Step by Step: 2025 Neptune Football Preview

Neptune has the coaching stability and player continuity it has lacked in recent years, so the next step is for the Scarlet Fliers to get back to another tradition – winning titles. 

It will take a young group coming of age to finish close games against quality opponents after a 5-5 season in which Neptune lost a one-point game to New Egypt, an overtime game to Pinelands and squandered a double-digit lead against eventual Class D North champion Shore Regional. 

All the key players have returned, so the goal is to turn those close losses into wins in the race for the Class D North title. The Scarlet Fliers will face a new group of divisional opponents in Freehold, Ocean and Raritan along with longtime rival Asbury Park. 

“We have experience now,” third-year head coach Mike Seber said. “You can see the way we practice is different. The expectations are to win the first one, win each play, and start from there.” 

Last year marked Neptune’s first non-losing season since 2019, and now the Scarlet Fliers are pushing for a return to the state playoffs for the first time in six years. They also are shooting for their first division crown since 2011. 

Offense 

The Scarlet Fliers bring back a host of explosive offensive players from a unit that averaged 26.8 points per game last season, led by junior quarterback Caleb Brown-Mason. He threw for 808 yards and 4 touchdowns and ran for 982 yards and 11 TDs as a sophomore. 

“He’s special,” Seber said. “He’s throwing the ball better, and he’s starting to learn how to really read defenses. It’s a process.” 

Brown-Mason has plenty of targets in the passing game, highlighted by three-year varsity starter Daaron Lynch at wideout. The 6-foot junior with a great ability to run after the catch had a team-high 18 catches for 386 yards and four touchdowns last season. 

“He’s as talented as they come,” Seber said. “If he could focus on the little things, he could go anywhere he wants. He could write his ticket.” 

Senior Michael MacLennan, a three-year starter, returns at tight end after finishing with seven catches last season. Junior Hassin McMillon should play a more prominent role as the other wideout opposite Lynch after 7 catches and a touchdown as a sophomore. The rest of the receiving corps includes Dom Territo, junior Jazzar Brown, senior Marcus Green, sophomore Kemar Parker and sophomore tight end Dion Burton. 

In the backfield, senior running backs William Holland (227 yards) and Jeremiah Montgomery (381 yards) are both back in Neptune’s spread attack. 

The offensive line returns four starters, three of whom are three-year starters.

Senior Koen Johnson is a three-year starter at left tackle, junior Steven Borges is a returning starter at left guard, 280-pound senior Malachi Matson is in his third season as a starter at center, and senior Jaraiya Jean is a three-year starter at right tackle. The right guard is junior Jason Camulus, with sophomore Bryce Graham also pushing for time there. 

Junior Hatcher Gartley will be the placekicker. 

Defense

Jean is back at defensive end after a prolific junior season that earned him Shore Sports Insider second-team All-Shore honors. He had 82 tackles, 7 sacks and 20 tackles for a loss, finishing fifth in the Shore in tackles and TFLs. 

“He’s a workhorse,” Seber said. “He’s part of a great group of kids.” 

Matson is at one defensive tackle spot, with senior Michael Martinez at the other. Graham is the other defensive end opposite Jean in Neptune’s 4-2-5 scheme. 

MacLennan will be at outside linebacker, with Keansburg transfer Sha’born Allen also seeing time there. Johnson is at the other outside linebacker spot, while sophomore Jaylen Mayo will be the inside linebacker. 

Lynch returns at cornerback, with senior Kemar Archer manning the other cornerback spot. Holland and McMillon are the safeties, and MacLennan will handle the punting. 

Neptune will be playing this season in honor of former head coach Thomas Walsh, who died at 66 on June 30. Walsh followed legendary coach John Amabile as the head coach from 2001-05 and was a 40-year fixture in the program as an assistant. He coached Vinny Curry, the pass rusher who went on to win a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles. 

The team will have a moment of silence for Walsh in the season opener against Freehold Township. 

“He was the best,” Seber said. “You asked for something, it was done.” 

 

Neptune at a glance 

Head coach: Mike Seber, 3rd season 

Career record: 7-12

2024 record: 5-5

Offense: Spread

Defense: Hybrid 42

Coaching Staff

Defensive coordinator/DL: Frank Iachetta

Spec. teams/LB: Netanis Bean

QB/LB: Jaheem Woods

DB/RB: Mysonn Ledet

OL: Michael Kasten 

JV/OL: Frank Martuscelli Jr. 

JV/WR: Bernard Morrison III 

LB: Mijaut Berry 

Film/stats: Ronald Puryear

Student academic advisor: Michael Randolph

Equipment manager: Camara Crozier

Athletic trainer: Amanda Kelly

Circle the Date: Sept. 26 at Asbury Park 

The two longtime Thanksgiving rivals will play in September, and it’s a divisional game in the Class D North to add some extra stakes. Asbury Park has won five straight games in the rivalry, so the Scarlet Fliers will look to turn the tide and also stay in the mix for a division title. 

Newcomer to Watch: Hassin McMillon, Jr., WR 

McMillan, who grew from 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-1 in the offseason, will be playing on the other side of junior standout receiver Daaron Lynch, so he should have opportunities in single coverage to make big plays down the field. 

SCHEDULE

Date                        Team                 Time

Thursday 8/28      Freehold Twp    7 p.m.

Friday 9/5              Red Bank            6:30 p.m.

Saturday 9/13        at Freehold        12 p.m.

Friday 9/19            TR South            6:30 p.m.

Saturday 9/27        at Asbury Park  10 a.m.

Saturday 10/4        at Keansburg     12 p.m.

Saturday 10/11       Ocean                   1 p.m.

Friday 10/17          at Barnegat          6:30 p.m.

Friday 10/24         Raritan                 6:30 p.m.

Email: scottstump25@gmail.com