Zack Smolen
The SFC Liberty White is one of the most stacked leagues in all of New Jersey with sectional championship contenders all over the place.
Randolph is one of those teams – thanks to a stellar front wall.
And thanks to Dean Mangiocavallo, who is one of the beefiest, biggest parts of that wall.
The 6-3, 285-pound Georgetown commit has made quite a name for himself in the trenches, and New Jersey high school football scouting guru Dave McCarthy has taken notice.
McCarthy’s highly acclaimed McCarthy Report is a must-get for college football coaches and recruiters. He attends many, many games throughout New Jersey and analyzes tons of film each week. He took over the family scouting business from his late, grandfather, Dennis, who died in 2017.
“Dean’s a super-quick disruptor off the snap and can play inside or outside on the DL,” McCarthy said. “He runs very well for a big guy and is an outstanding student.”
Mangiocavallo is the third-ranked Morris County senior behind Phil Folmar and Luca Lopez, both of Delbarton.
Next week, McCarthy will rank the top recruits in Sussex County.
In two weeks, he’ll rank the top underclassmen in Morris and Sussex.
Here is McCarthy’s Top 20 in Morris (along with a slew of athletes who just missed making the cut).
1. Phil Folmar, WR, Delbarton
The University of Buffalo-bound Folmar (6-0, 180) is one of the most versatile players not only in Morris County but all of North Jersey.
“He possesses everything you want in a big-time wideout: speed, hands and great route-running ability,” McCarthy said. “He is one of the top playmakers in North Jersey and has been a standout since his freshman year….Buffalo is getting a good one!”
2. Luca Lopez, DL, Delbarton
The 6-2, 270-pound D-Lineman is “an Intense interior defensive lineman who makes plays,” according to McCarthy. “He doesn’t stay blocked and knows how to find the ball carrier….has good speed for his size.”
3. Dean Mangiocavallo, OL-DL, Randolph
See above.
4. Anthony Feaster, RB/SLOT/DB, Montville
The Lehigh-bound Feaster (5-11, 205) is versatile enough to line up at either running back or wideout.
“He can make the big play at any time and is a dangerous threat,” according to McCarthy said. “He is utilized a ton in the passing game with 38 receptions last season. He had scores of 78 and 54 yards so he can take it to the house in a heartbeat. He also carries a 4.0 GPA!”
6. Troy Bailey, DB, Delbarton
“Bailey (6-2, 185) has ideal size for a corner and can excel in a number of coverage schemes,” McCarthy said. “He plays the ball well and can match up against big receivers.”
7. Brock Dandridge, RB, Delbarton
The 5-9 185 running back was impressive in the backfield as Ryan Trafford’s understudy at Delbarton last year.
“He really impressed us last season as the backup and should emerge as one of the top backs in the area this season,” McCarthy said. “He has outstanding feet, is elusive in the open field, and knows how to pick up tough yards in traffic. He also has a stellar 4.25 GPA in the classroom.”
8. Kyle Checchio, ROV, Delbarton
If colleges are looking for a two-way defender, they should look no further than Checchio (5-10, 195).
“He is seemingly all over the field and fits the profile of a hybrid LB/SS perfectly,” McCarthy said. “He could be a terrific Rover in college. He possesses great quickness and top instincts.”
9. Sylas White, RB-SB-DB Boonton
White (5-10, 175) is being recruited by West Chester, Kutztown, Delaware State and Wilkes. He is dangerous with the ball in his hands.
“He Is as dangerous as anyone in the area in the open field,” McCarthy said. “He can outrun defenders to the pylon. He is also a top student.”.
10. Jaxon Corkery, RB/DB, West Morris
The 5-10, 180-pounder was injured for much of last year but still accounted for over 500 yards of total offense and had 33 tackles with four tackles for loss on defense despite missing time with injuries.
“He is a very Instinctive playmaker on both sides of the ball,” McCarthy said.
11. Peter Donini, OL, Delbarton
The 6-8, 270-pounder has a wide wingspan to match his gigantic frame.
“He has a ceiling as tall as his height,” McCarthy said. “He possesses a great frame. He has good feet with the kind of wingspan that you just can’t coach. He was a backup as a junior on Delbarton’s phenomenal O-Line last year but should develop nicely as a senior.”
12. Erik Edelman, Edge, Morris Catholic
The 6-3, 225-pounder made 28 tackles for a loss for the winless Crusaders to go with six sacks and two forced fumbles. He transferred from Pope John after his sophomore year.
“He shows an impressive jump off the snap and beats blockers with quickness,” McCarthy said.
13. Emilio Mendez, DB, Dover
Mendez (6-0, 175) had a state-high eight INTs last year and is terrific in coverage. He is being counted on as the Tigers compete in the competitive Patriot Red with the likes of Sparta, Lakeland, Vernon, West Milford and Jefferson.
14. Jake Asbury, QB, Mount Olive
Asbury (5-9, 175) led the Marauders downfield in the closing minutes to upend Roxbury on the road and win the school’s first sectional championship in 21 years.
15. Kevin King, RB, Mendham
The 5-11, 175-pounder is the lightning to backfield mate Cole Capuzzi’s thunder and give the Minutemen a terrific one-two backfield punch. Both were 1,000-yard rushers last year.
16. Zach Grande, QB, Kinnelon
The 6-1, 165-pounder has improved greatly as a passer since his sophomore season and is now a strong dual threat for the Colts. He is looking into playing D-III football in Pennsylvania.
17. Will Kramer, K, Delbarton
The powerful leg of Kramer (5-11, 165) gives Green Wave coach Brian Bowers a weapon not many other schools have. He booted four field goals with a long of 41 last year. The battle for Big State Sports All-Morris/All-Area team could come down to Kramer and Morris Knolls’ Jake Merlucci, who booted eight field goals and was first-team All-Area last year for Morris-Sussex Sports, now Big State.
18. P.J.Coffey Ath, Butler
The 6-0, 175-pounder gives the Bulldogs a weapon all over the field for a team that could well challenge three-time defending Rutherford for the NJIC championship this year. Coach Jason Luciani raves about the versatility of Coffey, who caught four passes for 61 yards and two touchdowns in a 47-0 whipping of Hawthorne. Coffey also rushed for two TDs, completed his lone pass for 15 yards, was 5 for 5 kicking extra points and had an interception. Quite a day’s work!
19. Richie Vannetta, OL, Mount Olive
Vannetta (6-2, 260) has an offer from Sacred Heart and that should be the first of many from a towering lineman who helped the Marauders win a sectional championship last year and is a serious contender to advance even further this year.
20. Andy Covello, OL, Delbarton
No school pumps out O-Linemen quite like the Green Wave and Covello is the latest off of the assembly line. Every year, Delbarton develops dominant linemen and sends them off to college to play. Covello will head to Washington University in St. Louis.
Others to Watch:
Justin Gryszkin, OL/DL (6-3, 270) Pequannock
Maks Stojanovic, OL (6-3, 300) Butler
Joe Filippone, DB (5-11,185) Hanover Park
Luca Toriello, DL (6-1, 240) Butler
Mike Vito, DB (5-9, 185) Montville
Cole Capuzzi, RB (5-11, 170) Mendham
Dan McGarry, LB (5-11, 195) Mt. Olive
Andrew Stickley, OL/DL (6-3, 255) Kinnelon
Alex Chambers, LB (6-1, 215) Dover
Declan Higgins, DL/TE (6-3, 190) Mendham
Tyler Jackson, DL (6-0, 215) Delbarton
Bobby Brickner, LB (6-1, 190) Morris Knolls
For more information, contact McCarthy at:
The McCarthy Report
David McCarthy/Dennis McCarthy (In Memoriam 1942-2017)
P.O. Box 782
Lyndhurst, N.J. 07071
201-933-3009/877-40-SCOUT
Cell: 347-707-0924
Social Media links:
https://www.facebook.com/The-McCarthy-Report-1698999086981217
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mccarthy-04a7a031
Dynasty Talk
West Morris winning three straight sectional titles got me thinking: What were the other dynasties in the Morris-Sussex area since playoff football began in 1974? Well, there were a bunch (there were many back-to-backs, but I will hold that for another notes column down the road).
The longest area dynasty was Pope John, which won six in a row under the late, great Vic Paternstro (from 1986-1991). He later led them to four straight (1995-1998).
The Lions also won sectional championships from 1981-1983. Paternostro was at the top of his game and the Lions simply dominated the SCIL and in the postseason.
He’d win his last one in 2002 when the Lions defeated now-defunct Queen of Peace (North Arlington), his alma mater (1962). That game was held at Mount Olive High School, of all places.
There is a story behind that final title: The Thursday before playoff weekend, there was a major snowstorm in New Jersey. Many Mount Olive towns folk spent all day Friday shoveling the snow off the Marauders field, and coach Jimm Kramer’s team beat Jefferson that night, 14-13, in what turned out to be the only high school football game in New Jersey that night.
Many other football fields were buried under snow, including Pope John’s. So that Sunday night, the Lions had their way in a 41-12 win – at Mount Olive. Brrrrrrr, it was cold and windy that night! I hate covering games from the press box but I simply had no choice that night.
As Paul Harvey would say, “And that … is the rest of the story!”
Pope John went up to Non-Public Group III after 2002 and never won another title. There was a clear-cut difference between Parochial Group II and Parochial Group III, obviously.
Funny story regarding the Lions playing in Group III: One year in the mid-2000s, they were mauled by St. Joe-Montvale at Giants Stadium. It was ugly. What was there to write about? As a reporter, you poke around, looking for something. I gotta write 20 inches on a team that was drilled? You don’t want to get flowery, and yet my rule is to NEVER trash high school athletes.
Vic came to the rescue.
I asked him if they’d ever have what it took to beat a Joe’s.
He pulled me closer and said softly in response (I’m paraphrasing): “Off the record … We don’t want to be like St. Joe’s … We are an academic institution. We don’t recruit.”
Wow, I thought, great stuff, but he did say off-the-record, so I couldn’t use it.
But then, out of nowhere, a moment later he smiled and said, “What the hell, go ahead and print it!”
So I stepped away from Vic (before he changed his mind back to off the record!) with Sussex County TV legend Jerry Morelli and said, “Jerry, what exactly did he just say?”
So we reviewed Vic’s thoughts and I jotted down what he said as best as he could.
I published it in the next morning’s Daily Record.
Well, there was a firestorm on one of those state-wide fan websites the next morning.
First, Sussex County folks got all over Vic saying that he did, indeed, recruit kids from all over Sussex County. They weren’t happy with him.
Meanwhile, St. Joe’s coach Tony Karcich’s son lived in Morris County (he still might) and was a Daily Record reader. He reported what was said to his dad, who wasn’t exactly thrilled, either.
Apparently, fireworks flared the next time Vic ran into Karcich at a North-South all-star game meeting at Rutgers.
Needless to say, I miss covering Vic. You could bust him a little and he was into the give-and-take after a game.
Little did I know that he was even better after a loss!
Another interesting sidebar regarding Pope John and the state playoffs after 1995: When the NJSIAA went to Groups 1-4 in Non-Public, Vic sent his son, Dean, all around the state – sometimes all the way down to South Jersey – to scout Non-Public Group II pretty much from the opening week right up until the playoffs.
That’s a lot of mileage!
Dean Paternostro spent a lot of his time on the Parkway or Turnpike (and Turnpike extension) wracking up miles going to such places as Gloucester Catholic, Red Bank Catholic, and Marist throughout the fall.
Think of it: Not only was he traveling to those schools, he had to find their opponents – before Waze!
My guess is he had to purchase a map in order to find these places.
Let’s hope he put in for mileage reimbursement!
Before 1995, Pope John would vie for the North Parochial B championship against the likes of St. Mary’s-Rutherford, Paterson Catholic, DePaul, and Immaculata. So Dean Paternostro’s car received quite a break when the NJSIAA made the switch.
Next week, we’ll have more dynasty talk and switch over to the public schools.
