The Next Generation: 2025 Red Bank Catholic Football Preview

Following an up-and-down, six-win season and the graduation of quarterback Frankie Williams, it’s a new era for Red Bank Catholic football in more ways than one. 

Not only do the Caseys have to replace the program’s all-time leading passer, there’s a chance they could start freshmen at quarterback and tailback, which would almost certainly be a first in the 98-year history of the program. 

The one thing that hasn’t changed is the expectations at one of the Shore Conference’s perennial powers, where seasons are measured in championships. Last season’s six wins were the fewest for RBC since 2019, excluding the Covid-shortened 2020 season. 

“I just think we’re pretty hungry,” head coach Mike Lange said. “I think we learned a lot from the pain of last year. It’s just the bar that’s set here. We don’t know any other way than to play in tough, big games. That’s why we’re playing Toms River North the first week because you sign up to do that here.” 

Offense

Williams was a three-year starter at quarterback who earned Shore Sports Insider second-team All-Shore honors as a senior. He finished his career with 5,074 yards passing and 58 touchdowns along with 1,148 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns, so it’s a lot of production to replace. 

The starting quarterback spot is a competition between Rahmir Rivera, one of the most highly-touted freshmen in New Jersey, and junior Jake Garrett, who saw a handful of snaps in relief of Williams. 

Rivera is the son of former Long Branch standout Raul Rivera, who was part of the Green Wave’s 1999 sectional championship team, and he already boasts offers from Syracuse and Southern Mississippi. Garrett is the son of longtime Kean University head coach Dan Garrett. 

“I think the maturity, the arm strength – honestly he’s just one of the most finished products as a freshman I’ve seen,” Lange said about Rivera. “He just kind of handles his business the right way. In the same breath, Jake has done the same thing. I think they both bring things to the table that we can utilize throughout a game.” 

RBC averaged 28.2 points per game last season, but that number fell to 18.8 against teams with winning records. The Caseys will look to kick it back into gear against top opponents this fall with their spread, no-huddle attack. 

The winner of the quarterback competition should have plenty of weapons to work with behind a beefed-up offensive line. 

A running game that struggled mightily last season returns junior Jordan Mosenthine, who was second on the team with 269 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns as a sophomore. Junior Luke Scaturro also returns after rushing for 157 yards last season. 

RBC also welcomes freshman Gabe Kemp, one of the top young running backs in the state, who is in competition to be the starting tailback. 

“We’ve put a big emphasis on being able to run the ball,” Lange said. “It doesn’t mean we’re shunning the pass game, because the run is going to open that much more stuff down the field.” 

The Caseys return four starters up front, led by junior right tackle Lorenzo Tartamella, who is a Power Four FBS prospect on defense. Junior Jordan Key returns at left tackle, junior Joe Amidao is back at left guard and senior Adrian Piesco is a returning starter who will play center and guard. 

The other tackle spot is a competition between sophomore R.J. Banks and junior Christian Peter, the son of Middletown South legend and former New York Giants defensive tackle Christian Peter. Another major addition on both sides of the line is 6-foot, 300-pound senior Caden Sternlieb, a transfer from St. Thomas Aquinas who will be eligible in Week Three. 

“We’ve had a really good offseason,” Lange said. “You’ll see us be a lot more physical.” 

RBC also boasts a plethora of appealing options at wide receiver, as it returns its top three pass-catchers. 

Senior Johnny Williams, Frankie’s younger brother, is back after leading the team with 38 catches for 461 yards and 6 touchdowns last season, and senior Daniel Zabora returns after finishing with 33 catches for 534 yards and 7 scores in 2024. Zabora has offers from Air Force, Navy and Youngstown State. Junior Chris Gibson is also back after making eight catches last season. 

Sophomore Jason Bereczky, who had 23 catches for 239 yards and 2 TDs as a freshman, also returns. He has offers from West Virginia, Duke and Wofford. 

Six-foot-4 sophomore Ethan Kennedy, who has an offer from Syracuse, looks to be yet another major weapon in the passing game. A third member of the sophomore group is Cole Sternlieb, Caden’s younger brother, who should see time in the slot after transferring from St. Thomas Aquinas. 

On top of that, RBC brings back junior tight end T.J. Walsh, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound target who has an offer from Duke. 

Senior kicker Blake Caruso also returns after earning SSI first-team All-Shore honors last year when he went 3-for-5 on field goals, including the only field goals of more than 40 yards in the Shore Conference. 

Defense

Many of the same names are back in the Caseys’ 4-3 defense, led by Tartamella. He is one of the top defensive recruits in New Jersey for the Class of 2027, with offers from Penn State, Notre Dame and more. 

The junior defensive end finished with 52 tackles, 10 for a loss, in an injury-plagued sophomore season. Tartamella earned SSI third-team All-Shore honors. 

“I think you’ll see a big jump,” Lange said. “Last year he was pretty banged up. He had a sprained knee and there were games he played with two clubs on his hands. I think that’s a big point of emphasis is to stay healthy, and he’s done a great job.” 

Key also returns at defensive end, with Banks and Peter slated to be at defensive tackle. Six-foot-5 junior Jeff Kanzas will also be in the rotation along with sophomore Gunnar Fisk, a transfer from St. John Vianney. Caden Sternlieb will be a major addition in the middle of the defensive line when he gets eligible. 

The linebacking group was hit hard by graduation, but senior Gavin Richter is back at outside linebacker after finishing with 28 tackles last season. Junior Joe Egan steps in at outside linebacker, with sophomore Brock Goodman at middle linebacker. Senior John Outerie, who played on special teams last year, also will be in the mix at outside linebacker along with Scaturro. 

A major addition at linebacker is senior Javier Guzman, a Long Branch transfer who had 100 tackles for the Green Wave last season. 

The veteran secondary is led by Mosenthine and junior Kieran McGonnell (47 tackles) at cornerback, with junior Dan Love also in the rotation and Gibson as the slot corner. Zabora and Caruso are returning starters at safety, where Bereczky, Cole Sternlieb and yet another promising freshman, Mason Koch, should see time. Caruso will also handle the punting. 

“I think the biggest thing you’ll see this year is we run like we normally do on defense,” Lange said. “We’re not huge up front, but I think collectively, we’re fast.” 

The Caseys will be one of the favorites along with defending champion Rumson-Fair Haven in the realigned Class A North division this season. The division has added Holmdel, which is coming off back-to-back division titles for the first time in program history.

Outside the division, RBC opens up with a massive showdown in the season opener against Toms River North. The two-time defending Group 5 champions boast the state’s longest current winning streak at 19 games. The last team to beat them was RBC in a 35-28 overtime classic in 2023. 

The Caseys also play Delaware power Middletown for the second straight season, and the non-public trio of St. John Vianney, Paramus Catholic and Notre Dame. 

 

Red Bank Catholic at a Glance

Head coach: Mike Lange, 6th season

Career record: 42-17

2024 record: 6-4

Offense: Spread no-huddle

Defense: 4-3

Coaching Staff

Defensive coordinator: Kevin Gaul

Offensive coordinator: Mike Rosenfeld

Special teams coordinator: Keith Hugger

Offensive line: Matt Mosquera

Offensive line: Ryan Byrne

Wide receivers: Joe Gallagher

Running backs: Don Gilson 

WR/DB: Clark Coe 

Defensive line: Jason Rutan

Defensive line: Rob Smith

DB/RB: Dean Helstowski

Head freshman coach: Tony Flego

Freshman asst.: John Sipot

Freshman asst.: Ambrose Richards

Athletic trainer: Krysta Cruz

 

Circle the Date: Aug. 28 vs. Toms River North 

The season starts with a bang when the Caseys welcome the Mariners to Count Basie Field. The outcome could potentially go a long way toward determining the No. 1 team in the Shore Conference, although certainly plenty of others will have their say. A Toms River North team coming off an undefeated season just graduated a star-laden senior class, while RBC may have a pair of freshmen at important skill positions. Both teams enter with question marks thanks to graduation, so this is a great early barometer. The Mariners also enter with the state’s longest current winning streak at 19 games. The last team to beat them? RBC in 2023. 

Newcomer to Watch: Rahmir Rivera, Fr., QB; Gabe Kemp, Fr., RB 

Two of the most coveted freshmen in the state chose the Caseys, and both are vying to start immediately. Both of them have explosive, game-breaking ability between Rivera’s strong downfield arm and Kemp’s breakaway speed. It could be the dawn of a prolific era at RBC with those two in the backfield. 

SCHEDULE

Date	Opponent	Time
Friday 08/29	Toms River North	7 p.m.
Friday 09/05	Middletown (DE)	7 p.m.
Friday 09/12	@Middletown South	7 p.m.
Friday 09/19	Middletown North	7 p.m.
Friday 09/26	Holmdel	7 p.m.
Friday 10/03	@St. John Vianney	7 p.m.
Friday 10/10	@Rumson-Fair Haven	7 p.m.
Friday 10/17	@Paramus Catholic	7 p.m.
Friday 10/24	Marlboro	7 p.m.
Thursday 10/30	Notre Dame	7 p.m.