The 2025 season marked a significant step forward for a young Point Beach squad. The Garnet Gulls finished 7-3 and advanced to the Central Jersey Group 1 sectional semifinals before falling to Shore, 30-6.

Although record-setting quarterback Matthew Rossi has graduated and continued his career at FDU-Florham, Point Beach returns 16 of its 22 starters from last season. With that level of continuity, the Garnet Gulls enter 2026 ready to soar as legitimate contenders for the Class C South title and have the potential for a deep run in the Group 1 playoffs.

Point Beach will battle New Egypt, Freehold Boro, Lakewood, and the rest of a balanced Class C South division, where the race for the championship is expected to be highly competitive.

Offense

The Garnet Gulls return eight starters from an offense that averaged 31.9 points per game last season while totaling 1,216 rushing yards and 2,284 passing yards.

Junior Billy Cavanaugh (6-4, 175) takes over as the starting quarterback. Much like his predecessor, he possesses prototypical size for the position. While Cavanaugh saw limited repetitions at quarterback last year, he was a starter on defense, so he has varsity experience.

Running back is one of Point Beach’s deepest position groups, with four experienced contributors competing for carries in the Garnet Gulls’ Wing T offense.

Junior Gage Boyle (5-10, 180) returns as a three-year co-starter after rushing for 350 yards and six touchdowns last season. He shared the workload with fellow junior Tom Aiosa (5-9, 180), another returning co-starter who ran for 266 yards and three touchdowns in 2025.

Senior Danny Neal (5-10, 185) spent much of last season battling injuries while primarily contributing on defense. Still, he brings valuable experience as a ball carrier after seeing significant action in the backfield in 2024.

Sophomore Jalen Kreiger (5-10, 175), who started at tight end as a freshman, is also expected to transition into the backfield, giving Point Beach yet another versatile option in its rushing attack.

The receiver position is occupied by senior Danny Cavanaugh (6-4, 175), a three-year starter and First Team All-Class D North selection who caught 29 passes for 593 yards and seven touchdowns last season. His combination of size and experience gives the Garnet Gulls a proven playmaker on the outside.

Senior Tyler Preston (5-10, 165), a standout on Point Beach’s basketball team, has also joined the football program and will give the Garnet Gulls another athletic target at wide receiver.

Senior Carson Pfeifer (6-2, 190) will start at tight end after starting on defense last season.

The Garnet Gulls return four starters along the offensive line, led by senior three-year starter and Second Team All-Class D North selection Alan Micheletti (6-2, 245) at right tackle. Senior Lucas Adams (5-10, 180), also a Second Team All-Class D North selection last year, is back at right guard, while junior Jack Snyder (5-11, 180) shifts from center to left guard after starting there last season. Senior C.J. Engelhardt (6-2, 190) also returns at left tackle. Junior C.J. Krupa (6-0, 185) is projected to take over at center.

Danny Cavanaugh will handle the kicking and punting duties.

Defense

The Garnet Gulls return eight starters from a unit that allowed 24.9 points per game last season.

Aiosa returns at one defensive end position after recording 57 tackles and three sacks last season on his way to First Team All-Class D North honors. Pfeifer is back at the opposite end after totaling 21 tackles and two sacks in 2025.

Micheletti returns for his third season as the starting defensive tackle after recording 28 tackles a year ago. Adams returns as the other starting defensive tackle after tallying 33 tackles last year.

Kreiger returns at outside linebacker after compiling 66 tackles and three sacks as a First Team All-Class D North pick a year ago. Junior Thomas Hennessy (5-9, 170) will start on the opposite side.

Boyle is back for his third season as the starting inside linebacker after amassing 136 tackles and earning Class D North Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2025. Neal, also a three-year starter, returns after battling injuries for much of last season.

Junior Max Reme (5-10, 160) is projected to start at cornerback on one side, while Preston is projected to start opposite him. Danny Cavanaugh is back for his third season as the starting free safety after totaling 37 tackles and a team-high three interceptions last year.

 

Point Beach at a glance 

Head coach: Joe Zaccone, 8th season 

Career record: 28-39

2025 record: 7-3

Offense: Wing T

Defense: Multiple

 

Coaching Staff

Offensive Coordinator/QB/DB: Josh Yates

Defensive Coordinator/LB/RB: Jeff Bower

Special Teams Coordinator/LB/RB: Mike McGee

OL/DL: Brenden Neary

JV Head Coach/WR/LB: Chris Boniface

DB/WR: Jake VanBrunt

Athletic Trainer: Cat Haggerty

Circle the Date: Sept. 4 at Shore

Point Beach suffered its most lopsided defeat of the 2025 season in a 63-7 loss to Shore during the regular season. The Garnet Gulls showed significant improvement in the rematch, falling 30-6 in the Central Jersey Group 1 sectional championship game. With 16 starters returning, Point Beach will look to close the gap even further and turn the tables on the Blue Devils, who have established themselves as the Shore Conference’s premier Group 1 program for much of the last two decades.

Newcomer to Watch: Tyler Preston, Sr., WR/DB

A standout on the Garnet Gulls’ basketball team, Preston will look to translate his athleticism from the hardwood to the gridiron and provide Point Beach with another dynamic playmaker on the outside.

Schedule 

Date	Opponent
8/29	South River
9/4	at Shore
9/11	at New Egypt
9/19	at Keyport
9/25	Freehold Boro
10/9	Keansburg
10/15	Manchester
10/23	Lakewood