Ready to Rebound: 2025 Long Branch Football Preview

A fast start is imperative this season for a Long Branch team that lost its first four last year and never recovered despite flashing potential on offense behind quarterback Quinton Fisher. 

Fisher returns as a senior after racking up more than 1,400 total yards last season despite missing two games with injury toward the end of the season. 

He will be playing with a veteran offensive line and backfield that look to help the perennial playoff contenders get back on track after averaging just 15.8 points per game in posting their first losing record since the Covid-shortened 2020 season. 

This is the second season under head coach Ben Woolley after he ascended from assistant to head coach when previous head coach Chad King left to take the job at his alma mater, Ocean. 

“The coaching staff has raved about what the kids have done this summer,” Woolley said. “It’s been completely different. Last year I got hired late because of what happened with Chad, but this year the kids are focused on changing the culture, and it’s how I learned to coach under (former coach) Danny (George).” 

Offense

Fisher returns with something to prove after flashing explosive potential last year in a season-opening shootout against a Holmdel team that went on to win a division title, and another high-scoring loss to a Jackson Memorial team that reached the state sectional semifinals. 

He threw for 936 yards and 12 touchdowns and ran for a team-high 484 yards and 6 touchdowns despite missing two games with injury. 

“As he goes, we’re going to go,” Woolley said. “He can do everything. He can run it, he can throw it, we have a huge screen game, and he’s had four years in the same offense. He’s gotten really comfortable with it.” 

Senior Zahkai McDonald is a returning starter at tailback in the Green Wave’s multiple offense after rushing for 174 yards in five games as a junior. Junior Julian Otey also should see some carries in the backfield. 

An area that remains a question mark going into the season is at receiver, where all of last year’s starters graduated except for junior Nyron Snerling, who transferred to Donovan Catholic. 

Junior Anthony Luque, who played quarterback when Fisher was hurt last season, slides over to receiver. He will be joined by senior Isreal Hutchinson, who saw some time last year, and senior Nayshawn Carter. The slot receiver will be promising freshman Jasaan Woods-Farrar, the younger brother of current Fresno State receiver Jayon Farrar. 

Long Branch usually thrives offensively when it has an experienced line, and the Green Wave return three starters up front this season and two others who started on the defensive line last year. 

Senior Caden Coleman is a returning starter at right tackle, sophomore left guard I’Meer Jones was a two-way starter last year, and senior Alexis Mendez-Merino is a returning starter at center. Junior Nick Soria, who is the heavyweight on the wrestling team, steps in at right guard after starting on the D-line last year, and the left tackle is senior Nathan Pessoa, who started at defensive tackle last season. 

Junior Luis Ahuatl will be the kicker, while Woods-Farrar will handle the punting.

Defense

The Green Wave’s defense allowed 29 points per game against a brutal schedule last season, so that side has been a point of emphasis this summer. 

In Long Branch’s 4-2-5 alignment, junior Quadir Brown will be at defensive end while Jones is a returning starter at the other defensive end spot. All of the other offensive linemen should also see time at defensive tackle along with senior Jordan Almeida. 

The linebacking corps took a major hit when senior Javier Guzman, who had 100 tackles last season, transferred to Red Bank Catholic. McDonald will be the weakside linebacker, with senior Sam Brewer at middle linebacker. Newcomer Kyshier Redding, a senior transfer from Keansburg, will also see time at linebacker in addition to playing tight end. 

“Trying to replace Javy is not going to be easy, but Brewer has been working hard and Zakhai is playing defense this year, so we hope to get that spot solidified,” Woolley said.

Hutchinson and Carter will be the cornerbacks, with Luque also seeing time there. Otey and Fisher comprise the safety group. 

The Green Wave open the season with the renewal of an old-school rivalry in a nondivisional game against Ocean. Woolley was King’s assistant before King took the job at Ocean, and both of them coached under George and won multiple state sectional titles. 

“It’s going to be like the Danny George Bowl,” Woolley joked. “I’m not going to lie, it’s really strange to coach against one of your best friends.” 

It kicks off a season in which Long Branch has been realigned into Class C North from the rugged Class A North. The Green Wave will try to make an impact in a fairly wide-open division of different-sized schools featuring Colts Neck, Matawan, Manasquan, Red Bank and Shore Regional. 

 

Long Branch at a glance 

Head coach: Ben Woolley, 2nd season 

Career record: 1-8

2024 record: 1-8

Offense: Spread/I-formation

Defense: 4-2-5

Coaching Staff

Defensive coordinator: Jayce Maxwell 

Assistant off. coord./passing game: Rober Kohler 

LB: Damon Colbert

LB/RB: Billy George  

RB/DB: Dan Bachner

Spec. teams: Gary Beddoe 

Athletic trainer: Kim Small

 

Circle the Date: Sept. 26 vs. Manasquan 

If the Green Wave want to compete for a division title in the newly realigned Class C North, this should be a pivotal one against the Warriors. First, Long Branch will have to beat nearby rival Shore Regional and Colts Neck in divisional play. 

Newcomer to Watch: Jasaan Woods-Farrar, Fr., WR/DB 

Farrar is the younger brother of former Long Branch and Donovan Catholic standout Jayon Farrar, who is now a junior wide receiver at Fresno State. Woods-Farrar has good speed and should see time at slot receiver as part of an all-new receiving corps for quarterback Quinton Fisher. 

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