Newton Runners Overwhelm Kinnelon

All year long, Reid Corino and Braxton Guerra have been good soldiers. They have blocked, carried out their fakes and then watched someone else (All-World teammate Evan Cotter) receive the accolades.

But in the sectional semifinals, Corino and Guerra were rewarded – and they took their rewards (carries) and ran with them.

Newton pulled off almost the unthinkable with not one, not two, but three runners amassing 100 yards rushing in a 56-10 win over Kinnelon in the North 1, Group I semifinals.

Cotter led the way with 128 yards and three TDs but Guerra and Corino each rushed for 118 yards.

Kinnelon will host New Miflord in the sectional finals.

The Braves Wing-T was on fire all night to the tune of 38 carries for a whopping 477 yards and seven TDs.

“It was special,” Newton coach Matt Parzero said. “We had a lot of guys contributing. That is what we want to do. That is what makes it so tough to stop.

We always preach, ‘What you’re doing when you don’t have the ball is important.’ So we want the backs to block, carry out their fake and be a great teammate.

It was so nice that those guys got rewarded.”

Kinnelon focused on stopping Cotter and why not? He came into the game with 1,778 yards and 29 TDs. But against Kinnelon, Cotter went one way and pulled the Colts defense with him while Corino and Guerra went the other way with the ball.

The result worked out beautifully for the Braves, shooting for their first sectional title since 2017.

“Teams will try and key on Cotter and take away the threat,” Parzero said. “We have more than enough guys itching for the opportunity and they came through.”

Corino and Guerra have helped the team immeasurably in many different ways.

Corino has 50 carries for 496 yards and six TDs. He also has three interceptions from his defensive back spot, where he is one of the best in Sussex County.

“He is a running back who could do it all and get the tough yards,” Parzero said. “He is tough, athletic, and cerebral. He is a smart kid and one of the leading scorers in the state in lacrosse. But he is also a good football player who does all the intangibles, all the things you need, like catching the ball out of the backfield (11 for 212 receiving with 2 TDs) and obviously he runs it when he gets the chance.”

This is the first season that Guerra has started in the backfield. He played tight end as a sophomore and defensive end last year.

He happens to be one of the best linebackers in Sussex.  

“Braxton Guerra is a football player,” Parzero said. “He gets it and is willing to sacrifice for the good of the team. Good things happen when kids think like that and we can just coach. There is no juggling of the egos. It’s nice and refreshing.”

QB Cole Young was only 1 for 5 passing against Kinnelon but has had a big season.

“He is phenomenal,” Parzero said. “He has definitely gained a lot of trust and confidence from us. He brings the intangibles.He can throw 60 yards and runs the offense well but he does the audibles, too. We have calls where he can check out, some high level stuff, but he is able to do it. He is another selfless kid, just makes 6-7 throws a game because that is all we need him to do. He gets it. He is a great kid. He is always asking questions and is a student of the game.”

Newton’s O-Line has been dominant all season with Joey Melillo, Tim McNamara, Ethan Cooke, Jamason Trout and Damien Thoresen pushing defenders around.

“Joey is our top lineman,” Parzero said. “Him and Tim McNamara were the only returning starters and we were confident but nervous with the new kids. Ethan Cooke we moved from tight end to tackle to solidify the spot. Tim was the center  and we moved him over to tackle. Jameson Trout has had a great season. He can long snap and might be looking into one of the service academies down the road. He’s very cerebral. He is the first one off the field and he’ll tell me what the front is for the other team. We have built a strong relationship.

“Damien wasn’t a starter all the time, he was rotating in. He didn’t play football and returned last year as a junior. He took a year off as a sophomore. We had an injury to Caulder Tellebuescher. Damien came in against Vernon, a very good team, and played mistake free. He is very unassuming, very smart. He makes no mistakes with his assignments.”

Newton’s defense came up big against Kinnelon’s powerful and relentless running game.

“We switched our front,” Parzero said. “We got a great game from Nasan Cruz, a second-year starter. He doesn’t get a lot of stats but is always taking on the double team and doing the things necessary for the other guys to make plays. He is unnoticed but we notice what he does.”

The leader of the D is Juzziah Sheppard, who has been unblockable this year with 66 tackles, five forced fumbles, two recoveries, 13 sacks, and 24 tackles for loss). Brayden Alpaugh, a linebacker last year, was moved up front because Parzero wanted more speed on the D-Line and he has brought that quality (3 sacks, 14 tackles for loss).

“He brings a lot of energy and is a matchup problem for teams,” Parzero said. Meanwhile, Melillo and McNamara alternate up front and have been big contributors.

Tellebuescher, Guerra and Cotter play linebacker, as does kicker Evan Burn.

“Evan earned the kicking spot and is 41 for 46 kicking PATs,” Parzero said. “He told me his dad kicked for Vic Paternostro at Pope John and he has done a phenomenal job for us. He can directional kick, pooch it. He is a linebacker. He can run down guys on a kickoff and make a tackle.” 

The secondary is in good hands with the likes of the Wolfe brothers (Chase and Hunter) at safety and Corino and Noah Decker at cornerback.

The next question is: Can Newton stop New Milford’s incredible Koby St. Hilaire (2,540 yards, 30 TDs)?

“I was just watching film and he is a phenomenal running back,” Parzero said. “He makes explosive plays and he goes 60-70 yards about 3-4 times a game. We have to tackle well and take good angles to the ball. He is the focal point of what they do. 

“We have Cotter, but I feel we have other guys who are dangerous in their own right.”