Battle-Tested Rebels: 2025 Howell Football Preview

There was a time, not long ago, that a 3-6 season by a Shore Conference team would have been considered a disappointing one, but in 2025, it should not so quickly be dismissed.

In the case of Howell’s 2024 squad, a 3-6 season netted a postseason home game for a senior-led group and the No. 11 ranking in the final Shore Sports Insider Top 12 rankings. The Rebels played an unforgiving schedule which resulted in all five regular-season losses coming to teams that finished in the top 10 of the SSI rankings to close out 2024.

Based on last year’s final rankings, Howell’s schedule eases up in 2025, but not by that much. In the Class B North division alone, the Rebels will still have to deal with two teams that ended 2024 in the top 12 (No. 7 St. John Vianney and No. 8 Wall) and Howell will face four more opponents outside the division (No. 3 Point Pleasant Boro, No. 6 Middletown North, No. 10 Donovan Catholic and No. 12 Marlboro) that finished last year ranked.

With a schedule that hardly eases up in difficulty, Howell will lean on a much different cast to attack it after a significant wave of graduations. Just four starters return on offense and five on defense – including three players who play both ways.

Howell brings back two starters at skill positions, including none in the backfield. Quarterback Vincent Meehan was the team’s top passer, rusher and also led the team with three interceptions on defense. With the quarterback spot open, junior Connor Acker is ready to step in as the signal-caller with a similarly-experienced group around him.

Senior Thomas Wosnitzer, sophomore Tim O’Rourke and junior Connor Halvorsen are the candidates to contribute carries in the running game and as overall threats out of the backfield along with Acker. O’Rourke is a physical player despite his sophomore status, while Halvorsen offers a dose of speed and Wosmitzer a blend of the two, plus senior leadership. Sophomore Nikolas Olsen is also an underclassman to watch as a backup quarterback with the versatility to play elsewhere.

Senior wide receiver Josh Krutyansky and junior tight end Ivan Padilla are two returning starters in the passing game and both are likely to play at the next level when the time comes. Neither was heavily involved in the passing game as a pass-catcher, but their roles will be more prominent as both are a year better and have so much inexperience around them.

Junior Jackson Behn also saw varsity time as a sophomore receiver and will be a top target for Acker. Senior Aiden Lambiase moves into the starting lineup as a receiver as well.

Junior left tackle Aiden Mendes and senior center Danny Schenck are the two returning starters on the offensive line and both are tentatively slated to play heavy snaps on both sides of the ball. Guard Ryan Schneider and tackle Maddox Marks make up an all-senior right side of the line, while guard Josh Cofer joins classmate Mendes on the left side to make it a junior duo.

Mendes and Padilla will play defensive tackle spots on Howell’s three-man front, with Cofer on the nose and O’Rourke in the mix to play across the line.

Howell’s linebackers will have some senior experience among them, led by Krutansky on the interior and Ray Purelli at one of the edges. Senior Alex Bondarew also moves into the starting lineup opposite Purelli on the other edge while Nick LaForge is the junior of the group and will play inside with Krutansky.

Howell’s secondary also boasts a collection of seniors, led by Wosnitzer at free safety. Chris Cerulli will play alongside him at strong safety and classmate Chris LaForge mans one of the cornerback spots. A pair of sophomores will make their mark in the defensive backfield as well, with Joe Martinez set to start at the other corner and Olsen in the mix for snaps at safety.

There is not an abundance of experience on this year’s Howell squad, but Coach Bill Hill is looking at a talented depth chart that gives him several options and a group of players eager to step out of the shadow of a talented 2025 graduating class that carried Howell through the battles of 2024. The battles won’t get much easier – if at all – this season but Howell has raised its internal expectations and hopes to close out the season with another top 12 ranking at the Shore.

Howell at a Glance

Head coach: Bill Hill

2024 record: 3-6

Offense: Spread

Defense: 30 Front 

Coaching Staff

Defensive Coordinator: Bill Hill Jr.

Running backs: Joe LaFerlita

Wide Receivers: Bill Hill Jr.

Tight Ends: Michael Apicella

Offensive line: Len Abline, James Sullivano, John Woolf

Defensive line: Greg Solla, James Sullivano

Linebackers: Len Abline, Michael Apicella

Secondary: Dave Jimerson, Joe LaFerlita

Quality Control: Dave Jimerson

Freshman: Nick Cerulli, Xavier Henriques

Athletic trainer: Amy Ghione

Circle the Date: Sept. 26 vs. Freehold Twp.

The Rebels have designs on winning the Class B North division championship and we will know by around 9 p.m. on Sept. 26 whether that goal is still within reach. The week 4 home game vs. rival Freehold Township is the third of three consecutive division games on Howell’s schedule, so for this one to carry the big-game atmosphere at home that the Rebels are hoping for, they will have to win at least one of the two prior games – home vs. Wall and at Manalapan.

If Howell can make it to Week 4 still in the division hunt, the home clash with Freehold Township has all the makings of a memorable game. The two teams are district rivals, Freehold Township is coached by the last coach to lead the Rebels to a sectional title (Cory Davies) and Howell won a wild, 42-33 shootout at Freehold Township a season ago.

Rookie Watch: Tim O’Rourke (So., RB/DT/K) and Nikolas Olsen (So., DB/QB/P)

It is not every day you find a sophomore with a skill set that allows him to play in the offensive backfield, the defensive line and kick for his varsity team, but that is what Howell has in O’Rourke. Olsen is also a versatile sophomore angling for a key role this fall, battling for time at safety while also working with the quarterbacks and preparing to punt as well.

Stat to Know

Howell graduated its leader in almost every mainstream statistical category from a season ago: passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, tackles, sacks, interceptions, kicking…you name it. Hill, however, has been pleased with the depth of the program over the past few seasons and this year’s depth will feed a new-look lineup that has a chance to compete in a competitive division a year after the Rebels fought their way through a loaded division.

SCHEDULE

Date                             Team                            Time

Thursday 8/28               @Lacey                          4 p.m.

Friday 9/5                      Middletown North        6:30 p.m.

Friday 9/12                    Wall                                  6:30 p.m.

Friday 9/19                    @Manalapan                  6:30 p.m.

Friday 9/26                    Freehold Twp.                6:30 p.m.

Friday 10/3                    @Marlboro                      7 p.m.

Friday 10/10                  @St. John Vianney         6:30 p.m.

Friday 10/17                  @Pt. Boro                         6:30 p.m.