Panther Pipeline: 2025 Point Boro Football Preview
The Panthers finally captured an elusive South Group 2 sectional title in 2024 after back-to-back postseason losses to Willingboro in the two prior years. They secured their fifth title—and first since 2021—with a 15–7 victory over Camden. Their season came to an end in the Group 2 semifinals with a loss to No. 2 Rumson-Fair Haven, marking their second defeat to the Bulldogs on the year. Still, Point Boro’s résumé included marquee wins such as a 10-point victory over Jackson Memorial, a three-point win over No. 4 Brick Memorial, and a narrow 24–21 loss to eventual Group 5 champion No. 1 Toms River North.
Operating out of their trademark flexbone triple-option offense, the Panthers piled up 3,725 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns. They went 4–1 in the rugged Class A South, averaging 33.2 points per game—the fourth-highest mark in the Shore Conference. Senior fullback Dylan Reitmeyer led the way with 1,196 yards and 18 touchdowns, while sophomore quarterback Jake Clayton added 915 yards and 17 scores on the ground. Sophomore Nick Spanola also chipped in with 697 yards and six touchdowns, helping fuel one of the Shore’s most consistent and efficient rushing attacks.
The defense held opponents to just 18.4 points per game in 2024, ranking in the top third of the Shore Conference. Head Coach Brian Staub was named Co-Coach of the Year in the division, and over the past four seasons has led the Panthers to a 38–8 record. But all of that is now in the past. While the offense retains quarterback Jake Clayton and Nick Spanola, Coach Staub is fully aware of the inexperience up front, returning just two starters on the offensive line.
Despite the Shore Conference realignment, Point Boro remains in Class A South—a division Staub refers to as “the SEC of high school football.” The division is largely unchanged aside from the departure of Howell. Their non-divisional slate is brutal, including matchups with Group 2 state champion Rumson-Fair Haven, Non-Public B semifinalist St. John Vianney, Manasquan, and Howell, a Group 5 playoff team. It’s arguably the toughest schedule in the Shore Conference this season and, according to Staub, “no doubt the hardest schedule in school history.” Still, the veteran coach has unwavering confidence in his group, emphasizing that staying healthy and protecting the football will be key if the Panthers are to navigate the gauntlet ahead.
Offense
The offense returns four starters: two along the offensive line, plus Clayton and Spanola. Clayton reprises his role under center and enters the season as the team’s top returning player. In addition to rushing for 915 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, he also threw for eight scores. He earned First Team All-Shore Conference and First Team All A-South honors in 2024. The offense will have to replace Dylan Reitmeyer, a First Team All-Shore and All A-South selection, who rushed for a team-high 1,196 yards (6th in the Shore Conference) and 18 touchdowns. He surpassed 100 rushing yards in seven games.
Spanola returns at L-back after a standout sophomore campaign that earned him Second Team All-Shore and First Team All A-South recognition. His versatility allowed the Panthers to fully embrace their flexbone identity. He rushed for 697 yards on just 61 carries—an average of 11.4 yards per attempt.
The R-back position will be a rotation led by seniors James Bradley (5-10, 180), a returning starter on defense, and Jack Scalabrini (5-10, 200), among others. At fullback, senior Calvin Videon-Perin (5-11, 220) steps into the starting role after contributing as a defensive starter and occasional ball carrier last season. Junior DJ Albanese (5-9, 225) will also factor into the mix at fullback. Bradley, Scalabrini, and Videon-Perin have all been identified by the coaching staff as key returning players heading into 2025.
While the passing game was only used sparingly last season, most of the team’s receptions came from players who have since graduated—aside from Calvin Videon-Perin, who now transitions to a featured role at fullback. Senior Landon Neris, who saw time last year, is expected to start alongside fellow senior Logan DeAngelis (6-1, 180). Dylan Comstock and Lorenzo Natoli add depth and are actively competing for snaps. At tight end, junior Mason Morris will take over full-time duties after gaining experience in 2024. Junior DJ Albanese may also see occasional reps at the position, offering another physical presence in the run-heavy scheme.
The offensive line will look to regroup after the graduation of standout Lou DiBiase, a First Team All-Shore Conference and First Team All A-South selection in 2024. Despite missing three games due to NJSIAA’s transfer rule, DiBiase made a significant impact, helping lead a unit that paved the way for 3,725 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns. At left tackle, junior Aidan Dombrowsky is projected to start and has already been cited by the coaching staff as one of the team’s top newcomers. Left guard remains an open competition between senior Declan Miles (6-2, 260), sophomore Ford Kelly (6-2, 245), and senior Tony Devlin (5-9, 260).
Senior Logan Cooley returns at center (6-0, 250) as one of the unit’s most experienced linemen and a key leader. He was a Second Team All A-South selection in 2024 and is a high-academic prospect expected to play Division III football. He is a projected top offensive lineman in the conference this season. On his right, senior George Walsh (6-1, 260) returns at guard after earning First Team All A-South honors on the defensive line. Walsh is currently receiving Division II recruiting interest and is one of the team’s top returning players.
At right tackle, freshman Nico Cangiano (6-0, 235) is the projected starter, with sophomore Travis Scully (5-11, 230) also competing for snaps. Cangiano has already impressed coaches and is considered one of the top new additions to the roster. With Cooley and Walsh anchoring the interior, the Panthers’ offensive line remains a strong foundation for their triple-option attack, even as it transitions to a younger group.
Kicker Jack Sullivan also returns after an impressive junior campaign. He went 50-for-53 on PATs and connected on four field goals, with a long of 35 yards. He was named Second Team All A-South in 2024.
The team’s biggest strength remains at the offensive skill positions, led by returning standouts Jake Clayton and Nick Spanola. HC Staub is particularly excited about senior fullback Calvin Videon-Perino, calling him a potential All-Shore breakout player. Staub believes that all the starters in the backfield are home-run threats with the ability to score from anywhere on the field. On Videon-Perino, Staub said: “He’s a combination of two all-time great fullbacks at Point Pleasant Boro — the size of last year’s First Team All-Shore selection Dylan Reitmeyer, and the speed and footwork of three-time All-Shore player and all-time rushing leader Jake Croce.”
Defense
The defense returns five starters but will be without several key contributors from last year’s standout unit. Colin Obser, a First Team All-Shore Conference and First Team All A-South selection at linebacker, graduated after a dominant senior season. He recorded a team-high 129 tackles — just one short of the conference lead — along with seven tackles for loss, one sack, four forced fumbles, and two safeties. Obser finished his career with 263 total tackles and was the heart of the defense. Dylan Reitmeyer, also gone, was second on the team with 108 tackles from his linebacker spot, including three for loss and one sack. He was one of only 18 players in the Shore Conference last season to eclipse 100 tackles.
The defensive line also takes a major hit with the graduation of standout DiBiase, who notched 72 tackles, nine for loss, and a team-high seven sacks. He was a First Team All-Shore and First Team All A-South selection. In addition, the Panthers lose First Team All-Shore and All A-South lineman Tanner Hynes (63 tackles, eight for loss, six sacks), First Team All A-South selection Nick Albanese, and Second Team All A-South lineman Slade Samaritano.
Even with the losses up front, the defensive line still figures to be a strength for Point Boro in 2025. Third Team All-Shore selection George Walsh returns as one of the top overall linemen in the Shore Conference after recording 53 tackles, four sacks, and four tackles for loss last season. HC Staub is also extremely bullish on freshman phenom Trevor Evans, who was the only defensive lineman from the Northeast to compete in the prestigious UA All-America game this past January in Orlando, Florida. Evans is expected to make an immediate impact and is already projected as a future Power Four prospect.
Aidan Dombrowsky and Mason Morris will start at defensive end, with freshman Nico Cangiano also earning reps. On the interior, Evans will join Walsh and Ford Kelly at defensive tackle, though Evans may also rotate to the edge depending on the package. The early output and potential from younger players like Morris, Kelly, Cangiano, and Dombrowsky have the coaching staff excited about what this new-look unit can become.
The linebacker room will have a lot to replace heading into 2025. Jack Scalabrini and DJ Albanese are expected to anchor the interior, while junior Luca Cangiano (5-9, 185), Henry Bradley (5-10, 180), and Talan Ronckovitz (5-9, 165) are all competing for roles on the outside.
In the secondary, Nick Spanola and Jake Clayton return as starting corners. Spanola filled the stat sheet in 2024 with 48 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. Clayton added 46 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and a team-high three interceptions. Freshman Lincoln Blasi and senior Logan DeAngelis will provide valuable depth at cornerback. Calvin Videon-Perino is projected to be one of the top returning defensive backs in the Shore Conference this season. A second team All A-South selection in 2024, he returns as the Panthers’ starting strong safety. James Bradley, also a returning starter, will line up at free safety. Freshman Owen Hart adds depth to the secondary. Videon-Perino and Jack Scalabrini are both expected to continue their football careers at high-academic Division III programs.
Outlook
Point Boro quarterbacks have routinely taken significant steps forward in their second year under center — often earning First Team All-Shore honors in the process. Jake Clayton already reached that benchmark in his first year as a starter, and HC Staub is set to put the offense, and much of the season’s outcome, squarely in the junior’s hands.
The Panthers continue to build success through a powerful run game, which stems from dominant offensive line play and a pipeline of athletic ball carriers. Freshman Trevor Evans appears to be next in line among the standout linemen. A national name in youth football, Evans already projects as a Power Four prospect and will be a difference-maker for years to come. Alongside him is fellow freshman Nico Cangiano, a multi-year AYF All-Star who is already a projected starter at tackle. Cangiano’s size and skillset have also earned him snaps in the defensive line rotation — giving Point Boro a foundation of two-way impact talent for the future.
In the secondary, both safeties — James Bradley and Calvin Videon-Perino — are seniors, meaning Point Boro will need to replace both positions next season. Freshman Lincoln Blasi has already made a strong impression during summer workouts and is firmly in the mix, competing at both cornerback and strong safety. Depending on matchups and personnel groupings, he could earn playing time this season. Nick Spanola shifted to outside linebacker in the second half of last season to allow Colin Obser to move inside — a move that paid dividends. Spanola could reprise that linebacker role again in 2025, which would open the door for Blasi to slide into the secondary. However, Spanola’s natural position remains at corner.
Another freshman to watch is Owen Hart — a gifted athlete with promising ball skills who currently provides depth at free safety. As the season plays out, if the linebackers need a boost, look for him or Blasi to slide into the secondary to help fill the gap with Spanola’s move to linebacker. Hart is also a candidate for special teams duties. The staff is excited about the long-term upside of both Blasi and Hart and is focused on finding ways to involve them that serve the best interests of the team. With a grueling schedule ahead, health will be paramount — and any early reps these two can earn will pay off down the line as they grow into future leaders of the program.
Boro also has two promising freshmen — Kevin Scott and Kennon Bastidas — gaining valuable experience on the lines from the upperclassmen ahead of them. Scott is working on the offensive line while Bastidas is developing on the defensive side, and both have already drawn praise from the coaching staff for their talent and potential. Depending on how the season unfolds and how quickly they develop, it’s entirely possible that one or both could push for varsity snaps as the year progresses. Any lessons they can take from the current starters will be instrumental in their growth, and the staff is thrilled to have them in the program. With players like Scott and Bastidas entering the pipeline, Boro’s tradition of tough, talented line play — the heart and soul of the team — appears to be in great hands moving forward.
Point Boro at a Glance
Head coach: Brian Staub, 8th Season
Career record: 46-24
2024 record: 10-3
Offense: Flexbone
Defense: Multiple
Coaching Staff
Defensive Coordinator: Shane O’Connor
Special Teams Coordinator: Dave Johnson
Running Backs: Tom Orrok
Offensive Line: Ryan Canary & Kyle Ryan
Defensive Line: Nick Cipot & Eddie Kendall
Linebackers: Dan Drzymkowski & John McDonald
Defensive Backs: Cole Groschel
Athletic Trainer: John Madden
Circle the Date: Aug 29 Rumson Fair-Haven
After losing twice to Rumson last season — including a playoff elimination — the Panthers have had this rematch circled for months. Rumson enters the year more depleted than Point Boro, especially on the offensive side. While they return standout running back Kellen Murray, they must replace quarterback Owen O’Toole and WR1 Jordan Angstreich. Their offensive line has also graduated, leaving a mostly sophomore group to fill those roles.
Rumson’s defensive front remains a strength, which means Boro’s experienced offensive line — the heart of their team — must rise to the challenge. In last year’s two matchups, O’Toole threw for nearly 200 yards and three touchdowns in the first game, while running back Kellen Murray added three rushing scores. In the rematch, O’Toole threw for more yardage but failed to find the end zone through the air, though Murray still scored twice. Without the pass threats, Rumson will likely lean even more on the run game behind an inexperienced line. If Rumson opts to test the air, Boro’s veteran secondary needs to capitalize on the inexperience at both quarterback and receiver. This is a prime opportunity for redemption — and Boro will look to flip the script after last season’s bitter ending.
Newcomer to Watch: Trevor Evans, Fr., OL/ DL
As mentioned above, Evans is poised to be the next great lineman to come through the Point Boro program. He’s already drawing national attention, and if his early performance is any indication, that recognition will only grow. Point Boro isn’t a one-and-done program — they consistently compete for titles, and Evans will be a key part of sustaining that success. Even as a freshman, he’s setting the tone for a new wave of talent. While others in his class may not secure starting roles just yet, they’re expected to earn meaningful reps this season — laying the groundwork to anchor the line as soon as next year.
SCHEDULE
Date Team Time
Friday 8/29 at Rumson FH 6 p.m.
Saturday 9/6 at Manasquan 1 p.m.
Friday 9/12 at Brick Mem. 6 p.m.
Friday 9/19 SJV 6:30 p.m.
Friday 9/26 at Jackson Twp. 6:30 p.m.
BYE
Friday 10/10 Donovan Cath. 6:30 p.m.
Friday 10/17 Howell 6:30 p.m.
Friday 10/24 TR North 6:30 p.m.
