On the other hand, he’s had the longest wait for a first win of any coach in school history.

The challenge

The bulk of Manchester’s roster is made up of rising juniors, who will determine how big a leap the team can make this season.

“Sophomore year is usually when you make your biggest jump in terms of learning,” Ala said. “These [sophomores] from last year, some of them got varsity experience. But all of them got to play in the games on the on the sub-varsity level, and we were really successful there.”

With just two seniors in camp, junior third-year starter Amari Chestnut has emerged as the Falcons’ leader. In 2022, he moved from halfback to slot receiver and even spent some time behind center.

“He was the fourth quarterback we used last season,” said Ala, who plans to return Chestnut to his slot position. “He literally got three days of work before getting thrown into his first varsity game at quarterback. But it shows a lot about his character… I’m glad he’s just a junior this year.”

Expectations

As the Falcons work to reverse a losing trend, perhaps it is fitting their QB situation is the reverse of last year. Junior Ashawn Johnson, who was a slot receiver, has shown promise as a passer.

“This year, he came in and just started throwing the ball,” Ala noted. “He’s like, ‘I want to try for quarterback,’ I said, ‘OK, well, let’s give it a go’.”

Manchester was not able to retain as many rising sophomores as the coach would have liked, but a group of nearly 15 freshmen have kept numbers from dropping off too drastically.

Expectations likely will remain modest until the Falcons can get back in the win column. The hope is that patience will be rewarded.

“We’re going to be competitive, and we’re going to be in every single game,” Ala said. “We have some chances to win some of these games here in this division, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

2023 schedule

Aug. 31: at Ferris, Caven Point (Jersey City)

Sept. 8: vs. Weehawken

Sept. 16: at Bogota, Feigel Field

Sept. 22: vs. Palisades Park/Leonia

Sept. 28: vs. Elmwood Park

Oct. 6: at Harrison

Oct. 13: NJIC game TBD (away)

Oct. 20: NJIC game TBD (home

State of the Program: Cresskill/Emerson football becomes North Jersey’s newest co-op

Sean Farrell / NorthJersey.com

Kevin Quinn could see the writing on the wall.

The Cresskill football coach said low numbers at the Group 1 school forced him to choose between two options. Either move down to NJIC Union Division or team up with a second school.

The Cougars preferred the latter option and found a logical answer only 15 minutes away. Emerson was looking for a fallback plan after a proposed merger with Park Ridge was denied.

The fourth co-op in North Jersey football was born.

“Once the kids are on the field playing, they all have that common goal to win and succeed,” Quinn said.

Cresskill is the lead school and will keep the Cougars nickname and slide up to Group 2 level.

The Cougars plan to have one game and one scrimmage this season at Emerson. The location for summer practices and lifts have alternated between the two schools. The roster will likely be in the mid-to-upper 30s.

So far, Quinn said the move has been pretty seamless. During the spring, the Cougars held team bonding events where players could get to know each other over lunch and games in the gym.

Emerson coach Nick Calandrino and one of his assistants were brought on staff to ease the transition. Calandrino runs the wrestling program at Cresskill and told Quinn how much the two student bodies have in common.

“Everybody has been on the same page and works real well,” Quinn said. “Nowadays, a lot of these kids know each other through social media. How I describe it to people is Cresskill has a good group of kids and Emerson has a good group of kids. Now we have one big group of kids.”

READ MORE:Cresskill and Emerson plan to join forces for high school football

The tradition

As fate would have it, Cresskill and Emerson both started their football programs in the 1963 season.

Cresskill (5-4) has been one of the most consistent public schools in North Jersey. The Cougars have five sectional titles, four unbeaten seasons and a .650 winning percentage as a single entity. They finished with a winning record in 16 of the last 20 seasons.

Emerson picked up one sectional title in the modern playoff era (1983). The Cavos went 1-6 a year ago in the Union Division.

The challenge

Cresskill/Emerson needs to figure out how to weave two teams and two towns into one successful family.

Quinn expects some bumps along the way, but likes having some of the depth and competition for spots that were missing in the past. One of the selling points on each end was being able to field two levels of football.

To foster a sense of unity, the Cougars have taken some inspiration from coach Greg Gruzdis at Waldwick/Midland Park.

“When they play, they are just Warriors,” Quinn said. “It’s Warrior football over there. They don’t care what town you’re from. I like that. We’ve adopted that a little bit. It’s Cougar football right now.”

Expectations

The Cougars will have a camp battle at quarterback and running back with a vacancy at both spots. Star wideout Ryan Berkowitz (732 receiving yards) is one of the top playmakers in the NJIC and could take some snaps at times.

Quinn believes size will be an advantage up front, as well as the senior leadership from defensive back Charlie Diamond and linemen Glory Moon and Minsung Kang.

On paper, the returning Cougars appear to have a slightly easier draw after moving from the Patriot Division (.609 combined win percentage) to the Liberty (.422) this season.

“I don’t think there’s any easy games anywhere,” Quinn said. “It’s still going to be a tough schedule. I love the way the NJIC does our schedules where late in the year you’re going to play similar-type teams.”

STATE OF THE PROGRAM:Inside look at every HS football team in North Jersey

2023 schedule

Aug. 31: vs. New Milford

Sept. 8: at Garfield

Sept. 14: vs. Lyndhurst

Sept. 22: at Secaucus

Sept. 29: at Waldwick/Midland Park

Week 6: NJIC game TBD (home)

Week 7: NJIC game TBD (home)

Week 8: NJIC game TBD (away

State of the Program: Hasbrouck Heights football looks to start new win streak

By Greg Mattura / NorthJersey.com

Hasbrouck Heights is home to Bergen County’s all-time winningest football program, and with that distinction comes an expectation to win titles.

These Aviators return all but a handful of starters one year after a team with only three senior starters ended an 18-season winning streak with a 4-5 campaign.

“They’re refocused on what our goal is every year, which is to be highly competitive, get back to the playoffs, and make some noise when we get there,” said coach Brian Ille, a Hasbrouck Heights graduate in his fourth year leading the program.

The Aviators have experience at almost every position. Senior Frank Billings enters his third year as a starting quarterback and has two quality receivers in junior Josh Rodriguez and senior Evan Werner, as well as senior Joey Formisano, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound tight end.

“This year’s team has come in and, over the offseason, there’s been a huge amount of players who trained, even through other sports, which is truly remarkable,” Ille said. “They’re really motivated and showed a sense of togetherness throughout the whole offseason, whether it was going to sporting events together, or hitting 6 a.m. weight-room lifts together.”

The tradition

Hasbrouck Heights has been a small-school powerhouse in the 21^st century, winning four of its seven sectional titles over the past 20 years. In addition to winning in 1975, 1976 and 1994, the Aviators captured crowns in 2007, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Ille is a 1995 Hasbrouck Heights graduate and former assistant who is 15-11 in his first three seasons leading the program. Following a pandemic-shortened 4-2 season in which the NJSIAA playoffs were canceled, the Aviators went 7-4 in 2021 and reached the North 1, Group 1 final.

The challenge

The Aviators must replace graduate Anthony DiLascio, who last season ran for a North Jersey-leading 1,719 yards, scored 20 touchdowns and led the Aviators to the NJIC Meadowlands Division title.

DiLascio may have graduated, but the multiple single-back attack returns all five starting linemen.

“We expect to come in with solid chemistry, have a basis of understanding of what we’re trying to do offensively, schematically, Xs and Os,” said Ille, whose Aviators last season averaged 27.2 points per game.

STATE OF THE PROGRAM:Inside look at every HS football team in North Jersey

Expectations

Hasbrouck Heights’ fate may well rest with its 4-4 defense. In four of last year’s losses, the Aviators allowed 24 or more points, which is out of character for this program. That’s a big reason the team went 0-4 in games decided by 10 points or fewer.

“Our expectations at Heights are always high, and obviously we want to go to the playoffs and be successful,” Ille said. “But our No. 1 goal every day is to get better. And if we get better every day, come the end of the season and into the playoffs, we’ll be in the position that we want to be, which is healthy, getting better, and looking forward to that next day of practice.”

2023 schedule

Aug. 31: at Pompton Lakes

Sept. 8: vs. Saddle Brook

Sept. 14: at Park Ridge

Sept. 22: vs. Hawthorne

Sept. 29: at North Arlington

Oct. 6: NJIC game TBD (home)

Oct. 13: NJIC game TBD (away)

Oct. 20: NJIC game TBD (home

State of the Program: Lodi football seeking first playoff bid in nearly a decade

By Greg Mattura / NorthJersey.com

Lodi has its sights set on its first playoff bid in almost a decade and has made a significant schedule upgrade to achieve that goal.

The Rams, members of the small-school NJIC, will open their season Aug. 26 against Demarest, a program from the large-school Super Football Conference.

“I’m a big fan of the early game, especially with the new calculations of the points,” veteran coach Mark Maggio said, referring to the power-point system used to determine playoff qualifiers. “That would certainly be to our benefit to play a pretty quality opponent from the SFC.”

Lodi brings back a solid senior class capable of helping the program chase its first winning season and NJSIAA playoff bid since 2014. The Rams have 11 seniors, highlighted by Andrew Avalos, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound lineman and college recruit who Maggio said earned offseason accolades at the U.S. Army Bowl Combine.

Avalos, who can play tackle, guard or center, leads an offensive line that is the driving force for a team whose 3-7 record last year equaled their wins from the previous two seasons combined.

“This is the heart and soul of this team,” said Maggio, a lineman on the Rams’ 1998 sectional title team. “They know the system very well and are a very tight unit, off the field as well.”

The tradition

The NJSIAA introduced sectional playoffs in 1974 and Lodi has won three titles: 1992, 1998, and 2005.

The Rams’ last playoff appearance came in 2014, when they were 6-4 and lost their North 1, Group 3 opener to River Dell, 49-14.

Maggio enters his seventh season with a career record of 16-39. His most successful season came in 2017 when the Rams closed their season with three consecutive wins for a 4-5 record. The two seasons prior to that, the team won a combined three games.

STATE OF THE PROGRAM:Inside look at every HS football team in North Jersey

The challenge

Last season, Lodi allowed 29.9 points per game, and at least 34 points in each loss.

The Rams will run a 4-4 or 3-5 defense, depending on the situation, and the strength is at linebacker, where four seniors will contribute: Alquan Hines, Robert Cardone, Kendrick Gyamfi and Ryan Mastofilipo.

“Certainly, a lot of them were out there for the first time last year and now they’re more seasoned,” Maggio said. “We’re keeping it simple. Our philosophy will always be to block and tackle and run to the ball.”

Expectations

Lodi intends to vie for a Group 2 playoff bid while competing in the NJIC Colonial Division, thanks to a solid pro-set offense that last year averaged 20.5 points per game.

“We feel that if we can stop the run, we’ll be able to control the clock, because we have some really talented runners,” Maggio said.

“It’s been [2014] since we qualified for the state playoffs, so that is definitely one of our team goals.”

2023 schedule

Aug. 26: vs. Demarest

Aug. 31: vs. Rutherford

Sept. 8: at Becton

Sept. 14: vs. Glen Rock

Sept. 23: vs. New Milford

Sept. 30: at Garfield

Oct. 6: NJIC game TBD (away)

Oct. 14: NJIC game TBD (home)

Oct. 20: NJIC game TBD (away

State of the Program: Waldwick/Midland Park football striving for another division title

By Greg Tartaglia / NorthJersey.com

Waldwick/Midland Park has established the blueprint for cooperative football programs in North Jersey.

Chronologically, the Warriors were the second Bergen County co-op (of the current four) when they formed in 2006. To date, they have proven to be the most successful, reaching sectional finals in 2013 and 2014 and winning four straight NJIC division titles.

Coach Greg Gruzdis was flattered upon finding out that a division-rival coach, Kevin Quinn of first-year co-op Cresskill/Emerson, has embraced a core Warrior philosophy.

In his State of the Program interview, Quinn told NorthJersey.com: “It’s ‘Warrior football’ over there; they don’t care what town you’re from. … We’ve adopted that a little bit. It’s ‘Cougar football’ right now.”

“That was pretty cool,” Gruzdis said in response, unsolicited. “It means people are paying attention to what we’re doing.”

These days, it’s tough not to do so. The Warriors are coming off consecutive seven-win seasons for the second time in their coach’s 14-year tenure. Flying solo, neither Waldwick nor Midland Park had done that since the late 1980s.

Success is now an expectation rather than the exception. The program’s No. 1 mantra, “hold the rope” – i.e., be ready to step in when it’s your turn to help pull the load – keeps the legacy going.

“We graduated a lot of starters [from] last year,” Gruzdis said, “but we’ve got guys ready to fill the void. It’s always a process.”

The tradition

Yes, Waldwick claimed the 1988 North 1, Group 1 title on its own. No, Midland Park never qualified for the NJSIAA tournament solo, though most of its top win-loss records came before the playoff era began in 1974.

In reality, the former football rivals have enjoyed their best days when working together. Both boroughs sent students to Midland Park High School from 1957-64, a period that produced the 1961 North Jersey Conference crown and a three-year mark of 20-4-3 just before Waldwick High opened.

The Warriors’ co-op is 93-73 in its first 17 seasons, and Gruzdis (82-44) needs four victories to become the winningest coach in the combined history of both schools.

STATE OF THE PROGRAM:Inside look at every HS football team in North Jersey

The challenge

Overcoming inexperience seems to be the preseason focus. Roughly a half-dozen starters return, and few of those saw time on both sides of the ball.

Most encouraging is the presence of senior Bryce Hamilton, an All-North Jersey second-teamer who enters his fourth year as a starter. The halfback/linebacker/kicker was the No. 4 scorer in the area (136 points) and led the Warriors in rushing (1,152 yards, 12 TD), receiving (21 catches, 373 yards) and tackles (53) a year ago.

“Bryce is the cornerstone of what we’re going to do this year, that’s for sure,” Gruzdis said.

Hamilton and FB/DE Sean Murray are the team captains, with the latter having played all of 2022 on the defensive line while rotating in as the fourth Wing-T running back.

Expectations

Gruzdis preaches a positive mindset regardless of roster turnover. In the quest to extend the string of division titles, he tells players, “We’re going to win No. 5,” because he wants them to believe it.

Whether or not the Warriors return to the NJIC Tournament – and can take the next step after three third-place finishes in four years – may depend upon how well they can integrate newcomers at the three open positions on the offensive line.

“Our skill guys are very good,” the coach said. “We’re going to go as far as our line will take us.”

2023 schedule

Aug. 31: at Glen Rock

Sept. 8: vs. Secaucus

Sept. 14: at New Milford

Sept. 22: at Lyndhurst

Sept. 29: vs. Cresskill/Emerson

Oct. 6: NJIC game TBD (home)

Oct. 13: NJIC game TBD (home)

Oct. 20: NJIC game TBD (away

State of the Program: St. Mary football feeling optimistic with almost everyone back

Paul Johnsen is pulling double-duty again this year. His St. Mary football team has learned how to do the same.

The Gaels step into the 2023 season with an older, deeper and wiser roster after finishing 2-6 in Johnsen’s first full season. That team was forced to rely on freshmen with only two seniors on the active roster for most of the year.

It was a learning experience for the Gaels and for Johnsen, who also works as an athletic director. Johnsen expects a much smoother ride this year with a better understanding of his players and what the dual-role entails.

“We’ve been talking about how much easier they’re picking everything up because they have a year under their belt,” Johnsen said. “Not only were we installing a new offense and a new defense last year, but we had a whole new coaching staff from the year before.”

St. Mary holds a unique spot in the North Jersey landscape as one of the last small Catholic schools in business. Good health and the use of two-way players are paramount.

Numbers are up on the football team (with close to 40 players) and throughout school with about 220 students at the Rutherford campus.

Expect the Gaels to roll with two quarterbacks this year after losing Damir Stone to graduation. One is Bradley Higgins, a strong-armed passer who moves over from tight end. The other is junior classmate Kazir White, a dual-threat athlete who missed last year with a torn ACL.

Johnsen describes his offensive gameplan as a mix of everything.

“We want to able to run the ball,” Johnsen said. “Some old school physical football like St. Mary is used to. But we also want to highlight our skill guys and get them the ball in space when teams pack the box.”

STATE OF THE PROGRAM:Inside look at every HS football team in North Jersey

The tradition

St. Mary was awarded four sectional titles in the pre-playoff era (before 1974) and captured three more since that point.

The most consistent stretch of football came under Mike Sheridan, whose 31-year run started from humble beginnings.

Sheridan took over a JV-only program in 1985 and won one game in the four varsity seasons that followed. Before long, Sheridan built the Gaels into a playoff mainstay with 22 straight berths and a 2006 Non-Public Group 1 crown.

The challenge

No football program in Bergen or Passaic counties has a smaller pool of students to draw from. Overcoming that hasn’t been easy of late for the Gaels, who’ve had four straight losing seasons and three head coaches in that span.

The experience gained in the 2022 season should help mitigate those issues.

“It’s a bunch of kids that were really young last year,” Johnsen said. “I want to say we started three freshmen on the offensive line last year and four to five freshmen at times. We no longer have to look for freshmen to step right in and play.”

Expectations

The Gaels were an all-or-nothing team last year with seven of their eight games decided by at least 17 points. Now the pieces are in place to play more competitive football.

About 10 starters are back on both sides, led by junior linebackers Nasir Owens and Damien Merkerson.

Johnsen feels that his current roster is “a lot further ahead” compared to this time last year.

“We want to get better every day and not look too far down the road,” Johnsen said. “Keep hammering home the family atmosphere and playing for one another and everything else will take care of itself.”

2023 schedule

Aug: 31: at Park Ridge

Sept. 9: vs. Hawthorne

Sept. 16: vs. Butler

Sept. 23: at Wallington

Sept. 30: vs. Wood-Ridge

Week 6: NJIC game TBD (away)

Week 7: NJIC game TBD (away)

Week 8: NJIC game TBD (home

State of the Program: Butler football riding into 2023 season with high hopes

Butler’s resurgence and goal to return to the top as a small-school power officially got underway during the 2021 season.

That year, the Bulldogs finished with their first losing record (4-6) in seven years while fielding a team comprised of mostly underclassmen.

Fast forward two seasons and Butler is now a year removed from a 7-3 campaign and a trip to the Group 1 semifinals. This year’s Bulldogs are thinking big.

“A number of our starters last year were playing their second full season. They were obviously more comfortable having that full year under their belts,” coach Jason Luciani said. “But now a lot of guys are entering their third and some their fourth year on the field and we’re noticing the difference.”

Last fall, the Bulldogs lost two regular-season games on the road at Park Ridge (26-21) and Wood-Ridge (20-7) before falling to Weequahic, 45-28 in a sectional semifinal.

“Our two regular-season losses both came in the final minutes of the game,” Luciani said. “We grew up a lot as a team last year and learned that we must execute if we want to finish the job. I think last year was a good step in the right direction.”

The tradition

Butler has won eight NJSIAA sectional titles, the last in 2018 when the Bulldogs defeated Park Ridge, 35-28, in North 1, Group 1.

Butler claimed consecutive North 2, Group 1 titles in 1982 and ‘83, but its glory years came in the 1990s when the small Morris County school won five in an eight-year period, highlighted by four straight championships from 1994-97.

Since 1974, Butler has qualified for the postseason 46 times and has 14 state final appearances.

The challenge

The Bulldogs are fairly young with several juniors and sophomores expected to take on key roles on both sides of the ball.

“We’re not very deep, but that’s usually the situation for most small schools,” Luciani said. “Although there’s several seniors and experienced upperclassmen in the mix, we’ll still rely on some underclassmen and first-year starters to get the job done.”

Butler’s schedule is loaded with some of the top small-school programs in North Jersey playing alongside the Bulldogs in the competitive NJIC Patriot division.

“There’s no easy road competing in the NJIC,” Luciani said. “We’re not going to look ahead. We’ll be taking it one game at a time. Our priority is Week 1 at home against Wood-Ridge, a team we lost to last year in a close game.”

Expectations

With several three-year starters and experienced players returning, the Bulldogs expect to continue on their success and build on what they started last fall.

Senior dual-threat quarterback Bobby Battipede returns for a third season under center after throwing for 767 yards and 12 touchdowns, and rushing for 549 yards and five scores last fall.

“Bobby is a natural leader and he makes everyone around him better. He works hard and is everything we want in a quarterback,” Luciani said. “Bobby is a pleasure to watch. He commands the huddle and dictates our offense.”

Senior Kyle Perry, a three-year starter, is the featured running back and senior Jason Murray and junior Luca Toriello control the front line. Junior PJ Coffey (WR/CB) is a two-way standout who led the Bulldogs with three interceptions.

2023 schedule

Aug. 31: vs. Wood-Ridge

Sept. 8: at Wallington

Sept. 16: at St. Mary

Sept. 22: vs. Park Ridge

Sept. 29: vs. Pompton Lakes

Oct. 6: NJIC game TBD (away)

Oct. 13: NJIC game TBD (away)

Oct. 20: NJIC game TBD (away

State of the Program: Elmwood Park football wants to finish strong in 2023

Finish has become the word to live by at Elmwood Park.

The Crusaders have finished in the top half of their division for the past three years and reached the NJIC Union final last November before falling to Weehawken. While that game cost them a perfect record, the Crusaders (7-1) still wound up with their highest win total and top scoring average since the 2014 season.

This year, the mindset is about finishing strong from games to sprints to their time in the rehabbing division. Elmwood Park has reached a point now where turnout is stable and success is expected.

“We’re on the right foot now,” coach Tom Mulligan said. “We’re on the right path. We’re making that trek, hopefully, out of the Union soon.”

Mulligan starts his 10th season with a rebuilt foundation after digging out from the lowest of lows. Elmwood Park went winless in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, but erased the stain with a 13-7 record ever since.

Mulligan pins the turnaround on another “F” – a culture built around family. The Crusaders eat together at the high school before every game, breaking bread at 3:15 p.m. for weekday games and 9 a.m. for Saturday games. Mulligan said the tradition dates back to his time in high school and brings the community together.

“We break down ‘As one’ everyday,” Mulligan said. “We do everything together. I’m sure you’ve heard that you’re only as strong as your weakest link. So we have to make sure that we’re strong and we’re fighting together.”

The tradition

Elmwood Park has gotten back on track in the Union by winning 12 of its 16 divisional games since 2020.

The most dominant stretch of Crusader football came during a run of 11 straight winning seasons from 1968 to 1978. That era is best known for producing the school’s four sectional titles while under the borough’s former name of East Paterson.

Last year was the 50th season with the Elmwood Park identity.

STATE OF THE PROGRAM:Inside look at every HS football team in North Jersey

The challenge

Elmwood Park lost some game-breaking pieces on offense, including its No. 1 receiver and top two rushers. The 42-man roster has also gotten younger with a big junior class and bigger-than-expected freshmen class taking up a hefty slice of the pie.

That puts more on the shoulders of quarterback Jayden Ferrer, who threw 10 touchdowns and only one interception last year as a sophomore.

“He does whatever we ask,” Mulligan said. “He’s really embraced the leadership role now that all our older guys have graduated.”

Elmwood Park still has its share of experience. The Crusaders return four starters on the offensive line and plenty of talent from its stingy defense, led by corner Wakee King and linebackers Jesse Schratz and Kyle Shamah. Shamah is a three-year starter who Mulligan looks at as his extra set of eyes and ears.

“We bring back, from the end of the season, most of our defense,” Mulligan said. “I’m excited about that. And the kids that are coming in are just tough and hungry.”

Expectations

The goal for the Crusaders is to maintain their winning ways and land a promotion in the near future.

Elmwood Park will have some time to develop before facing Weehawken to cap the regular season. A high finish in the standings would bode well for 2024 when almost everyone is set to come back.

“We’re a small school so it’s about staying healthy,” Mulligan said. “And making sure we’re doing the right thing on and off the field.”

2023 schedule

Aug. 25: vs. Hopatcong

Sept. 1: at Pascack Hills

Sept. 7: at Palisades Park/Leonia

Sept. 14: vs. Harrison

Sept. 21: vs. Bogota

Sept. 28: at Manchester

Oct. 6: vs. Weehawken

Oct. 13: TBD (away)

Oct. 19: TBD (home

State of the Program: Becton football rising up to face bigger challenge

The Becton football team is facing a shortage this season.

Not in players, but equipment.

“I have 60 kids on the roster and 59 helmets, so someone is not getting a helmet to start,” coach Jack Maher said. “It’s the first time that Becton will have all four classes of Maywood kids.”

This will be the biggest roster in Maher’s nine seasons, prompting the program to add another paid assistant on staff. That is what happens when you tack on another town to what was already one of the best pound-for-pound teams.

The Wildcats have a 43-30 record under Maher and went on a miraculous run three years ago as the unbeaten, NJIC champion.

This year, the roster is young with 21 sophomores, but experienced where it matters most.

Becton (4-5) returns its top running back in senior Jalen Powell and a lightning-fast receiver in senior Steel Grabowski. At quarterback, the Wildcats will rely on the arms and legs of junior Jonathan Palsi, who was a newcomer to the position last year. He’s thrown well in 7-on-7s after taking private lessons.

“I started him maybe two games into the season last year to create a spark and he’s one of those kids who gets it and works on his own,” Maher said. “He’s a natural-born leader.”

The tradition

The Wildcats have been a football titan for more than a century, from their time as East Rutherford High School (through the 1970 season) to their current era as Becton.

Their home at Riggin Memorial Field is named after Army captain and former school principal Charles H. Riggin, who was killed in World War I.

Becton has claimed eight sectional titles in total and three in the current playoff era: 1974, 1993 and 2003. Only five teams in North Jersey have won more games.

STATE OF THE PROGRAM:Inside look at every HS football teams in North Jersey

The challenge

As the Wildcats found out last year, bigger isn’t always better. Becton took a step back in a new division with larger schools, then got blown out by Newton, 49-0, in the opening round of the state playoffs.

It was the program’s first time back on the Group 2 level after a long run in Group 1.

Maher thinks back to a conversation with a Bernards coach, who told him how important it is to have a platoon for the offensive and defensive lines.

“All these bigger schools, you have to match them,” Maher said. “You have to find extra guys to maybe just play one way.”

The Wildcats need to replace three starters on the offensive line and shore up a defense that allowed 25.2 points per game. Powell (6-1, 180) will anchor the defense as a shutdown corner, and sophomore linebacker Everett Bell looks like an up-and-coming star.

“We return about five or six starters on each side of the ball compared to three last year,” Maher said. “Those kids that are coming back are experienced and have been through battles, especially my quarterback.”

Expectations

Last year was out of character for the Wildcats, who have 12 winning seasons in the last 15 years. No one should be surprised if they bounce back in 2023.

“We’re trying to get back to the playoffs again this year and see what happens,” Maher said.

2023 schedule

Aug. 31: at Garfield

Sept. 8: vs. Lodi

Sept. 15: vs. Secaucus

Sept. 22: at Rutherford

Sept. 29: vs. Glen Rock

Week 6: NJIC game TBD (away)

Week 7: NJIC game TBD (home)

Week 8: NJIC game TBD (away

State of the Program: Palisades Park/Leonia football building up roster under new coach

On the field, Jon Koonce has locked up the title as the youngest head football coach in North Jersey.

Off it, he is in the running for the most persuasive.

Koonce, 27, has tapped into his experience as a college football recruiter to build up the roster in his first season leading Palisades Park/Leonia. The Tigers have gone from 25 to 35 players this summer and hope to add a few more with late signups or new freshmen.

The sales pitch doesn’t sound easy on the surface. The Tigers have won eight games over the last four years and hold 7 a.m. summer practices to accommodate athletes who work at the town pool.

The solution for Koonce is to go “everywhere and anywhere” from the hallway to the basketball court and take a divide-and-conquer approach. He has three assistants in the Leonia school system who cover that district, and Koonce can focus on Palisades Park as a history teacher at the school.

“We all did a great job of going out and getting kids to buy what we’re selling,” Koonce said. “I think now they’re starting to see that.”

Koonce comes back to Bergen County after filling a number of roles at his alma mater, Montclair State. He spent the last five years as the school’s tight ends coach.

The Tigers are coming off a 3-4 season in the NJIC Union Division and need to replace most of the skill group on offense. The big plus this year is having a band of about 10 to 15 seniors. Lineman SJ Mun and wide receiver/safety Elijah Perez will set the tone as veterans.

“It’s quite a large class this year,” Koonce said. “That core of guys is a great group of kids. They’re really going to help us steer the ship.”

STATE OF THE PROGRAM:Inside look at every HS football team in North Jersey

The tradition

Palisades Park/Leonia starts its 24th season as the oldest of the four football co-ops in Bergen County. The program has made three playoff trips since then and last had a winning season in 2013.

Palisades Park won one sectional title as a single entity and Leonia claimed three in the pre-playoff era.

Koonce was a two-way lineman at Cliffside Park before the Red Raiders merged with Ridgefield. He re-connected with his high school program by setting up a joint practice, a scrimmage and a 7-on-7 with Red Raiders coach and Pal Park alum Tom Mandile.

“I’m so grateful that they’re right next to us,” Koonce said. “It’s a great resource for both us.”

The challenge

Koonce will be the program’s seventh coach in the last 10 seasons. He said the biggest challenge is to change the culture and he defines his as one built on confidence and accountability.

This year, the Tigers have the obstacle of replacing their top running back and two-year quarterback.

“We have to continue to teach the kids good habits and constantly get them to do the right things,” Koonce said. “Not falling back into [the mindset] that I’m tired today or having a bad day. Getting them to understand that consistency is the key to life.”

Expectations

Moving to the NJIC Union Division, designed for programs struggling with participation to play against similar opponents, has created a spark for the Tigers. The co-op has won three games in back-to-back seasons after scuffling through a 3-31 stretch.

The goal in 2023 is to aim much higher.

“The goals are to make the [Union] playoffs,” Koonce said. “The kids are really excited. They are chomping at the bit. I think they recognize that there’s some talent on our field.”

2023 schedule

Sept. 7: vs. Elmwood Park

Sept. 14: at Weehawken

Sept. 22: at Manchester

Sept. 28: vs. Harrison

Oct. 5: at Bogota

Oct. 12: TBD (home)

Oct. 19: TBD (away

State of the Program: Saddle Brook football continues to build for a better future

Saddle Brook is building its football program from the middle school and up and the results have been promising.

The Falcons have about three dozen players on their summer roster, and that’s about 10 more than they had at the close of last season and more than double the total of their season finale two seasons ago.

Along the way, Saddle Brook earned a promotion in the NJIC, climbing from the Union Division, which is for programs struggling with participation, to the much tougher Meadowlands Division.

“Last year we got our feet wet, and we understand it’s a huge transition,” said coach Bill Van Kersen, referencing last year’s 1-7 record in the Meadowlands that came after a 7-1 campaign in the Union. “You’re playing a lot of tougher teams, well-coached teams, week in and week out.”

More than two-thirds of Saddle Brook’s roster is freshmen and sophomores, a credit to the town’s recreation program that Van Kersen says, “has been instrumental for us.” Those roughly two dozen ninth and 10^th graders are the reason the Falcons hope to also field a junior varsity team this year.

“We want to be able to compete week in and week out,” said Van Kersen, encouraged by the Falcons’ offseason weight training. “We want to be able to put out a JV and varsity program and hopefully make a stride.”

The tradition

Saddle Brook has twice reached a sectional final since the NJSIAA introduced sectional playoffs in 1974. In 1983, the Falcons reached the North 1, Group 1 final. In 1990, they reached the North 1, Group 2 final.

Van Kersen is in his third season and is 8-8, with Saddle Brook capping that 2021 season by capturing the Union Division title. Prior to the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Falcons had a 10-year record of 55-43, with their last playoff appearance in 2016 their last playoff win in 2012.

The challenge

Saddle Brook must develop an extremely young roster and support a new quarterback in sophomore Nikolos Vitiello, who will guide the single-wing attack.

“He’s probably one of the hardest-working kids we have on the football team, hands down,” Van Kersen said. “He has shown up all offseason, all preseason, and he’s put in the mental reps. He is a leader, one of the biggest leaders on the team, which as a sophomore is impressive.”

Expectations

Saddle Brook has a chance to win multiple games, an improvement from last season. The Falcons must stay healthy, as last year’s team was hampered by a string of injuries.

The roster has been bolstered by senior two-way lineman Jayson Jiminez, an out-of-state transfer.  Dylan Cerciello joins Vitiello on the list of promising sophomores who saw action as freshmen.

Van Kersen summarized: “If we can fill the gap in with some of these younger kids who are hopefully going to get some experience, and if all goes right and we stay healthy, I think we’re going to be a very, very competitive football team.”

2023 schedule

Aug. 31: at Wallington

Sept. 8: at Hasbrouck Heights

Sept. 16: vs. North Arlington

Sept. 23: at Pompton Lakes

Sept. 30: vs. Hawthorne

Week 6: NJIC TBD

Week 7: NJIC TBD

Week 8: NJIC TB

State of the Program: New Milford football hoping to emerge from the fire in 2023

By: Greg Mattura / NorthJersey.com

New Milford has the opportunity to reap the benefits from two seasons of playing so many underclassmen.

The Knights return almost every starter to a junior-heavy team that was 1-7 last season and won a combined three games over the past two seasons.

“The kids got thrown into the fire,” Don Jaconia said as he enters his third season as coach, “but they should be the better for it, because we have a lot of experience coming back.”

New Milford graduated only one key two-way starter and will be considerably more competitive with a 40-player program that features 15 juniors and seven seniors. The Knights learned valuable lessons, gained valuable experience with their youth movement.

“Internally, our team has embraced it, and knows that it’s a process, and you don’t build a program overnight,” Jaconia said. “We were in a situation where we had to put some young players out on the field against varsity football teams, maybe before they were ready.

“But now they have that experience, and the kids have a great attitude and come to work every day and keep getting better and better, and I think we’re going to start to see that pay off.”

The tradition

New Milford has won two sectional titles since the NJSIAA introduced sectional playoffs in 1974. In 1985 and 1986, the Knights captured back-to-back North 1, Group 1 titles with victories over Hasbrouck Heights.

Jaconia succeeded longtime coach Bill Wilde in 2021 and is 3-14 over his first two seasons. The Knights’ last playoff win came in 2019, when they beat Hoboken, 15-14, in a North 2, Group 1 opener.

The challenge

The offense must control the ball and clock and produce multiple touchdowns each game, one season after being held to one score or fewer five times.

Junior Jerzey Ryan returns to quarterback the multiple attack. He will have veteran receivers in juniors Giovanni Nicodeme and Kyle Tennant and senior Yandel Mateo.

Jaconia says the team is also putting a “renewed emphasis on the run game this year.”

STATE OF THE PROGRAM:Inside look at every HS football team in North Jersey

Expectations

New Milford will compete for multiple wins in the small-school NJIC, but how many depends on how well its 3-4 defense performs. The Knights allowed 27 or more points six times last season.

“We expect to be better across the board and be more competitive in all phases,” Jaconia said. “We’re looking to make plays and get stops defensively, just play some tough, hard-nosed football, and hopefully good things happen.”

2023 schedule

Aug. 31: at Cresskill/Emerson

Sept. 8: at Lyndhurst

Sept. 14: vs. Waldwick/Midland Park

Sept. 23: at Lodi

Sept. 30: vs. Secaucus

Game 6: TBD

Game 7: TBD

Game 8: TB

State of the Program: Glen Rock football laying it all on the line in 2023

By: Sean Farrell / NorthJersey.com

Opportunity knocks for Glen Rock.

How new players answer will be the defining question of its 2023 season.

The Panthers (8-2) set the bar high again last autumn by reaching the sectional semifinals and finishing a game back in the NJIC Colonial division. They held seven opponents to a touchdown or less with a smothering pass rush led by former senior Aiden Burkhardt.

The challenge this summer is replacing a wave of talent and leadership from a class of 14 players. Only a few starters are back and some are acclimating to a new position.

But if anything, Glen Rock has proven the ability to turn the page time and time again. The fans on Hamilton Ave have cheered on a winning product in eight of the last 10 years.

So coach Jim Kurz is embracing the chance to see what’s under the hood at his alma mater. This will be his 25th year associated with the varsity program between time as a head coach, assistant and three-year receiver.

“People can look at (the lineup changes) as a negative but for us, we look at it as positive because it creates a perfect opportunity for players who have been waiting in the wings for the past few seasons to step up,” Kurz said. “We have a whole new group of players who will now get their opportunity.”

One of them is junior Nick Atme, who will get the nod at quarterback after being used as a receiver last year.

Look for senior linebacker Jack Hattersley to play a prominent role on both sides with his ability to run, catch and lead the defense.

STATE OF THE PROGRAM:Inside look at every HS football team in North Jersey

The tradition

Glen Rock has won eight sectional titles in the modern era, including five in a row from 1998 to 2002. The Panthers have reached the playoffs in the last four non-COVID seasons.

Kurz has led the Panthers to an 82-53 record in his first 14 seasons on the job. The only Glen Rock coach with more wins is stadium namesake Alan Deaett with 156.

“It’s not just about the head coaches,” Kurz said. “Our assistants have stayed consistent as well. So we’re on the same page as a staff with what our expectations are.”

The challenge

Numbers are a little down this year, but the players on the roster have put in the effort.

“We only have about 40 players in the program, but every day 40 players are showing up,” Kurz said. “That’s a positive.”

That preparation is important in light of the Panthers’ 2023 schedule. The season opens with back-to-back games against division champs Waldwick/Midland Park and Rutherford.

Expectations

One of the themes this year in Glen Rock is the line. So much of their success hinges on the strength in the trenches led by senior Jake Rickett (4.5 sacks) and juniors Peter Lagemann (7.0 sacks) and Ryan Loughran.

That position group has come into focus as well with former line coach Mike Line passing away this summer at the age of 77. Glen Rock is planning to honor the man who spent more than four decades on the high school level between his time with the Panthers and Elmwood Park.

“He was an amazing mentor who truly, truly cared about the program and truly, truly cared about the players,” Kurz said. “He was like an uncle and a father figure to anyone that ever went through our program.”

2023 schedule

Aug. 31: vs. Waldwick/Midland Park

Sept. 8: vs. Rutherford

Sept. 14: at Lodi

Sept. 22: vs. Garfield

Sept. 29: at Becton

Week 6: NJIC game TBD (away)

Week 7: NJIC game TBD (home)

Week 8: NJIC game TBD (away)