2015 In Review: The Golden Knights were 12-0, winning the North Jersey Section 1 Group 4 championship by beating Wayne Hills, after beating Wayne Valley and Warren Hills. They scored 507 points for a 42.25 average, while allowing 160 for a 13.33 average. Wins included Ramapo, Pascack Valley, and Indian Hills.

Departures: QB/DB Devin Fuller - Ohio State, OL/DL John Piccinich - Fordham, TE/LB Jedh Downey - Hobart, QB Kevin Martinez - Gettysburg, RB/DB Zach DeNike - Endicott, WR/CB Joe Alsharif - Salve Regina, K Yanni Mitropoulos - Muhlenberg

Offense: Old Tappan runs a multiple offense and returns four starters and another who started some games. Quarterback is a battle between senior Jack Bilali (5-foot-10, 155) and junior John McNerney (5-foot-7, 160). The running backs have senior returning starter Erik Slater (6-foot-2, 215) moving to running back from fullback. Fullback will have senior James Kelly (5-foot-11, 200), a defensive starter from last year, and he will be supported by junior Dan Vitellaro (5-foot-9, 165).

The receivers have senior Ryan Weis (6-foot-1, 215) at tight end, where he started six games. The wide receivers will be senior Chris Passante (5-foot-8, 150), junior Aidan Bilali (5-oot-10, 160), and junior Sal DeBenedetto (5-foot-9, 155).

Three starters return to the line: senior center Steve Crevani (5-foot-11, 260), junior guard Mike Mancuso (6-foot-1, 235), and junior tackle Chris Eichler (6-foot-2, 255). The other guard will be junior Jack Dippolito (5-foot-10, 215). The other tackle has senior Spencer Kusnic (5-foot-11, 265), junior Scott Essman (5-foot-10, 205), junior Liam Murphy (5-foot-10, 185), and freshman Pat Passalacqua (6-foot-1, 220).

Defense: The Golden Knights run a multiple 3-3 and return five starters and another who played. Crevani is back at nose guard, while Mancuso saw time at end. Mancuso will have Eichler and Dappolito rotating at the other end.

The linebackers have Weis, Slater, Kelly, and junior Dillon Policastro (6-foot-1, 185) all returning. In the mix with them will be junior Bryce Lukas (6-foot-1, 180).

The secondary will have Aidan Bilali, and DeBendetto at the corners, while the safeties will be sophomore Johnny Lohrer (5-foot-9, 160) and junior Bryan Barker (6-foot-2, 160), with Vitalaro rotating in.

Special Teams: The kicker will be sophomore Eric Rodriguez and Slater will be the punter. The return men will be Passante, DeBenedetto, and Bilali.

Schedule:

Friday, 9/9, Paramus at home, 6PM

Friday, 9/16, Pascack Valley at home, 7PM

Friday, 9/23, at Wayne Hills, 7PM

Friday, 9/30, at Ridgewood, 7PM

Friday, 10/7, Fair Lawn at home, 7PM

Saturday, 10/15, at Teaneck, 6PM

Friday, 10/21, Northern Highlands at home, 7PM

Friday, 10/28, at Indian Hills, 7PM

Friday, 11/4, Ramapo at home, 6PM

Concerns: Experience; learning to play at a certain level.

Recruits: Weis and Slater are 1-AA/D2 prospects, while Kelly is D2, and Crevani is D3.

For the juniors and sophomores, it is too early, but there are players who will play college sports.

Coach’s Comments: “We have to fill in for some good players. Hopefully, we will plug in some spots and keep it rolling. We’ll be competitive, but aren’t as explosive as we were last year. We do have three or four linemen back and that helps.” - Head Coach Brian Dunn