After opening the 2025 season with two victories, a young Marlboro team dropped its final eight games, with most of those losses coming by lopsided margins against a brutal schedule that featured six teams ranked in the final Shore Sports Insider Top 12.

Fueled by the resolve of a senior class loaded with returning starters, the Mustangs doubled down on their offseason work in an effort to become stronger both mentally and physically.

No longer in the loaded Class A North division, the Mustangs have been realigned to Class C North, where they will face the likes of Red Bank, Raritan, and district rival Howell, as they hope to compete for a division title.

Offense

The Mustangs return seven starters from an offense that averaged 12 points per game last season while totaling 1,293 rushing yards and 791 passing yards.

Senior Nick Dimino (5-9, 175) enters his third year as Marlboro’s starting quarterback after accounting for 1,221 total yards and eight touchdowns last season, throwing for 791 yards and three scores while adding 430 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

Senior Zach Mojares (5-10, 185) returns as the starting running back after rushing for 482 yards and six touchdowns last season. Senior Hudson Muhlbach (5-10, 180) opened last year as the starter before an injury sidelined him for most of the season. He still managed 211 rushing yards and two touchdowns on limited carries. Senior Shaqur Richardson (5-10, 175) also figures into the rotation at running back. Junior Dylan Preston (5-10, 205) returns as the starting fullback, where he will be relied upon primarily as a lead blocker.

Senior Charlie Kaplan (5-9, 175), a Second Team All-Class A North selection last year, is the only returning starter in the receiving corps after posting 31 receptions for 364 yards and three touchdowns. The Mustangs will look to seniors Chris Scaff (5-7, 160), Mike Messina (5-9, 160), and Tristen Lawless (5-9, 160), sophomore Sean Tuohy (5-11, 175), and highly touted freshman Miles Block (5-9, 165) to round out the receiving rotation.

Senior James Torres (6-1, 215) returns as the starting tight end after being used primarily as a blocker last season. Senior Justin Goodman (6-2, 220) will also factor into the rotation at the position.

The Mustangs return two starters along the offensive line in senior right tackle Mark Risi (6-2, 220) and senior Xander Strohl (6-1, 225), who will compete with senior Chris D’Orazio (5-9, 250) for the starting job at right guard. Junior Jayden Preston (6-4, 300) steps in as the starting left tackle. On the other side, senior Garrett Kleinman (5-7, 185) and senior Sebastian Forgione (6-1, 220) will battle for the left guard spot, while Kleinman will also compete with junior Joe Stiglic (5-9, 265) for the starting center position.

Mojares will handle both kicking and punting duties after making 5 of 6 extra points and his only field goal attempt a year ago.

Defense

The Mustangs return eight starters from a defense that allowed 30.5 points per game last season.

Seniors Jake Bazerman (5-10, 235) and James Torres (6-1, 215) return as the starting defensive ends. Bazerman recorded 27 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season, while Torres added 25 tackles. Strohl, Goodman, and Forgione will also factor into the defensive end rotation. Preston steps in as the starting defensive tackle, with Stiglic and senior Sandak Radnaev (5-9, 220) expected to contribute in the interior rotation.

Senior Ardy Mehmedaj (5-10, 180) returns as a starting outside linebacker after recording 34 tackles last season. Muhlbach and Tuohy are competing for the starting job opposite him. Inside, Mojares returns after totaling 38 tackles and five sacks a year ago but will battle junior Dylan Preston for one starting spot. Senior Lucas Kleinman (5-7, 185) is back at the other inside linebacker position after leading the team with 52 tackles last season. Junior Justin Hui (5-9, 175) will also factor into the linebacker rotation.

Scaff and Kaplan return as the starting cornerbacks. Scaff, a Second Team All-Class A North selection, recorded 45 tackles and an interception last season, while Kaplan added 19 tackles. Dimino returns for his third season as the starting free safety after making 38 tackles and hauling in five interceptions on his way to First Team All-Class A North honors a year ago. Junior Dean Diadema (5-9, 175) steps in as the starting strong safety. Messina, Block, junior Jack Gaudio (5-9, 165), and Richardson will also factor into the secondary rotation.

 

Marlboro at a glance 

Head coach: Jason Dagato, 14th season

Career record: 46-82

2025 record: 2-8

Offense: Multiple

Defense: 3-4

 

Coaching Staff

Defensive Coordinator/LB/RB: Reid Stapp

Offensive Coordinator/QB/LB: Jeff Brown

Special Teams Coordinator/WR/DL: Jim Papalia

OL/DL: Bill Cook

Strength: Mike Luzio

Freshman: Cory Varrial

Freshman: Mike Warnock

Freshman: Jared Wright

Freshman: Adam Mirza

Athletic Trainer: Anais Mixson

Circle the Date: Oct. 3 at Howell

A 17-0 shutout loss to district rival Howell was one of several disappointments during Marlboro’s difficult 2025 campaign. With both teams expected to contend in the Class C North race this fall, the rematch could carry significant divisional implications.

Newcomer to Watch: Jayden Preston, Jr., OL/DL

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound lineman will be the cornerstone of Marlboro’s play in the trenches. Preston is expected to anchor the 3-4 defense at nose tackle, where the goal is simple: one man cannot block him and two men cannot move him. On offense, he’ll also be tasked with protecting the quarterback’s blindside at left tackle.

Schedule 

Date	Opponent
8/27	Colts Neck
9/3	at Manalapan
9/10	Neptune
9/18	at Ocean
9/25	Raritan
10/2	Matawan
10/9	at Howell
10/16	Middletown South
10/23	at Red Bank