Rutherford Bulldogs   

July 1, 2024

2023: 

• 10-1
• Lost to Westwood in the North Jersey Section 1 Group 2 finals after beating Hanover Park in the semifinals and Lenape Valley in the quarterfinals 
• Wins included Park Ridge, Hawthorne, Glen Rock, Lyndhurst, and Pompton Lakes 
• Scored 335 points for a 30.45 average 
• Allowed 129 points for an 11.73 average 

Graduation: 

• TE/DE Ryan Ward – North Carolina 
• RB/DB Cole Goumas – Rutgers (Newark) for baseball 

Offense: 

• Formation: Multiple Spread 
• Returning Starters: 5 

Quarterback: 

• Myles Balchan, Sophomore, 6-0, 175 – returning starter from last four games 
• Quinn Weber, Freshman, 6-2, 160 – promising reserve  

Running Back: 

• Nick Lora, Senior, 5-10, 170 – 3-year co-starter 
• Dmitri Paskas, Sophomore, 5-10, 175 – will spell Lora and be on the field much of the time 

Wide Receiver: 

• Chris Gioia, Senior, 6-0, 195 – 3-year starter returning after starting part of last year at quarterback; will line up in the slot and all over the field 
• Drew Carney, Senior, 5-10, 170 – projected starter who saw action last year  
• AJ Nunziato, Sophomore, 6-1, 170 – part of the rotation 
• Chris Kasperan, Junior, 5-10, 160 – part of the rotation 
• Hank Schroeder, Sophomore, 6-2, 175 – part of the rotation 
• Russ Snyder, Sophomore, 5-11, 170 – part of the rotation 

Offensive Line: 

• Lou Morella, Senior, 6-2, 215 – returning starter at tackle 
• Ryan Hayes, Senior, 6-0, 220 – returning starter at guard 
• Troy Waddell, Sophomore, 6-1, 225 – competing at tackle 
• Andrew Moller, Senior, 5-10, 225 – competing at center; last year’s sixth man on the line 
• Devin Burgos, Senior, 5-10, 210 – competing at guard; missed last season with an injury 
• Evan Diaz, Sophomore, 6-1, 240 – competing at guard and tackle 
• Dave Bogosian, Junior, 6-2, 225 – competing at tackle 

Defense: 

• Formation: 4-3 
• Returning Starters: 4 

Defensive Line: 

• Lou Morella, Senior, 6-2, 215 – returning starter at end 
• Troy Waddell, Sophomore, 6-1, 225 – part of the rotation at the opposite end 
• Ryan Hayes, Senior, 6-0, 220 – part of the rotation at the opposite end 
• David Rojas, Senior, 6-1, 290 – 3-year starter at tackle 
• Dave Bogosian, Junior, 6-2, 225 – competing at tackle 
• Evan Diaz, Sophomore, 6-1, 240 – competing at tackle 
• Aiden Haas, Senior, 6-2, 215 – competing at tackle 

Linebacker: 

• Nick Lora, Senior, 5-10, 170 – returning year starter on the outside 
• AJ Nunziato, Sophomore, 6-1, 170 – will see time on the outside 
• Andrew Moller, Senior, 5-10, 225 – competing 
• Devin Burgos, Senior, 5-10, 210 – competing 
• John Kozlik, Sophomore, 5-9, 160 – competing 
• Vinny Amato, Junior, 5-11, 180 – competing  

Secondary: 

• Drew Carney, Senior, 5-10, 170 – projected starter at cornerback who saw action 
• Chris Kasperan, Junior, 5-10, 160 – competing at the opposite corner 
• Lorenzo Airey, Sophomore, 5-9, 160 – competing at the opposite corner 
• Leo Kim, Sophomore, 5-9, 155 – competing at the opposite corner   
• Chris Gioia, Senior, 6-0, 195 – 3-year starter at safety 
• Dmitri Paskas, Sophomore, 5-10, 175 – competing at safety 
• Myles Balchan, Sophomore, 6-0, 175 – competing at safety 
• Russ Snyder, Sophomore, 5-11, 170 – competing at safety 
• Nick Rodriguez, Junior, 5-10, 175 – competing at safety 

Special Teams:  

• Senior Drew Carney is a 4-year starter at kicker and he is projected to be the punter 
• Lora, Gioia, and Carney are the return men 

Schedule: 

• Friday, 9/6, at Waldwick/Midland Park 
• Friday, 9/23, Manchester at home 
• Friday, 9/20, North Arlington at home 
• Friday, 9/27, at Glen Rock 
• Saturday, 10/5, Pompton Lakes at home 
• 10/11-12, To Be Determined 
• 10/18-19, To Be Determined 
• 10/25-26, To Be Determined 

Concerns: 

• Many new faces at new positions 
• Finding the right pieces 
• Coach the new players to the point where they know what they are doing 

Recruiting: 

• Gioia has interest from Monmouth, Saint Anselm, and Merrimack 
• Morella is D3/D2 
• The underclassmen have not been determined yet 

Coach’s Comments: 

“We are replacing many players, but we have experience back at key positions. But there will be new faces and we need to find different ways to win games.” – Head Coach Steve Dunn