2015 In Review: The Green Knights were 8-4, losing to Don Bosco in Parochial Group 4 finals, after beating St. Peter’s Prep and St. Augustine Prep. They scored 253 points for a 21.09 average, while allowing 168 for a 14.0 average, including two shutouts. Wins included Don Bosco, St. Edward’s (Oh.), DePaul, and paramus Catholic, while their other losses were to Bergen Catholic, IMG (Fla.), and St. Joe’s Prep (Pa.).

Departures: RB/CB JT Giles-Harris - lacrosse at Duke, DT Ibn Foster - Albany, OL Jordan Velez - Rhode Island, TE/DE Michael Carfagno - wrestling at Rider, RB Brian Kearns - Stonehill (Mass.), RB/DB Austin Triglia - Bentley (Mass.)

Offense: St. Joe’s runs a multiple offense and returns five starters. Returning at quarterback is junior Nick Patti (6-foot-3, 190). Tailback is open and includes senior Jordan Scott (5-foot-7, 160) when he is not playing in the slot, senior Louis Acceus (6-foot-0, 210), senior Jack Agnew (6-foot-0, 190), junior Isaiah Hopkinson (5-foot-8, 160), and junior Guerson Toupuissant (5-foot-9, 175). Acceus and Agnew are returning starters on defense. The fullback/h-back has juniors Chris Alexander (6-foot-0, 200), Mike Marto (5-foot-11, 190), and Harrison Francisco (6-foot-0, 200) in the running. It would have been junior Kyle Clark (6-foot-2, 225), but he is lost for the season with an injury.

Tight end is in the hands of junior Matt Alaimo (6-foot-4, 220). Playing in two tight end situations will be junior Dorian Hardy (6-foot-5-½, 255), a rising star on the defensive side of the ball.

Wide receiver will be contested by senior Nick Cantone (5-foot-10, 180), junior Fara’ad McCombs (6-foot-0, 180), senior Anthony D’Apolito (5-foot-10, 180), and sophomore Jimmy Ciarlo (6-foot-1, 190).

Four starters are back on the line, including two three year starters in senior left tackle Rob Martin (6-foot-5, 275) and senior right guard Sean Mitchell (6-foot-2, 280), who moves from center. The right tackle is senior Joshua Fedd-Jackson (6-foot-3, 315), moving from guard, and junior left guard Nick Russo (6-foot-2, 285). The center will be senior Ryan Botto (6-foot-0, 270). Others expected to make a push are sophomore Patrick McMurtry (6-foot-4, 235) and junior Nick Leiva (6-foot-0, 220).

Defense: The Green Knights run a 4-4 and return seven starters, including four three year starters. Senior Mark Doran (6-foot-1, 215) is one of those three year starters at end, with Hardy also returning on the other side. Back at one tackle is senior Yves Montissol (5-foot-8, 260) and his partner will be senior Vincent Matraxia (6-foot-1, 240).

Three starters return at linebacker, all of them three year starters. Acceus holds down one spot on the inside, while Agnew and senior Gerrit Van Italie (6-foot-0, 200) are back on the outside. Senior Grant Pagano (5-foot-10, 210) will line up on the inside and he saw action.

Returning in the secondary is junior free safety Evan Stewart (6-foot-1, 190). The corners will have junior Jaden Budka (5-foot-8, 165) on one side, with McCombs and junior Joe Napoleon 5-foot-10, 170) battling on the other.

Special Teams: Back at kicker is sophomore Angelo Guglielmello. Punter is undecided and the return men will be Scott, Stewart, and Hopkinson.

Schedule:

Saturday, 9/3, at Serra (Cal.), 3PM (EST)

Saturday, 9/10, St. John’s (Washington DC) at home, 1PM

Saturday, 9/17, Delbarton at home, 1PM

Saturday, 9/24, Eastern Christian (Md.) at home, 1PM

Saturday, 10/1, Bergen Catholic at home, 2:30PM

Friday, 10/7, at Don Bosco, 7PM

10/14-15, Bye Week

Saturday, 10/22, St. Peter's Prep at home, 1PM

Saturday, 10/29, Paramus Catholic at home, 1PM

Friday, 11/4, at DePaul, 7PM

Concerns: Depth, running the ball efficiently, and minimizing quarterback mistakes. They’re also not as big up front defensively; they will have to fly around and make things happen quickly.

Recruits: Martin committed to Penn State, while Acceus and Fedd-Jackson each have numerous 1-A offers. Scott is at least a 1-AA prospect. Doran has attention from both the Ivy and Patriots Leagues. Mitchell is another 1-AA prospect, most likely the Patriot League. Others will play somewhere.

In the junior class, Hardy has offers, including Rutgers. Stewart has offers from Rutgers, Boston College, Temple, and North Carolina. Alaimo has an offer from Rutgers and should get more. Russo is at least 1-AA and Patti is an Ivy/Patriot type who could upgrade.

It is still early for the sophomore class, but there will eventually be some good prospects.

Coach’s Comments: “We’re excited. This is a veteran group with more three-year starters here than at any time I can remember. It will be exciting to see how the group comes together.” - Head Coach Augie Hoffman