TEAM PREVIEW: Delbarton

2013 In Review: The Green Wave was 9-2, losing to Pope John in the Non-Public Group 3 semi-finals, after beating Monsignor Donovan. They scored 356 points for a 32.36 average, while allowing 124 points for an 11.27 average, including four shutouts. Wins included Pope John, Parsippany Hills, and Roxbury, while their other loss was to Paramus Catholic.

Departures: RB Robert Arancio - U Penn, TE/DB Matt Oplinger - Yale, OL/DL Aaron Slodowitz - Middlebury, OL/DL Corben Davis - Colgate, QB Giuseppe Bevacqua - U Penn for lightweight football, WR/LB Connor Mackie - Yale for lacrosse, LB/RB Josef Johnson - Harvard for wrestling, WR/DB JJ McBride - U Penn for lacrosse

Offense: Delbarton runs a multiple I and returns one starter and a few others who played. Quarterback has senior John Chiarlonzo (6-foot-2, 175) as the frontrunner and junior Matt Zebrowski (6-foot-2, 205) on his tail. Tailback has junior Andrew Sanders (5-foot-9, 180) back after seeing some action, plus junior Greg Suczewski (5-foot-7, 160), junior Jon Catania (5-foot-9, 180), and sophomore Luca Tria (5-foot-10, 165) will all see action. The fullback will be senior Jared Ahsler (6-foot-0, 220), who saw some time.

The wide receivers have five guys who will all play. They are senior Matt Mandelbaum (5-foot-10, 170), sophomore Andrew Papantonis (6-foot-1, 175), junior Kevin Hartley (6-foot-0, 175), senior TJ Comizio (5-foot-10, 170), and junior Matt Ungar (6-foot-2, 175). Madelbaum and Hartley saw action and Papantonis started on defense as a freshman. Tight end has two who will play in senior Patrick Bray (6-foot-1, 200) and junior Sam Johnson (6-foot-3, 210). The h-back, when it is used, will have senior Ian Lodge (6-foot-0, 180) and sophomore Josh Scott (6-foot-1, 175).

The lone returning starter to the line is senior left tackle Andrew Otterman (6-foot-4, 285). Right tackle will be senior Bill Murray (6-foot-4, 240), left guard will be senior James Donlon (6-foot-1, 225), senior Michael Sweetman (5-foot-11, 230) will play right guard, and senior Chris Dionne (6-foot-0, 210) will be the center. Others pushing for time are senior Jack Parisi (6-foot-3, 235), junior Malcolm Mead (5-foot-10, 230), and sophomore Jake Maciejewski (5-foot-11, 230).

Defense: The Green Wave run a 3-4 and return three starters and two others who played often. Parisi is a returning starter at end, moving from linebacker, while Murray will play the opposite side after seeing time. Otterman and Maciejewski will split time at nose guard, with senior Kyle Higgins (5-foot-11, 200) in pursuit.

Ahsler will be one inside linebacker and he played. Senior Joe Lee (5-foot-9, 180) will play alongside him, with Zebrowski, senior Frank Colatuono (5-foot-10, 200) and junior Dalton Smart (5-foot-11, 190) pushing them. Bray will be one outside linebacker and senior Aaron Earlywine (5-foot-10, 170) will man the other side. In the hunt are Sam Johnson and junior Joey Gambetta (6-foot-2, 185).

The two returning starters in the secondary are Papantonis at cornerback and Lodge at safety. Mandelbaum will be the other corner, with competition from Catania, Comizio, Hartley, and junior Cole Shafer (5-foot-9, 170). The other safety has Hartley, junior Petrig Agnew (6-foot-0, 160), junior Brandon Gaceta (5-foot-8, 160), Ungar, and Szott battling it out.

Special Teams: The kicker will be junior Carter Massengill and the punter will be Suczewski. The return men will be Papantonis, Hartley, Comizio, and Sanders.

Schedule:

Friday, 9/12, at Monsignor Farrell (NY), 7PM

Saturday, 9/20, Morris Knolls at home, 1PM

Saturday, 9/27, West Morris at home, 1PM

Friday, 10/3, at Mount Olive, 7PM

Saturday, 10/11, Randolph at home, 2:30PM

Saturday, 10/18, at Mendham, 2:30PM

Saturday, 10/25, Roxbury at home, 2PM

Saturday, 11/1, at Morristown, 1PM

Friday, 11/7, at Poly Prep (NY), 7PM

Concerns: Staying healthy and the development of the younger players.

Recruiting: Otterman committed to Northwestern. Murray has an offer from Lafayette and interest from Fordham, Albany, and the Ivy League schools. Ahsler, Bray, and Lodge are NESCAC players, while Parisi has interest from the Ivy League and the NESCAC.

The top underclassman is Papantonis, a sophomore who is 1-AA and perhaps, 1-A.

Coach's Comments: "We're excited. We have a good mix of veterans and young talent. We have to fill some holes from good players who graduated, but we're confident in our young players and look forward to them stepping up." - Head Coach Brian Bowers