Kinnelon ran its way to perhaps the best season in school history last year – literally.
If the Colts intend to equal last year’s success this fall, they may do it with their defense.
Coach Dustin Grande, who was named Big State Sports’ 2025 All-Area Coach of the Year after he guided the team to a 10-2 record, National Blue championship, and North 1, Group I championship game, welcomes back several defensive standouts from last year’s team.
Linebackers Jack Felson and Dillon Aslani and defensive back Tyler Grande, his son, will lead a defense that could well be the focal point of the team this year.
That’s a different look compared to last year, when Kinnelon rushed for more than 3,000 yards and continued the run-first trend that has taken place at the school under Grande, entering his fifth season.
The team has gone 26-15 during his tenure. The previous four years before Grande arrived, the Colts finished 15-30.
This year might well be defense-first because of the work of Felson (78 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL), Aslani (57 tackles, 3 sacks, 7 TFL), and Grande (27 tackles, 2 TFL, 3 INTs).
The Morris-Sussex area is loaded with top-flight defensive players for 2026. Here are some of them:
Matthew Donnelly, DL, Roxbury – Donnelly (4 sacks, 18 TFL, 74 tackle) was a force and one of the stalwarts for the up-and-coming Gaels.
Jared Martini, DL, Mount Olive – Martini (6 ½ sacks, 22 TFL, 84 tackles) felt at home in opponents backfields last year.
Waylon Harper, DL, Kittatinny – Harper (5 ½ sacks, 11 TFL, 46 tackles) helped lead the Cougars to the sectional semifinals with his ferocious work inside.
Shane Weiss, DL, Kittatinny – With Weiss (2 ½ sacks, 4 TFL, 38 tackles) and Harper manning the defensive line, opposing teams will have a tough time moving the ball this fall.
Scott Weiss, DL, Wallkill Valley – The Rangers are expected to contend in the National Blue with Weiss (½ sack, 4 ½ TFL, 81 tackles) a mainstay up front.
Ezekiel Frayko, DL, Wallkill Valley – Time after time, Frayko (8 ½ TFL, 33 tackles) came up with a big play for the Rangers on the way to the playoffs last year.
Tommy Henehan, DL, Butler – The Bulldogs were stout inside on the way to winning the NJIC and North 1, Group I and Henehan (4 sacks, 7 TFL, 39 tackles) was one of the ringleaders.
Vince Fusco, DL, Mountain Lakes – Fusco was a big factor in the Herd overcoming a 1-2 start and reaching the sectional semifinals last year.
Dustin Gabriel, DL, Mountain Lakes – Gabriel is a fireplug who will combine with Fusco and blow up many opposing offenses this year.
Tyler Alvarez, DL, Chatham – The Cougars were hit hard by graduation on defense, but Alvarez (1 sack, 5 TFL, 28 tackles) is a good building block for this year.
Rob Eggars, DL, Montville – The Mustangs figure to have a strong defense with Eggars (1 sack, 4 TFL, 21 tackles) holding down the D-Line.
Jack Brown, LB, Mountain Lakes – Brown will join forces with Jack Bronico and create a fearsome linebacking unit for the Herd.
Owen Lieberwirth, LB, Mendham – The Minutemen graduated most of a strong team from two years ago but Lieberwirth (118 tackles, 11 TFL) turned it up and helped lead the team back to the postseason.
Ryder Higbie, LB, Butler – Higbie (4 sacks, 6 TFL, 61 tackles) was also a vicious hitter, as evidenced by his three forced fumbles.
Rocco Restel, LB, Wallkill Valley – Restel (1 ½ sacks, 16.5 TFL, 63 tackles) was all over the field – and in the opponents’ backfields – for the playoff-bound Rangers.
D.J. Benfatti, LB, Delbarton – Benfatti (2 sacks, 6 TFL, 66 tackles) was a force for Roxbury as a sophomore but is now a member of the Green Wave.
Anthony Caponegro, LB, Parsippany Hills – The Vikings finished strong last year and Caponegro (1 sack, 4 TFL, 69 tackles) was a major reason why.
Dillon Hines, LB, Randolph – The Rams hope to bounce back from an injury-riddled season and make a run at a title in the SFC-Liberty Blue.
Lucas Kerr, LB, Hanover Park – Kerr (3 sacks, 5 TFL, 95 tackles) was one of the keys to the Hornets winning nine straight regular-season games last year.
Harrison Gordon, LB, Parsippany – If the Red Hawks have a successful season in the SFC-National White, Gordon’s work at linebacker will probably be one of the reasons.
John Garcia, LB, West Morris – Garcia (70 tackles, 1 INT) was a force in West Morris’ run to a fourth sectional title in five years last fall.
Josiah Chaplain, LB, Boonton – The Bombers hope to contend in the National White and know they can turn to Chaplain (2 sacks, 7 TFL, 47 tackles) to man the linebacking spot.
Isaiah Lugo, LB, Hopatcong – Lugo (1 sack, 7 TFL, 46 tackles) was one of the keys to the Chiefs huge resurgence last year.
Jason Sica, LB, Whippany Park – Sica (3 sacks, 8 TFL, 54 tackles) had a monster year for the Wildcats.
Robert Eberhardt, LB, Whippany Park – Eberhardt (37 tackles) will join forces with Sica to give the Wildcats solid work out of the linebacker spot.
Lucas Zuravnsky, LB, Morris Knolls – Zuravnsky (6 TFL, 73 tackles) was instrumental in helping Knolls overcome severe graduation losses and make the playoffs last year.
Jace Stiansen, LB, Sparta – Stainsen (3 sacks, 7 TFL, 62 tackles, 1 INT return for a TD) made his presence felt as a mere sophomore last year.
Kevin Healy, LB, Sparta – Healy (1 sack, 6 TFL, 62 tackles, 1 INT) will combine with Stiansen will give the Spartans one of the best linebacking units in Sussex County.
Evan Croker, DB, Butler – Croker (4 TFL, 42 tackles, 2 INTs) was a big key in Butler repeating as NJIC and North 1, Group I champs last year.
Ethan Strack, DB, Hopatcong – The Chiefs hope to shut down opponents passing games with one of the leaders of the defense being Strack (6 INTs), who had a nose for the ball last fall.
Luke Gianattassio, DB, Mendham – Gianattassio (8 TFL, 43 tackles) often found his way into the opponents’ backfield last year.
Rocco Racioppi, DB, Mendham – Last season, Racioppi pulled off the rare feat of returning not one, but two INTs for touchdowns.
Andrew Baginski, DB, Montville – Baginski (12 TFL, 92 tackles, 2 forced fumbles) started for the playoff-bound Mustangs as a mere freshman and was an immediate contributor.
Yazir Register, DB, Pope John – The Lions hope to make a comeback in the United White with the work of Register (34 tackles last year) one of the focal points.
Brendan Dwyer, DB, West Morris – Graduation hit the Wolfpack’s secondary but the team will look to Dwyer (40 tackles) to lead them this fall.
Malcolm Gilyard, DB, Mount Olive – Gilyard (7 TFL, 49 tackles) will help lead a strong Marauders secondary.
Hunter Wolfe, DB, Newton – Wolfe (49 tackles) was a ballhawk in the secondary (3 INTs) for the Braves..
Mike Strong, DB, Kittatinny – Strong (7 INTs) had a nose for the ball in helping lead the Cougars to the sectional semifinals.
Justin Bullock, DB, Mount Olive – Bullock (6 TFL, 82 tackles, 2 INTs) was all over the field for the Marauders last year.
Luke Morgese, DB, Hanover Park – The Hornets won their first nine games last year and Morgese (2 TFL, 44 tickles, 2 INTs) was a menace in the secondary.
Dominick Grunke, PK, Montville – Grunke was Big State Sports first-team All-Area kicker last year after he boomed six field goals in nine attempts with a long of 44 yards. He was 22 of 23 kicking extra points.
Hudson Yee, PK, Delbarton – If the Green Wave need to kick a field goal, they can go to Yee, who was 27 for 27 in extra points last year and made a 36-yard field goal.
Josh DiPasquale, PK, Roxbury – Who can forget DiPasquale nailing a 51-yard field goal as the final gun sounded to lift the Gaels to a 16-13 victory over Morris Knolls last year?
