Next in Line: 2024 Red Bank Catholic Football Preview
The lofty standard has been set at Red Bank Catholic. Now it’s up to a talented new group to live up to it.
The defending NJSIAA Non-Public B champions graduated one of the top players in school history, current Syracuse freshman wide receiver Emanuel Ross, and Shore Conference Defensive Player of the Year Davin Brewton, now a freshman linebacker at Pittsburgh, along with a host of other All-Shore talent and three-year starters. Still, that doesn’t change the expectations.
RBC has won two state titles in the last three years and returns one of New Jersey’s best quarterbacks and one of the top Class of 2027 recruits in the state. They will look to win back-to-back state titles for the first time in school history, but it will take several new faces, particularly from a talented sophomore class, to help get the job done.
The Caseys return four starters on offense and four on defense.
“It’s a little unique because we’re younger than we’ve been in the past, but the expectations stay the same,” head coach Mike Lange said. “That’s where the bar is with our program. We had a good offseason, and what’s really encouraging is that there’s a ton of competition. We have good kids at every level and that’s more paramount this year because of the amount of younger kids we have to bring up to speed.”
Three-year starter Frankie Williams returns at quarterback in RBC’s spread offense following an All-Shore season in which he threw for 1,631 yards, 19 touchdowns and only three interceptions while completing 63% of his passes. He also was the team’s second-leading rusher with 449 yards to go with three touchdowns for an offense that averaged 27.1 points per game. His signature performance was a 315-yard passing night with three touchdowns in an epic comeback win over Group 5 champion Toms River North on the road. He has seen it all by this point.
Red Bank Catholic senior quarterback Frankie Williams is a returning First Team All-Shore selection. (Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com)
“Obviously I have a lot of games under my belt,” said Williams, who has gotten interest from Delaware and Holy Cross. “I’m finally the older guy so I have to be more of a leader to these guys. We have a young team so we need leadership, and that’s what going to help us go far.”
While Ross leaves a void at wide receiver, Williams has a host of capable targets, led by returning junior starters Daniel Zabora and Johnny Williams. Junior Chris Gibson will also see time along with promising freshman Jason Berescsky, who already has offers from West Virginia and Virginia Tech.
The offensive line is somewhat of a question mark because it will be young and inexperienced after losing every starter to graduation. Sophomore Jordan Key will be at left tackle, sophomore Joe Amidao will be at left guard, senior Frank Sinatra will be at center, senior Gavin O’Malley is the right guard, and sophomore Lorenzo Tartamella (6-3, 235), who starred on defense as a freshman, will be at right tackle. Sophomore T.J. Walsh, who is 6-2 and 210 pounds, will be the tight end.
After a backfield by committee approach last season, senior Matt Lonczak looks to be a primary ballcarrier this fall after rushing for 369 yards and 3 touchdowns last season. Junior Blake Caruso will replace the graduated Justin LaMorte, one of the Shore’s top kickers last season, as well as one of the Shore’s best punters, V.J. Muscillo.
Tartamella returns at defensive end to anchor a defensive line featuring several newcomers. The sophomore already boasts offers from Duke, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and others after finishing with 46 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss and 3 sacks as a freshman.
“I have experience now and during the offseason I put on about 20 pounds,” Tartamella said. “I feel way better and feel like I’m going to be more explosive this year. I’ve also been working a lot on speed and got my 40 time down to 4.7.”
The other defensive end will be Tartamella’s brother, senior Carmine Tartamella, and the defensive tackles will be Key and senior James Forsyth. Senior Jamie Gutridge (96 tackles, 9 TFL) is one of the Shore’s top returning linebackers, as well as another option on offense in the run game, and senior Patrick McGonnell (56 tackles) is also a returning starter at outside linebacker. Senior Gio Olmo steps in at the other outside linebacker spot.
Caruso returns at safety to anchor the secondary. Zabora is at the other safety spot, while the cornerbacks will be a pair of sophomores, Kieran McGonnell and Jordan Mosentine.
“We have a lot of young guys but with the guys who won last year, we have a lot of experience,” Gutridge said. “We’re going to be super gritty, super tough, and we’re going to get the job done.”
The Caseys kick off the season with the first out-of-state road game in program history when they head to Delaware to face perennial state power Middletown on Thursday night. They follow that with a home game against a perennial North Jersey power, Don Bosco Prep.
As they try to reach a fourth straight state final, they will compete in a Non-Public B bracket that has swelled to 23 teams after the latest NJSIAA realignment. Shore Conference foes Donovan Catholic and St. John Vianney are now in Non-Public B along with strong Paramus Catholic and Pope John XXIII squads, plus RBC’s annual nemesis, Depaul.
RBC is also the favorite to win a realigned Class A North that includes old rival Rumson-Fair Haven, plus Marlboro, Colts Neck, Long Branch and Middletown South.
“This year we have to take it game by game and once we get into a groove I think we’re going to get back to the state championship,” Gutridge said.
At a Glance
Head coach: Mike Lange, 5th season
Career record: 36-13
2023 record: 10-1
Offense: Spread
Defense: Multiple
Coaching Staff
-Defensive Coordinator: Kevin Gaul
-Offensive Coordinator: Mike Rosenfeld
–Special teams coordinator: Keith Hugger
-WRs/DBs: Joe Gallagher
Offensive line: Matt Finucane
Defensive line: Jason Rutan
RBs/DBs: Matt Mosquera
TEs/Special teams: John Cipot
Head freshman coach: Tony Flego
Freshman asst.: Don Gilson
Freshman asst.: Ambrose Richards
Athletic trainer: Krysta Cruz
Circle the Date: Sept. 6 vs. Don Bosco Prep
While Don Bosco Prep hasn’t quite been at its usual lofty heights in recent seasons, the Ironmen are always a stern challenge for anyone. This should be a good early litmus test for RBC, particularly its young offensive line. Don Bosco also features quarterback Deven Sisler, a two-year starter who previously was in the Shore Conference at Central Regional.
Rookie Watch: Jason Berescsky, Fr., WR
Berescsky is expected to be an impact weapon for quarterback Frankie Williams as a freshman. He’s not a huge target at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, but he’s a precise route runner who is already adept at finding holes in the defense. He is coming off an impressive summer in which he picked up offers from West Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Stat to Know
RBC has won four of its five state titles in program history within the last 10 years as part of a tremendous run. The Caseys are searching for their first back-to-back titles this year.
SCHEDULE
| Date | Team | Time |
| Thursday 8/29 | @Middletown (Del.) | 7 p.m. |
| Friday 9/6 | Don Bosco Prep | 7 p.m. |
| Saturday 9/14 | @Long Branch | 1 p.m. |
| Saturday 9/21 | @Colts Neck | 11 a.m. |
| Saturday 9/28 | @Marlboro | Noon |
| Thursday 10/10 | Rumson-Fair Haven | 7 p.m. |
| Friday 10/18 | Paramus Catholic | 7 p.m. |
| Friday 10/25 | Middletown South | 7 p.m. |
| Friday 11/1 | Donovan Catholic | 7 p.m. |
