Lions Football Set to Roar

Lion's Roar Staff, Writer|September 20, 2019

Photo: Via Shore Sports Network features: Middletown North’s Rob Kelly (71), Andrew Kanski (59), Kaden LeTual (58), Matt Spencer (21) and Andrew Soto (5)

The 2019 Middletown High School North football team is hoping that last year’s competitive, yet disappointing 2-8 record will serve as a year of experience leading into this season’s campaign.  The Lion’s record, although difficult to endure,was a factor based on the Lions strength of schedule and loss of many key members to graduation in 2017. The Lions had one of the most difficult schedules in the state, in which The Lions faced eight teams that qualified for the NJSIAA playoffs bracket. This included state championship teams Red Bank Catholic, Long Branch and Rumson-Fair Haven. The Lions were competitive all season including their final game against Middletown South on Thanksgiving in which they lost by a late field goal.

 

Senior Robert Kelly will look to anchor a strong MHSN Offensive Line.
MHSN Head Coach Steve Bush is looking for the Lions to have a strong 2019 campaign.

The Lions are also facing a difficult task this season in replacing some of the experienced Lions from the 2018 squad that featured starting seniors Sean Glenn, Aidan Campbell, Connor Robbins, Rob Higgins, Steven Holler, Alec Zenker, Stephen Barry and Patrick Connelly.

The Lions are hoping that inexperience will not outweigh talent heading into a very competitive division schedule during this season.  The Lions are part of the Constitution Division which features Brick Memorial, Freehold Township, Howell, Marlboro, and Southern. The Lions also will take on nondivision rivals Long Branch, Mater Dei Prep, Wall Middletown South. 

Lions Head Coach Steve Bush, who is entering his seventh season at the helm stated that “Heading into this season we will have many new players that are young and learning. We have some good young ones, but they necessarily don’t have a lot of game experience yet.”

The Lions will offense features some new names and some returning starters as well.  The Lions offense will be led by quarterback Nick Ferreira whom will take over for Sean Glenn.  Senior Andrew Soto will be the starting running back after playing wide receiver the last two seasons. The receiving corp will be led by Matt Spencer, Quentin Soler and Brian Haddow. Travis Thompson will make his mark tight end, while the offensive line features Senior Rob Kelly, Andrew Kanski and Kaden LeTual. Juniors Nico Cerbo and Adam Ibraimovic will look to make their mark as first year starters.

The Lions defense will consist of many new starters and two way players.  The Lions will look for leadership on defense from upperclassmen. Eddie Farrell and Travis Thompson will lead the linebackers, while  Andrew Soto and Matt Spencer will lead Middletown North’s secondary.

 

2019 Middletown North Official MaxPreps Submitted Varsity Roster

## Name Positions Gr. Ht Wt Media
1 Tom Giannone QB, FS So. 6-5 156
3 Colin Costigan CB, WR So. 5-5 125
4 Cheyenne Williams WR, CB Sr. 6-0 165
5 Anthony Soto (C) ATH, SS Sr. 5-10 169
6 Darius Willis CB, WR Jr. 6-0 151
7 Jasai Kirkpatrick RB, SS Sr. 5-7 141
8 Rob Inzinna WR, SS Sr. 6-0 157
9 Daniel Cody DB, WR So. 5-8 134
10 Sean McMahon QB, OLB Jr. 5-9 177
11 Matthew Huber WR, FS Sr. 6-2 162
12 Nick Ferreira QB, LS, DB Sr. 5-9 180
13 Levi Wilson WR, CB So. 6-0 156
14 Ben Emerson CB, WR So. 5-8
15 Nick Redner-hlavacek DB, WR So. 5-6
19 Eaghan Kieff RB, S So. 5-9 152
20 Eddie Farrell LB, RB Sr. 5-8 171
21 Matt Spencer (C) WR, FS Sr. 6-1 160
22 Quentin Soler WR, CB Jr. 5-10 141
23 Brian Haddow ATH, FS So. 5-10 148
24 Julian Hulsizer-Cartagena RB, OLB Jr. 5-7 167
25 Marco Astorino WR, CB Jr. 5-7 141
26 Justin Spinella K, P So. 5-5 141
27 Dominic Scerbo QB, CB Jr. 5-8 165
28 Joseph Kang OLB, RB Jr. 5-9 180
29 Ryan Demedici WR, CB So.
32 Jake Jankowski LB, FB Jr. 5-11 189
33 Mike Coppola DB, WR So. 5-4 155
34 Cohen Bigelow FB, MLB So. 5-11 184
39 Lucas Cerbo LB, RB So. 5-10 174
41 Colin Devine TE, OLB So. 6-0 171
42 Travis Thompson TE, LB Sr. 5-10
43 Matthew Sottosanti LB, LS, TE Jr. 5-11 179
44 Hunter Kordzikowski DE, TE Sr. 5-10 174
45 David Pagano LB, RB Sr. 5-6 150
47 Luciano Alfano TE, LB So. 5-11
50 Shaun Sullivan DE, T So. 5-11 154
51 Connor Clark DE, G So. 5-10 196
53 Karl Strauch C, MLB So. 5-10 185
55 Adam Conklin OT, DT So. 6-3 239
56 Michael Larocca LB, T Jr. 5-9 205
57 Declan Kube OL, DE So. 6-0
58 Kaden Letual DE, T Sr. 6-2 230
59 Andrew Kanski (C) DT, C Sr. 5-8 230
60 Rocco Volpini DE, G So. 5-11 200
62 Aidan McManus C, DE Sr. 5-10 217
63 Declan MacKay T, DE Sr. 6-1 198
64 Brian Robbins T, DE Jr. 6-2
65 Andrew Zamor DT, G Jr. 5-9 244
66 Justin Saginor DT, G Sr. 6-0
67 Brendan Candeloro T, DE Jr. 6-1 207
68 Will Mcewan C, DE So. 5-10 220
69 Shane Doyle DE, G Sr. 5-11 244
70 Nick Grannis DT, G So. 6-1 231
71 Robert Kelly (C) G, DT Sr. 6-1 300
73 Gordon Toth T, DE Jr. 6-1 203
74 Kieron Haun T, NG So. 5-11 287
76 Adam Ibraimovic G, DT Jr. 5-11
77 Jacob Wang DT, G Sr. 6-0 238
78 Joseph Banta G, DE So. 5-8 219
79 Nicolas Cerbo T, DE Jr. 5-11 207
80 Jonathan Miranda WR, FS Jr. 5-10 165
81 Josh Alfaro TE, SS So. 5-10
82 Matt Spinella WR, CB So. 5-9 160
83 Anthony Gerardi WR, CB Sr. 5-6 128
85 Jacinto Lopez DE, TE Fr. 6-4 196
87 Logan Halloran TE, DE, K Jr. 6-3 222
88 Zac Searight TE, OLB So. 6-4 199
99 Kyle Spangler TE, MLB Sr.
Joe Banta DE, T So.

 

2019 Schedule

Sept. 6: Wall, 7

Sept. 13: at Long Branch, 7

Sept. 20: Marlboro, 7

Sept. 27: at Freehold Township, 6:30

Oct. 4: Brick Memorial, 7

Oct. 11: at Southern, 7

Oct. 18: Howell, 7

Oct. 25: Mater Dei Prep, 7

Nov. 28: at Middletown South, 10:30

 

Schedule: https://highschoolsports.nj.com/school/middletown-middletown-north/football/

Cover Helmet photo: Via Two River Times

Group Photo: Via Shore Sports Network