The all-new SFC American Blue has a weird assortment of schools, but you can say this about the division: The league that includes Jefferson, Hackettstown, High Point, Morris Catholic, Newton and Vernon should have plenty of offense.
Those schools were hit by graduation, but there is plenty of returning offensive talent for some of those schools to put up some points.
Newton’s Evan Cotter is one name to keep an eye on. The last two years, he has played in the shadow of a Newton all-time great (Nick Kurilko, who rushed for 2,343 yards and 35 TDs) but appears ready to be the primary ballcarrier in coach Matt Parzero’s Wing-T. Cotter was 84 for 616 rushing with 4 TDs last year and has already rushed for 1,186 yards in his two years as a Brave. Last year, he also caught 14 passes for 331 yards and 3 TDs.
Cotter could well be on his way to joining a pretty impressive group at the school with Braves greats such as Chase Cramer (4,408 career yards), Brayden Nolan (2,826), and Thaylor Sibbies (2,266 yards).
Vernon QB Nathaniel Kimkowski, meanwhile, was a two-way threat for the Vikings as he was 86 for 149 for 1,122 yards passing and rushed 117 times for 718 yards and 14 more TDs.
Jefferson struggled to a 2-8 record but the Falcons might have more returning talent than anyone in the American Blue with QB Erik Hokenberg (109 for 188 for 1,749 yards and 13 TDs), WR Chris Connolly (41 for 719 yards and 4 TDs as a junior, 33 for 546 and 6 TDs as a sophomore), and RB Braedan Cummings (126 for 656 rushing, 12 TDs).
When Hackettstown has the ball, it will have some legit threats In QB Carter Bujno (74 for 127 for 1,426 yards and 16 TDs last year) and WR Kolton Maney (44 for 905, 10 TDs).
The Morris-Sussex area is oozing with offensive talent for the upcoming season. Here are some offensive players to keep an eye on (Top defensive players are coming up next week) :
Ryan Hogan, QB, Chatham – The Cougars are moving on up to the Liberty White (West Morris, Mount Olive, Morris Knolls, Morristown) and they need Hogan to step it up the way he did last year, when he was 126 for 204 for 1,684 yards and 6 TDs.
Frankie Falco, QB, Roxbury – The shifty Falco accumulated more than 2,000 yards last year and most of it was on the ground. Defenders couldn’t get a grip on him as he was 196 for 1,301 yards and 14 TDs rushing for the youthful Gaels as they reached the sectional semifinals. He was also 71 for 121 passing for 743 yards and 3 TDs.
Jackson Gering, QB, Montville – The Mustangs have been strong at the quarterback position for many years and that’ll be the case this year with Gering at the controls. He was 122 for 203 for 1,636 yards and 13 TDs last year.
Gavin Gilardi, QB, Delbarton – The Green Wave faced a brutal schedule but that didn’t seem to bother Gilardi, who was 83 for 125 for 1,202 yards and 15 TDs in the rugged United White.
Matthew Siciliano, QB, Kinnelon – The Colts have been very run-heavy the last few years but Siciliano can both run (142 for 900 rushing, 15 TDs) and pass (30 for 72, 661 yards, 12 TDs).
Cole Bolich, QB, Wallkill Valley – The Rangers have had great quarterbacking recently (Zack Clarken, Dylan Bonser) and Bolich seems ready to fill their shoes. He did well in his sophomore year (84 for 126, 913 yards, 6 TDs).
Nick Napolitano, QB, Parsippany Hills – The Vikings struggled last year but are on the right track with Napolitano running the attack. He was 122 for 209 for 1,192 yards and 10 TDs for a 2-8 club.
Cole Young, QB, Sussex Tech – Coach Brian Stellingwerf went to the air last year and Young showed that he was up to it as he threw for 1,063 yards and 6 TDs.
Lawson Fagan, QB, Mountain Lakes – The Herd rushed for almost 3,300 yards out of the Wing T last year but Fagan (435 yards passing, 7 TDs, 2 INTs) might be unleashed this year.
Deacon Frayne, RB, West Morris – Frayne (222 for 1,423 yards, 17 TDs) was phenomenal as a mere sophomore in helping the Wolfpack win a fourth sectional championship in five years last year.
Brayden Longo, RB, Mount Olive – The explosive Longo was 163 for 1,363 yards and 17 TDs rushing but was incredible in so many other ways, including catching 17 passes for 159 yards and a TD, returning an INT for a TD, three punt returns for TDs, and a kickoff return for a touchdown.
Jack Bronico, RB, Mountain Lakes – Bronico was 21 for 203 yards and 4 TDs last year but he was the fourth RB in a senior-dominated, talented backfield. He should break out this year.
Clement Hofbauer, RB, Montville – The Mustangs are always in the thick of things with a well-rounded offense and their leading back figures to be Hofbauer (133 for 725, 9 TDs). With backfield mate Tyler Goldman (20 for 154, 2 TDs in three games) back from injury, the Mustangs expect to have a strong running game.
Thomas Guido, RB, Mendham – For the first half of 2025, Guido was one of the best all-around players in Morris County until a groin injury slowed him down. He finished the year rushing 59 times for 541 yards and 8 TDs and caught 35 passes for 304 yards and a TD. In a 32-27 win over a solid Warren Hills team, he was 12 for 158 rushing with two TDs.
Koby Irby-Mason, RB, Delbarton – The Green Wave will face a demanding schedule once more but Irby-Mason (131 for 603 rushing, 3 TDs last year) will help them be in the thick of things.
Christian Brevig, WR, Pope John – Whoever replaces Luke Irwin as the Lions’ QB will be delighted to have the sure-handed and talented transfer Brevig (69 for 959, 12 TDs) who led all Sparta receivers last season.
Brett Kunkel, WR, Montville – Kunkel (48 for 705, 7 TDs last year) combined with Gering to form a strong passing-receiving combo.
Zayne Carswell, WR, Pope John – Even though the Lions were rebuilding, Carswell had a big year (44 for 629, 3 TDs) and hopes to get them back on track in 2026.
Grant Van Raaphorst, WR, Delbarton – Van Raaphorst faced a monster schedule but that didn’t stop him from hauling in 29 passes for 576 yards and 3 TDs as the Green Wave unexpectedly tied for the United White championship.
Maxwell Curry, WR, Madison – The Cinderella Dodgers shockingly made it all the way to the North 2, Group II championship game as a No. 7 seed with 29 catches for 490 yards and 6 TDs showing what he can do.
Max Piechota, TE, Dover – The Tigers will play in the SFC-Ivy Division and Piechota is expected to be an anchor as a blocker and receiver.
Lukas Certo, TE, Hopatcong – The Chiefs finished 0-8 two years ago but improved to 4-6 last year with Certo as one of the key players.
Tanner Kross, OL, Delbarton – Kross is the latest in a long line of standout linemen at Delbarton.
Matthew Shivas, OL, Delbarton – Shivas will combine with Kross to give the Green Wave a formidable duo of blockers up front.
Tyler DiSanto, OL, Morris Hills – The Scarlet Knights have a strong junior class and DiSanto should lead the O-Line this fall.
Nicolas Hamarcak, OL, Wallkill Valley – The Rangers expect to contend in the National Blue and expect Hamarcak to lead the blocking on the offensive side of the ball.
Alex Husti, OL, Montville – Husti is the prime mover up front for a Mustang team that expects to pile up points.
Vincent Zanni, OL, Roxbury – The Gaels blossomed a lot quicker than anyone expected last year and one of the reasons was Zanni’s work up front.
Joey Drown, OL, West Morris – The Wolfpack breed top-flight O-Linemen every year and Drown will lead the way this year.
Sam Lagatta, OL, Mount Olive – The Marauders graduated two massive blockers from last year (James Giammanco and James Rizzo) but return the steady Lagatta.
Aidan Trinidad, OL, Pequannock – The Golden Panthers will have their hands full in the American White (Hanover Park, Mountain Lakes, Caldwell) but have a good lineman to build around in Trinidad.
Hayden Hines, OL, High Point – The Wildcats often ran behind Hines in big situations and they wound up winning the American Blue because of it.
Alex Conway, OL, High Point – The Jerron Martress Era is over but Conway and Hines will combine to give new coach Will Nahan a powerful running game.
