For the first time in 16 years, Raritan has a new head coach guiding the program. 

However, the goals of challenging for division titles and making a run in the state playoffs remain the same.

Former offensive coordinator Chris Damian takes over the Rockets this fall and looks to help them bounce back from a 3-7 season. He follows good friend Anthony Petruzzi, who stepped down after 16 seasons that included a state sectional title and two other sectional final appearances. 

Damian inherits a team that returns a host of experienced skill position talent but will need to break in an almost entirely new offensive line. Defensively, they return eight players who either started or saw time last season. 

The Rockets have been realigned from Class D North into Class C North, which includes Howell, Marlboro, Ocean, Red Bank and the Neptune team that beat Raritan last season for the D North title. They also have challenging nondivisional games against old rivals Holmdel and Matawan as well as last year’s Class C South champion, Toms River East. 

Offense

The Rockets’ flexbone option attack returns a host of talent at the skill positions after a season in which several of them fought through injuries. 

Senior quarterback Parker Needham is a three-year varsity player who missed almost all of last season after breaking his collarbone in the season opener against St. John Vianney. Junior Zahir Jones stepped in for Needham and gained plenty of experience himself, and the two of them have been splitting reps in the preseason. Jones also starts at cornerback on defense, and Raritan does not play its quarterback both ways, so starting him on offense could also mean reshuffling the defense. 

Needham threw for 318 yards and 3 touchdowns in limited action last season, so the Rockets are hoping a full, healthy year out of him can make a big difference for a unit that averaged 21.5 points per game last year. 

Seniors Eric Berg and Marko Brown return as a playmaking duo at A back after combining for 716 yards rushing and six touchdowns last year. The versatile Berg also led the team with 20 catches for 266 yards and three touchdowns and is a weapon as a returner on special teams. Senior Sam Guiney steps in at fullback for the graduated John Jeleniewski, who led the team in rushing last season. 

“I expect big things,” Berg said at the Shore Conference Football Media Day. “We’ve had a couple of down seasons, but I think we’ve really kicked it up in the weight room and with our culture. We’re strong, we’re bonded together as a team this year, so I think we’re going to make some noise. If we can stay healthy, we’re going to be scary, I promise you that.” 

Another returning playmaker is junior Lou Zweidinger, a wide receiver who showed explosive potential with 238 yards receiving and two scores on only nine catches (26.4 ypc) last year. Senior Brennan Spengler and sophomore Jacob Jordan round out the receiving corps along with senior tight end John Solomeno. 

“We’re looking to reestablish our brand as a physical, disciplined and explosive football team,” Damian said.

Up front, 280-pound senior left tackle Kane Kelly is the lone returner on an offensive line breaking in four new starters. Senior Vincent Miano will be at left guard, 6-foot-2, 300-pound junior Alvin Lalevee steps in at center, senior John Gentile is the right guard, and junior Jonathan Marquez is the right tackle. 

Senior Colin Davis will be the kicker. 

Defense

A unit that allowed 28.7 points per game against a tough schedule in 2025 returns five starters and three others who saw time. 

Kelly and Miano are the defensive tackles, while junior Hunter Tsap steps in at left edge and Guiney (5 TFL) returns at the right edge spot. 

Solomeno (39 tackles) and returning starter Preston Tagliaferro combined with sophomore newcomer Mark Jewell to form the linebacking corps. 

Jones and Brown will start at cornerback, with Spengler and senior Eric McNamara as the safeties. Raritan has some depth in the secondary, which should allow Berg and Zweidinger to focus primarily on offense this season. Juniors Aiden Mehmeti and Brian Taggart are in the rotation at safety and cornerback, respectively. Zweidinger will also handle the punting. 

 

Raritan at a glance 

Head coach: Chris Damian, 1st season (3rd overall) 

Career record: 0-0 at Raritan, 2-18 overall

2025 record: 3-7

Offense: Flexbone

Defense: Multiple 

 

Coaching Staff

Defensive coordinator: John Principe

Safeties/spec. teams coord.: Jeff Papcun

Offensive skills: Nick Mahoney

Cornerbacks: Joe Schroeck

Off. line: Dave Ernst

Def. line: Kevin Kelly

Asst. OL: Jaxson Tsap

Head freshman coach: Jon Rodriguez

Asst. freshman: James Wines

Asst. freshman: Matthew Preston

Asst. freshman: Nick Sparacello

Asst. freshman: Pat Toal 

Athletic Trainer: Michael DeSocio 

Circle the Date: Sept. 3 at Matawan

This isn’t a divisional game, but it’s a rivalry game against a Matawan team loaded up for a big season in 2026. The Huskies rolled over a banged-up Raritan team 37-14 last year, so this is an early gauge of whether the Rockets have closed the gap against a team expected to be a Top 10 squad in the Shore and a playoff contender. 

Newcomer to Watch: Mark Jewell, So., LB

Jewell is going to start at middle linebacker as a sophomore for the Rockets, stepping into the shoes of graduated All-Shore linebacker John Jeleniewski. Raritan has a proud history of hard-nosed, playmaking middle linebackers, so Jewell looks to be the next in line. 

Date	Opponent
8/27	Madison
9/3	at Matawan
9/10	Howell
9/18	Red Bank
9/25	at Marlboro
10/2	Toms River East
10/9	Ocean
10/16	at Holmdel
10/23	at Neptune

Scott Stump is the football editor and a reporter for Shore Sports Insider who first started covering Shore Conference football in 1999. 

Email: scottstump25@gmail.com