Taking Flight: 2025 Manchester Football Preview
Coming off a historic 2024 campaign, Manchester is navigating the natural highs and lows that follow a senior-heavy roster. After years of building chemistry, the Hawks delivered a milestone season—claiming the first outright division title and the first state playoff win in program history. However, with that success came a wave of graduation losses. Manchester returns just one starter on offense and four on defense, entering 2025 with a much younger and less experienced squad.
Despite the roster turnover, Head Coach Tommy Farrell—the 2024 C South Coach of the Year—remains optimistic. He acknowledges the youth of the team but notes that the group is learning quickly, developing well, and bringing the right mindset to the challenge ahead.
Offense
The biggest void to fill is at quarterback, where Aidan Lunn leaves behind a lasting legacy. A multi-year starter under Farrell, Lunn improved each season, evolving into a true dual-threat leader. He finished his senior campaign as the C South Player of the Year, a First Team All-Division selection, and earned Third Team All-Shore honors—a testament to both his production and impact on the program.
Sophomore Trevor Freyer steps into the spotlight as Manchester’s new starting quarterback, taking over for Aidan Lunn. While Freyer’s in-game experience is limited—his lone start came in last year’s matchup against Southern after Lunn was banged up in the season opener—he now has the opportunity to grow into the role as the new leader under center.
Offensively, the Hawks were relatively balanced in 2024, but with significant turnover in the receiving corps, they are expected to lean more on the ground game this fall. Leading that effort is senior running back Malik Pharmes, who returns as the only starter on offense. A Second Team All-C South selection last season, Pharmes was the team’s third-leading rusher behind Lunn and Avery Phillips but still saw meaningful volume. He averaged over six yards per carry and scored six touchdowns, showing flashes of his big-play ability. With a heavier workload in 2025, expect his carries, yardage, and scoring totals to take a significant jump as he becomes the focal point of the offense.
The pass-catching unit at Manchester enters 2025 as a complete rebuild. The Hawks graduated nearly all of their aerial production from last season—over 91% of the team’s receptions, all 13 receiving touchdowns, and just under 1,500 receiving yards. Stepping into the spotlight are seniors Dom Hunt, Tyheem Jackson, and Aidan Phillips-Frazee, who will be tasked with replicating the output of last year’s standout senior class. Also joining the receiving corps is junior tight end Mike Fink, who fills the void left by Ny’Zyr Battle, a First Team All-C South selection in 2024. The biggest shoes to fill may belong to MJ Goings Jr., a Third Team All-Shore Conference wideout who hauled in seven touchdowns and averaged 23.8 yards per reception last fall.
Up front, the offensive line will feature an entirely new starting five following the graduation of Spencer Placek (First Team All-C South), Mason Davis (Second Team), and Jaeshon Smith (Second Team). The retooled line will be led by senior Kurtis Mayer, who shifts over to left tackle at 6-foot-3, 210 pounds. He’ll be joined by Justyce Garcia at left guard, senior Miguel Espinal at center, Mike Chirico at right guard, and OJ Walker at right tackle.
As if the offensive turnover wasn’t enough, Manchester also bids farewell to Second Team All-Shore kicker Ian Spicer, who was as reliable as they come in 2024. Spicer converted 33 of 34 PATs and hit five field goals, including a clutch 38-yarder in the closing seconds to lift the Hawks to victory in the South Jersey Group 2 quarterfinals. Junior Cole Wilson will take over kicking duties this fall.
Defense
Several key players on the offensive line will double as starters on the defensive line, with Kurtis Mayer at defensive end, Justyce Garcia and Miguel Espinal at defensive tackle, and Desmond Askew filling the other end spot. Espinal, a Second Team All-C South selection last year, and Mayer, a First Team pick, will be relied upon heavily. Head Coach Tommy Farrell expects another big year from both linemen, who are drawing college interest, along with teammates Pharmes, Phillips-Frazee, Fink, Potenza, Walker, Freyer, and Hetzel.
Mayer had a breakout 2024 season with 78 total tackles and five sacks, and enters this year at 6-3, 210 pounds, poised to anchor the front. The biggest void will be in the heart of the defense with the departure of First Team All-C South linebacker Dante Mortellite, who racked up 105 tackles—one of just 18 players in the Shore to surpass 100. Stepping in to fill that gap will be Lucas Potenza (6-0, 195 lbs), Mike Fink (6-0, 200 lbs), and sophomore Ryan Hetzel, giving the linebacker corps a solid mix of size, strength, and potential.
The secondary is where Manchester boasts its most senior leadership heading into 2025. Malik Pharmes returns as a two-year starter at cornerback, joined by Tyheem Jackson, who earned Second Team All-C South honors last season. At safety, Dom Hunt and Aidan Phillips-Frazee round out a veteran group, with Phillips-Frazee also receiving Second Team recognition in 2024. With four experienced seniors anchoring the back end, the secondary projects to be a strength of the Hawks’ defense—bringing both physicality and football IQ to a unit that will need to steady a young roster.
Outlook
Manchester went a perfect 5–0 in division play last year in the former Class C South, but with the 2025 Shore Conference realignment, the Hawks will face a revamped slate of opponents. Outside of their loss to Southern, Manchester’s only other defeats came at the hands of Shore Conference powerhouses Rumson-Fair Haven—the eventual Group 2 champions—and Point Boro, both top-tier programs.
Statistically, the Hawks were solid across the board, averaging 24.7 points per game while allowing 22.9, placing them near the middle of the pack on both sides of the ball. On paper, the 2025 schedule appears more favorable with Rumson no longer on the docket; they still face familiar matchups against Southern, Barnegat, Pinelands, and Monmouth. They moved up to B South this season with the new division being Brick Township, Central, Southern, and Toms River South.
Based on Strength Index ratings from the end of last season, Manchester is right in line with most of their upcoming opponents, with Central Regional standing out as their highest-rated challenge. However, Central is also in the midst of a rebuild after key graduations.
If Manchester’s young core can develop chemistry early, the Hawks have a legitimate chance to remain competitive and make another postseason run. Head Coach Tommy Farrell is confident in his group, citing their discipline, focus, and work ethic as foundational strengths. While many players will face their first real varsity tests this fall, there’s nothing on the schedule that looks insurmountable. With the proper execution, Manchester could once again make noise in the Shore Conference.
Manchester at a Glance
Head coach: Tommy Farrell, 4th season
Career record: 19-13
2024 record: 8-3
Offense: Power Spread
Defense: 4-3
Coaching Staff
Offensive Coordinator: Keith Anderson
Defensive Coordinator: Gerard O’Donnell
Running Backs: Bob Mussari
Wide Receivers: Alex Lunn
Tight Ends: Jay Longo Jr
Offensive Line: Keith Anderson
Defensive Line: Gerard O’Donnell
Outside Linebackers: Jay Longo Jr
Inside Linebackers: Bob Mussari
Defensive Backs: Lamar Davenport
Special Teams Coordinator: Lamar Davenport
Athletic Trainer: Tiffany Ragati
Circle the Date: Sept. 19 Central
The Hawks could enter this matchup undefeated or 2-1, with no division games under their belt to that point. Central Regional will serve as their first divisional test, and as mentioned earlier, both teams find themselves in similar transitional phases. While the Eagles return more starters, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, this game could go either way.
If Manchester pulls off a win here, it would be a major momentum boost heading into the heart of their schedule. They’ll also have the advantage of playing at home, followed by another home game against Toms River South, presenting a real opportunity to start 2-0 in division play.
Newcomer to Watch: Trevor Freyer, So., QB
Sophomore quarterback Trevor Freyer takes over under center for Manchester, bringing athleticism and upside to a young offense. His mobility should allow the Hawks to maintain a dual-threat identity, especially with Malik Pharmes—the team’s only returning offensive starter—back at running back. Freyer will have the benefit of throwing to a group of bigger senior receivers, which could help ease his transition and build early confidence if he can find rhythm in the passing game. The challenge, however, is continuity—even if chemistry develops this season, Freyer will be working with an entirely new receiving corps next fall, requiring another adjustment period.
Stat to Know:
Kurtis Mayer enters his senior season as one of Manchester’s most experienced and reliable players. A three-year starter on defense, Mayer hasn’t missed a single varsity game throughout his high school career. He has compiled 146 career tackles, including 78 last season, while proving to be a disruptive force in the backfield with 17 career sacks and 15 tackles for loss. As a senior, he’ll step into a leadership role as the anchor of the defense and a key tone-setter for the entire unit. Mayer will also play a critical role on the offensive line, tasked with protecting the Hawks’ new sophomore quarterback and providing stability up front for a young, developing offense.
SCHEDULE
Date Team Time
Thursday 8/28 TR East 5 p.m.
Friday 9/5 Barnegat 6 p.m.
Friday 9/12 at Lacey 6 p.m.
Friday 9/19 Central 6 p.m.
Friday 9/26 TR South 6 p.m.
Friday 10/3 at Monmouth 6 p.m.
Friday 10/10 at Southern 7 p.m.
Friday 10/17 Pinelands 6 p.m.
Friday 10/24 at Brick Twp 6 p.m.
