Football has arrived in New Jersey, and no conference commences the start of the season with more pride than the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference.
The second annual NJIC Football Media Day was held on Thursday night at The Fiesta in Wood-Ridge for what was another phenomenal event for the league.
Head coaches and two athletes from each of the conference’s 25 teams were on hand with answers to a variety of questions asked by the media outlets in attendance.
What’s in store for NJIC football in 2025? We have what you’re looking for below.
Stage is set for a fun year
There’s no better way to kick off the season than with a new venue for media day. Last year’s event was held at Montclair State University but with the Red Hawks currently in the middle of football training camp, The Fiesta became the new site. It’s a night that had the conference bouncing with excitement and ready to lace it up in two weeks.
“This is a great opportunity for the kids,” NJIC Executive Director Stan Fryczynski said. “[Wood-Ridge athletic director] Marc Sinclair has done an excellent job coordinating everything and getting it together. Montclair was a good host, but Marc brought up The Fiesta and I thought it was a great idea. The kids can sit down and talk amongst themselves and the coaches to mingle. It’s a good night.
“I don’t want to say this season is going to be a toss-up, but we might see some new faces this year,” Fryczynski added of the conference outlook. “There’s a nice mix on the top end and the best thing we could’ve done was take the top team in each division. I’ll be following it week-to-week and it’s something we’re really proud of.”
Cresskill-Emerson Boro makes move to Liberty
After posting a 6-3 record and finishing in third place in the Colonial division last fall, the Cresskill-Emerson Boro has made the move into the Liberty division for the 2025 season. Last season was the first time since the two programs merged in 2023 that the Cougars finished with a winning record. Now they’ll try to add on to that success against some of the NJIC’s best programs, and leading that charge will be a new head coach and a returning starter at quarterback.
Back in mid-March Sal Aiello was hired as the program’s head coach, and he comes to Cresskill with some professional football experience on his resume. Prior to stints as the defensive coordinator at Cliffside Park-Ridgefield, Secaucus, and Wallington, Aiello was a video assistant for the New York Jets from 2009-2011. A defensive specialist, he’ll have players like Alex Ponce, Justin Soh, Nick Giella, and Joe Connelly at his disposal to anchor that group.
Also back is junior quarterback Jake Lewin, who threw for 859 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. His ability to find Connelly, who doubled as a receiver, will be key to the Cougars’ success on offense.
When the Cougars play perennial division title contender Rutherford on Oct. 4, it will be the first matchup between the two since before 2011.
No shortage of new coaches
Out of the 25 teams in the conference, seven will have a new coach on the sidelines. See those names below.
- Sal Aiello, Cresskill-Emerson Boro
- Andrew Carbone, Wood-Ridge
- James Case, Bogota
- Joe Cutrona, Saddle Brook
- Sal DeGennaro, Palisades Park-Leonia
- Kurt Hommen, Park Ridge
- Farsheed Taschayyodi, Garfield
The teams to beat
Nothing matters until the first whistle on August 28, but some of the conferences coaches are feeling good about where their teams stand on the first week of official practices. And based on what some of these teams return from a year ago, we can’t blame them for the optimism. Here are the four teams to beat in each division based on early-season buzz.
Colonial: Lyndhurst
The Golden Bears saw a 24-7 third-quarter lead wither away in the North 2, Group 2 quarterfinals last season, but many starters from that roster are back, including seven on the defensive side. Senior two-way lineman Shadeed Smith brings an intimidating presence to the field for Lyndhurst at a towering 6-4, 280 frame.
Liberty: Glen Rock
Despite falling short in the North 2, Group 2 sectional final last year, it was a season to remember for Glen Rock. The Panthers finished 9-2 and went undefeated in Liberty Division play and as conference runner-ups to Butler. There are several holes to fill on both sides of the ball after graduations, but there are also 11 members of this senior class that will look to try and keep the Panthers on top. Seniors Matt Boisitis and Brendan Burkhardt are back and will once again play heavy two-way roles at the skill positions.
Meadowlands: Butler
The Bulldogs were the NJIC champs in 2024 and welcome back a chunk of last year’s roster, including All-Group 1 star quarterback David Smith and fellow senior Nick Parkinson, who will be Butler’s most important body at wide receiver and in the secondary. Butler went 5-0 in division play and outscored its Meadowlands opponents by a margin of 213-27.
Patriot: St. Mary (Ruth.)
The reigning Patriot division champions are back for more in 2025. The Gaels return 10 players who earned all-division honors last season. A good core of linemen on both sides of the ball are back in Mason Mania, Marcello Estevez, Justin Mabry, Landon Pena, and Anthony Paterno. That group will have to protect the new starters at quarterback and running back.
Big names back for more
All four divisions have long lists of returning All-League honorees coming back, but there are several 2024 All-Groupers who will be on the field in the conference this fall. Here are the best of the best names returning for another year on the NJIC gridiron.
- Harris Krommenhoek, Hasbrouck Heights, Sr., LB/OL
- Michael Napolitano, Hasbrouck Heights, Sr., RB/DB
- Nick Parkinson, Butler, Sr., WR/DB
- Patrick Randolph, Park Ridge, So., RB/LB
- Brady Shine, Hasbrouck Heights, Sr., WR/DB/K
- David Smith, Butler, Sr., QB
- Shadeed Smith, Lyndhurst, Sr., OL/DL
Donovan Hugel can be reached at dhugel@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @donohugel.
