State of the Program: Despite graduation losses, Colts Neck football plans to be competitive
Colts Neck – a relatively new program given the depth of the Shore Conference’s football history – has turned itself into a consistent winner over the last few years. The Cougars have done so with a roster full of experienced and talented players.
This year will be different. Those tried-and-true players have all graduated. The team is now full of underclassmen.
If Colts Neck wants to remain a consistent winner, it’ll have to do so with a host of new players for the first time during this recent stretch.
“We’re replacing some four-year starters and a lot of three-year starters,” Colts Neck head coach Matt Ahearn said. “Whenever you have to do that, it’s a big challenge, especially when you’re doing it with sophomores and juniors.”
The tradition
Over the last three seasons, the Cougars have been a tough team to beat. They’ve gone 20-7 over that span, including an 8-3 campaign during the 2019 season.
State of the Program: 2022 season previews of Shore football teams and players
Colts Neck’s best season occurred in 2013 when the Cougars won a program best 10 games and advanced to their first and only sectional title game. The Cougars fell to Brick Township in the Central Group 4 final.
The challenge
The biggest challenge facing Colts Neck is clear. How do you replace all that talent?
The Cougars must first find a successor to quarterback Tommy Fallon. A four-year starter, Fallon led the offense during Colts Neck’s successful run with a strong and accurate arm.
Ahearn believes he has plenty of promise at the quarterback position. Dom Beninanto, Tesio Carabello and Brady Tormey are all competing for the starting gig.
“Tommy was a special kid,” Ahearn said. “With that being said, I’m excited about the guys we’re looking at quarterback this year.”
With a quarterback like Fallon, Colts Neck certainly didn’t shy away from throwing the ball around the yard. Ahearn said he’s not married to the idea of throwing the ball a ton this year. It depends on the personnel that hits the field Week 1.
“Every year, we curtail our offense a little bit who our quarterback is, who our running back is,” Ahearn said. “That’ll dictate what we do.”
Another offensive strength for Colts Neck was its offensive line and the sheer size on the players protecting Fallon and establishing the running game. Much of that line has since graduated, but the offensive line should still be a strength.
Matt Liggio started at right guard last year and is described by Ahearn as a "beast in the weight room." Charlie Whalen is the younger brother of last year’s starter Ryan Whalen and will be penciled in at left tackle. He stands at 6-foot-7, 260 pounds.
JJ Cifelli is another 260-pounder and should see time at left guard.
Expectations
Can Colts Neck maintain its winning ways with - aside from the likes of star returnees Will Surdez (WR/LB) and Chris Scully (RB/LB) - mostly a brand new and inexperienced roster? Ahearn certainly hopes so.
With a tough schedule, highlighted by an October game against Wall, the Cougars will have to grind this fall.
“We want to compete every game,” Ahearn said. “Hopefully, we can pull some out in the end.”
Team capsule
Group classification: Central Group 4
Coach: Matt Ahearn, fifth season (24-14)
Assistant coaches: Matt Norman (defensive coordinator/linebackers/running backs), Dom Pollifrone (special teams/offensive line/defensive line), Doug Zocholl (tight ends/defensive ends), Peter Ficorelli (running backs/defensive backs), Tim Vangelas (wide receivers/defensive backs), Shawn Scully (wide receivers/defensive backs), Brendan Wei (wide receivers/defensive backs), Mike Campbell (quarterbacks/defensive backs), Ryan Byrne (quarterbacks/linebackers), Mike Spirito (freshman head coach), Jimmy Portela (assistant)
Offense: Multiple Pro-I
Defense: 4-3
Returning starters: Offense: 4. Defense: 4
Last year: 6-4. Colts advanced to the Central Group 4 semifinals, where it fell to Winslow 41-14. The Cougars beat Timber Creek 17-14 in the quarterfinals.
Top returning players: Will Surdez (Sr., WR/LB), Matt Celli (Sr., WR/DL), Chris Scully (Jr., RB/LB), Matt Liggio (Jr., OL/DL), Eric Loureiro (Jr., TE/DL), Anthony Lombardi (Jr., OL/DL), Dom Beninato (Jr., QB/DB), Aiden Diaz (Jr., WR/DB), Charlie Whalen (Jr., OL/DL), Sam Surdez (Jr., RB/DL)
Key newcomers: Sal Marinello (Sr., WR/RB/DB), JJ Cifelli (Jr., OL/DL), Shea Bresnahan (Jr., OL/DL), Dean Collier, (Jr., OL/DL), Cooper Pearlman (Jr., OL/DL), Albert Yodakis (So., OL/DL), Aidan Manasso (Jr., TE/LB), James Bertan (So., TE/LB), Logan Bresnahan (Jr., WR/DB), Devin Donnelly (Jr., WR/DB), Ashton Ellis (Jr., RB/DB), Jack Tormey (Sr., WR/DB), Landon Roth (So., OL/DL), David Fichenbaum (Jr., WR/DB), Tesio Carabello (Jr., QB/LB), Eoin Fitzpatrick (Sr., TE/LB), Jack Lefkowitz (So., RB/LB), John Sherrod (Jr., RB/LB), Adam Mohamed (Sr., OL/DL), Ben Cohen (Sr., RB/DB), Ethan Sloane (Jr., WR/DB), Sebastian Failla (So., WR/DB)
2022 schedule
Sept. 2: vs. St. John Vianney
Sept. 9: at Freehold Boro
Sept. 16: at Jackson Memorial
Sept. 23: vs. Freehold Township
Sept. 30: at Lacey
Oct. 7: vs. Howell
Oct. 14: at Wall
Oct. 21: vs. Marlboro
Summer roster
No., Player, position, year, height, weight
1 Tesio Carrabello QB, LB Jr. 5'10" 195
2 David Fitchenbaum WR, DB Jr. 5'9" 145
3 Ashton Ellis RB, DB Jr. 5'7" 170
4 Brady Tormey QB, DB So. 5'10" 150
5 Aiden Diaz WR, DB Jr. 5'9" 175
6 Ethan Sloane WR, DB Jr. 5'10" 170
7 Jack Tormey WR, DB Sr. 5'7" 160
8 Matt Celli WR, DE Sr. 6'3" 215
9 Eoin Fitzpatrick TE, LB Sr. 5'10" 200
10 Anthony Syzr WR, DB So. 5'7" 120
11 Jaden Schwegler WR, DB Jr. 5'7" 170
12 Will Calhoun WR, DB So. 6'0" 150
13 Sebastian Failla WR, DB So. 5'10" 170
14 Aidan Manasso WR, DB, K Jr. 6'1" 170
15 Vinny Amadao WR, DB So. 5'8" 130
16 Tyler Roth WR, DB Jr. 5'11" 160
17 Mike Petruzzi WR, DB So. 5'7" 145
19 Dom Beninato QB, DB, P Jr. 5'10" 180
20 Cooper Barlow WR, DB Jr. 5'8" 140
21 Chris Scully RB, LB Jr. 5'10" 210
22 John Sherrod RB, LB Jr. 5'10" 180
23 Joey Randazzo WR, DB Jr. 5'9" 140
24 Alexander Rosario WR, DB, K So. 5'7" 145
26 Adam Calao RB, DB So. 5'6" 140
27 Eric Loureiro TE, DE Jr. 6'2" 210
28 Sean Doherty WR, DB Jr. 5'7" 150
31 Dylan Neves RB, LB Jr. 5'9" 150
32 Will Surdez WR, LB Sr. 6'3" 210
33 Devin Donnelly WR, DB Jr. 5'10" 170
34 Nick Fischer FB, LB Jr. 5'9" 180
35 Daniel Bofotola-Akemba WR, LB So. 5'10" 180
36 Jon Shatku WR, DB So. 5'6" 125
37 Cole Park RB, DL So. 5'8" 180
41 Ryan Herman RB, DL Jr. 5'10" 205
42 Sal Marinello RB, DB, WR Sr. 5'6" 160
43 Maddox Schwegler TE, DE Jr. 5'10" 160
44 Jack Lefkowitz RB, LB So. 5'10" 210
45 James Bertan TE, LB So. 6'3" 200
46 Peter Ficorelli OL, DL So. 6'1" 175
47 Vincente Esteves WR, DB So. 5'6" 130
49 Sam Surdez RB, DE Jr. 6'0" 200
50 Charlie Whalen OL, DL Jr. 6'6" 250
51 Eyffer Nuez OL, DL So. 5'8" 220
52 Dean Collier OL, DL Jr. 5'7" 210
53 Albert Yodakis OL, DL So. 6'2" 225
54 D.J. Fahmy OL, DL So. 5'9" 170
55 Anthony Lombardi OL, DL Jr. 6'2" 255
56 Shea Bresnahan OL, DL Jr. 5'10" 210
59 Matt Thompson OL, DL So. 5'10" 220
61 Landon Roth OL, DL So. 6'0" 210
64 Christian LaSalle OL, DL So. 5'8" 160
65 Colin Roberts OL, DL So. 6'0" 210
67 J.J Cifelli OL, DL Jr. 6'0" 255
68 Luke Bavaro OL, DL Jr. 6'0" 225
70 Matt Liggio OL, DL Jr. 5'11" 250
72 Tarek Khalil OL, DL So. 5'7" 175
74 Aaron Nasimov OL, DL Jr. 6'2" 230
75 Joaquin Aguilar OL, DL Jr. 5'10" 225
76 Anthony Moriano OL, DL So. 5'8" 190
77 Adam Mohamed OL, DL Sr. 5'9" 220
79 Cooper Pearlman OL, DL Jr. 6'1" 230
80 Julian Viallata TE, LB So. 5'9" 180
82 Dante Petrocelli OL, DL So. 5'10" 180
83 Elijah Boza TE, DE So. 6'1" 180
85 Ben Amster TE, LB Jr. 6'0" 200
87 Gavin Caufield WR, DB So. 5'9" 165
88 Lucas Connelly WR, DB So. 5'6" 140
89 Logan Bresnahan WR, DB Jr. 5'8" 150
Danny LoGiudice has covered local sports across New Jersey since 2014. Contact him at dlogiudice@gannettnj.com or @danny_logiudice on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Colts Neck NJ football 2022 season preview
