HSSP Fall 2024 - Football Preview - edit_Layout 1 8 / 15 / 24 9 : 35 AM Page 4 F O O T B A L L Ridinger is in the mix at tight end . Defensively , three all - conference players are back in the sec - ondary : Van Auken , Ricks and Mendez . Leone , Kuc and senior Michael Freeman are key contrib - utors at linebacker , with Ridinger and junior Ale - jandro Melendez also pushing for time . Senior Brody Driscoll is a defensive lineman to watch along with Harris . Freeman will again handle the kicking and punting duties , and varsity newcom - ers looking to earn minutes include sophomores Diego Torres , Owen Molis and Anthony Polidoro and freshman Zyair Mercado . OUTLOOK : After posting a 3 - 7 overall record in 2023 as a member of the WJFL Horizon Divi - sion , the Rams face almost a completely new schedule this fall . They expect to contend for a title in the Royal Division against new oppo - PAUL VI EAGLES nents Pitman , Clayton , Mastery Camden , Gate - way , Haddon Township and Sterling . to graduation , but look for them to stay competi - highlightedby a 42 - yarder , and sophomore Jack - H A D D O N F I E L D tiveagainst an entirely new slate of division foes son Iaccio will compete for the duties as well . in the WJFL Continental : Willingboro , Gloucester , OUTLOOK : Last year was another successful one for BULLDAWGS Paul VI , Pleasantville and Seneca . theDragons , who went 6 - 5 and lost a close to PLAYERS TO WATCH : Haddonfield gradu - game to eventual sectional champion Cherokee ateda stellar senior class , includ - in the semifinals . They hope to contend in the K I N G S W A Y ingall six of its all - conference play - newWJFL Classic Division , which includes tradi - ers , so the roster will have a much DRAGONS tional South Jersey powers Delsea , Washington different look this fall . Most of the PLAYERS TO WATCH : Kingsway Township , Timber Creek and Williamstown . varsity experience falls on the hassome big shoes to fill defensiveside of the ball , where fromgraduation but is confi - L E N A P E senior Sal Bonizio returns as a key dent in the returners and leader at defensive end . He recorded 43 tackles , INDIANS promisingnewcomerson three tackles for loss and seven sacks as a jun - its roster . That includes jun - PLAYERS TO WATCH : New head coach Matt ior . Senior Nico Gayer is another returning ior quarterback David Kreider inherits a roster that has under - starter on the defensive line and senior Matt Oravetz , who threw for over gonesignificant changes but still holds a Rutter is also a solid piece up front . Other play - 700 yards and eight touchdowns as the backup lot of promise . The offense has ers to watch in the trenches are juniors Logan toall - conference QB Tommy Popoff as a sopho - several potential playmakers led by Rheaand Jack McKeever and sophomore Cor - more . Oravetz will look to take over the job on a senior wide receiver MJ Lincoln , macFlannagan at end , and senior Mike Furia , full - timebasis with Popoff now in college , and whohad 24 catches for a team - juniorsHenry DyReys and Michael Grant , and sophomoreAshton Ford is also competing at high432 yards and a touchdown sophomoreBilly Mumbower on the interior . The QB . Junior Za’Hir Paynter flashed potential as a last season . Senior Derrick Hammond and jun - Bulldawgshave experience at linebacker , as sen - sophomoreand could be ready for the role of ior Reggie Lawrence are running backs expected iorsKai Richards and Alex Grimes and junior featuredback . Junior Collin Klepacz is another tomake an impact , and senior Chase Napoli Brody Leonard are all returning varsity players . runningback to watch and senior Tommy DiPi - returnsat fullback . Other targets in the passing Veterans in the secondary are seniors Steven etro is a veteran fullback . Senior wide receiver game include junior tight end Connor Hep - Kennedy , Christian Pescatore and Martin Foust , GreggCampbell can make plays in the passing perlen , senior wide receivers Evan Gaddy and andsophomore Mike Keenan . Juniors Trevor game , and other targets at wide receiver are DylanPark , and sophomore wide receiver Jaidyn Winstonand Jax Marshall , and sophomore Dan sophomore transfer Luca Lentini ( a possible Boyd . Sophomore Kellen Pierce saw some varsi - Keenanwill also push for time . New standouts two - way starter ) and juniors J.D . Johnson and ty time at quarterback as a freshman and should will have to emerge on offense , and junior quar - ChristianWhite . Seniors Brady Whitzell and be in the mix to take over as the starter . Whoev - terbackVan Lefakis is hoping to take the reins . BlakeBirbilis , a Monmouth commit , are key er wins the job will have veterans like seniors Richards , Bonizio and Leonard will vie for car - piecesof the offensive line , with senior Dylan RashadHawkins and James Basinait as protec - riesout of the backfield and Grimes returns as Rickardsand junior Jordan Hernandez also in tionalong the offensive line . Those two are also the fullback . McKeever is back at tight end and themix up front . DiPietro , a linebacker , leads the bigcontributors on the D line , while senior Joey wide receivers looking to make an impact are defenseafter recording 84 tackles , five tackles Buonadonna is a key returner at linebacker . Kennedy , Pescatore and Foust . The offensive for loss , a sack and a forced fumble . Senior Napoli and junior Zimir Lane are hoping for big - linemust be revamped and will be counting on NicolasWorley is another solid linebacker and ger roles at linebacker and junior Andrew John - veterans like Furia and Rutter along with new - sophomoreCole DeNick will also see time at sonadds depth up front . Lincoln and Ham - comersGrant , Mumbower , senior Diego Verges theposition . Whitzell has been a defensive mondare veteran cornerbacks , and other play - and junior Rafael Lytle . Flannagan will look to standout since he was a freshman and is part of ers to watch in the secondary are Lawrence , handle the kicking and punting responsibilities . aD - line that also includes Hernandez and Boydand senior Amire Wheeler . Senior Ethan OUTLOOK : Haddonfield reached double digits in Rickards . The secondary has loads of talent , as Blackburnbooted four field goals last season wins for the third time in the last five full seasons , seniorsKyle Nordone , Dominic Hibbs and and is back as the kicker / punter . as it went 10 - 2 with a close loss to Rumson - Fair KameronWhite and junior Mason Bryan all OUTLOOK : Kreider , a Delran native who spent the Haven in the South Jersey , Group 2 champi - return . Junior kicker / punter Zack Burlingame past eight years as the defensive coordinator at onshipgame . The Bulldawgs might have trouble converted25 - of - 26 PATs and 4 - of - 5 field goals , KeanUniversity , was tapped for his first head stayingat that level considering all of their losses 14 SUBURBAN FAMILY volume 15 issue 1 SUBURBANFAMILYMAG.COM