The Middletown North Football Program is heading into the 2022 high school football season looking to build off of the success of last year’s campaign. The Lions, led by head coach Steve Bush, are looking to repeat as defending Shore Conference Division Champions. During the 2021 season the Lions were Independence Division Champions. This year, they will compete in the Colonial Division with Central Regional, Lacey, Long Branch, Southern Regional and Toms River North.
The 2021 season saw the Lions jump out to a 5-1 record but injuries and some tough defeats, including a loss to Sayreville in the NJSIAA Playoffs, ended their season abruptly. However, the Lions are looking to grow from that experience and will try to continue to build on the success that they achieved.
The Lions lost key graduating players at the end of last season including the following: quarterback Tommy Giannone, running back/safety Brian Haddow, wide receivers Levi Wilson and Lucas Cerbo, tight end Zac Searight, linebacker Colin Devine and linemen Adam Conklin and Connor Clark. Although those players contributed greatly to last year’s campaign, the Lions return five starters including two-way senior star Jack Lopez.
Lopez has been a force within the Shore Conference since his freshman year, providing strength, grit and determination. The 6’5”, 275 pound senior has been recognized as one of the best linemen on both sides of the ball in the state of New Jersey. His presence in the starting lineup earned him a scholarship to Harvard University in the fall of 2023. As a force on the defensive line, Lopez accumulated 63 total tackles with 21 tackles for loss last season, while also contributing three sacks, two forced fumbles and 20 quarterback hurries. Lopez also serves as the returning starter at left tackle, protecting quarterback Luke Sheehan’s blind side.
The Lions will look to lean on their defense this year to help them through their competitive schedule. Senior defensive end Peter Dempsey, as well as defensive tackles Lucas Ainbinder and Christian Cueto will look to compliment Lopez up front. Junior Justin Soto returns at inside linebacker after registering 73 tackles during the 2021 campaign. Senior Michael Subik, junior James Barnao and junior Brian Dunleavy will also assist at outside linebacker. The secondary will consist of returning starters Derek Soto and Jack LaBruno at the safety positions. The defensive backs are seniors Mykal Callender and Ryan Kane, as well as juniors Dylan Briggs and Richie Welton. The rover position will be manned by senior Richie Grabowski.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Lions will depend on strong play from the offensive line to help them generate yards. Besides Lopez at the left tackle position, the Lions will have Lucas Ainbinder at right guard, Giovanni Antonucci at left guard, Andrew Klimovich at center and Thomas Randolph and Ryan Koenig competing for the starting spot at right tackle.
The Lions will see new junior quarterback Luke Sheehan take over Coach Steve Bush’s pass-heavy offense after Tommy Giannone graduated in June. Sheehan will look for receivers Derek Soto, Dylan Briggs, Brian Dunleavy, Jack LaBruno, Ka’ley Spearman and Frank Zaino to play major roles in the pass offense. Peter Dempsey will play both ways for the Lions serving as the team’s tight end. The Lions ground game will lean on James Barnao, Ka’ley Spearman and Neno Morgan-Acker to keep the chains moving. The Lions will also return junior kicker Ian Poole-Morgan, who converted 20 extra points and three field goals last season.
Good luck this season and continue to be the “Roar of the Shore”!
Season Schedule
Sept. 2 – vs. Manalapan, 6 p.m.
Sept. 9 – @Central, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 – @Lacey, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 – vs. Southern, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 – vs. Long Branch, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 – @Ocean, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 – vs. Toms River North, 7 p.m.
Nov. 24 – @Middletown South, 10:30 a.m.
2022 Middletown North Varsity Football Roster
#
Name
Pos.
Gr.
Ht.
Wt.
1
Derek Soto
ATH, FS
Sr.
5’8″
160
3
Ryan Kane
CB, RB
Sr.
5’7″
145
4
Richie Grabowski
QB, FS
Sr.
5’11”
195
5
Jack Labruno
SS, WR
Sr.
5’10”
180
6
Colin Jacques
WR, SS
Jr.
5’7″
165
7
Peter Dempsey
DE, TE
Sr.
6’2″
224
8
Mykal Callender
WR, DB
Sr.
6’0
180
9
Brian Dunleavy
WR, OLB
Jr.
6’0″
172
10
Ka’ley Spearman
ATH, CB
Jr.
5’5″
0
11
Luke Sheehan
QB
Jr.
6’1″
190
12
Chris Monath
WR, CB
Jr.
5’5″
120
13
Joey Grasso
WR, OLB
So.
6’2″
175
14
Frank Zaino
WR, LB
Jr.
5’10”
165
15
Derek Butler
WR, CB
Jr.
5’11”
130
16
Richie Welton
WR, CB
Jr.
5’9″
140
17
Damien Shevlin
LB
So.
5’10
155
19
Brian O’donnell
QB, OLB
So.
5’10”
165
20
Shane Volante
RB, SS
So.
5’2″
130
21
Shane Branin
WR, CB
Jr.
5’7″
120
22
Billy Mongeau
WR, SS
Sr.
5’11”
164
23
Tj Rey
WR, CB
So.
5’9″
140
24
Dylan Briggs
WR, CB
Jr.
5’8″
170
25
Chris Healy
WR, FS
So.
5’9″
146
26
Nick Scerbo
SS, RB
Jr.
5’6″
167
27
Ian Poole-Morgan
K, P
Jr.
5’8″
158
28
Neno Morgan-Acker
RB
Jr.
5’11
182
29
David Guilfoyle
WR, FS
So.
5’5″
125
30
Jack LaRocca
RB, MLB
Jr.
5’8″
213
32
James Barnao
RB, OLB
Jr.
5’9″
193
33
Tim Kryda
WR, SS
So.
5’10”
150
35
Shawn Healy
RB, MLB
So.
5’7″
150
42
Michael Ottinger
WR, CB
So.
5’10”
147
43
Jake Minson
LB, TE
Jr.
5’11”
178
44
Nick Giallanza
LB, TE
Jr.
5’10”
205
45
Justin Soto
MLB, RB
Jr.
5’10”
190
50
Jason Woods
LS, C, DT
Fr.
5’11”
220
52
Ryan Tucker
DE, G
Sr.
5’8″
210
54
Ryan Koenig
T, NG
Sr.
6’1″
240
55
Thomas Randolph
DE, T
Jr.
6’2″
210
56
Jacinto Lopez
DE, T
Sr.
6’5″
270
58
Michael Subik
MLB, C
Sr.
5’9″
191
62
Ja’sere Carter
T, DT
So.
5’11”
0
64
Scott Egan
LS, C, TE
Jr.
6’0″
225
66
Kieran Foley
G, NG
Jr.
5’9″
263
68
Jake Patel
G, NG
Sr.
5’6″
203
69
Giovanni Antonucci
G, NG
Jr.
5’10”
300
70
Chris Dzienisiewski
T, DE
So.
6’1″
192
72
Kyle Scheurman
G, NG
Sr.
5’9″
250
73
Sean LaRocca
T, DE
So.
5’6″
205
74
Andrew Klimovich
DT, C
So.
6’0
230
74
Anthony Lubrano
T, DE
So.
6’2″
231
75
Lucas Ainbinder
G, DT
Sr.
5’10”
216
76
Matthew Bumbalo
DE, G
So.
5’11”
246
78
Christian Cueto
T, DE
Sr.
5’7″
172
80
Vandan Patel
WR, CB
So.
5’9″
130
82
Gavin Halloran
LB, TE, P
Jr.
6’1″
197
85
Alex Garcia
TE, DE
So.
5’10”
181
88
Brody Tooker
TE, DE
So.
6’0″
190
99
Michael Dwyer
T, DE
So.
6’3″
0
Logan Corvisiero
WR, SS
Jr.
0
Valentina Fanetti
QB, WR
Sr
0
Carter Braun
CB, WR
So.
0
Alex Cardenas
G, NG
Sr.
0