Taking Flight: 2025 Point Beach Football Preview

Shore Sports Insider|August 26, 2025|Last Updated August 26, 2025

Fresh off a 6-4 season in 2024, Point Beach returns 6 starters on offense and 6 more on defense. There is a significant amount of optimism within the program after the Garnet Gulls completed their first winning season since 2019. Like the majority of Group 1 schools in the Garden State, depth is always a potential issue. Head Coach Joe Zaccone views positional flexibility as a must for his team due to the small roster size.

“There’s a lot of moving pieces and a lot of kids who have to have a selfless nature. Yes, you may get fullback reps one day but you may get guard reps the next day to understand what you would need to do in that situation if that guy comes out. We need our best 11 on the field, so that 12th guy may not be getting reps at a position he’s real excited about but it’s important for us to have a guy ready to go like that. That’s the nature of the beast and it’s something we’ve been doing for a while,” said Zaccone.

Regardless of the potential issues with depth, the Garnet Gulls stack up very well on paper with the opponents on their schedule and will have the talent level to compete week in and week out. Class D-North is one of the more wide open divisions in the Shore Conference and Point Beach will have as much of an opportunity to take home the divisional crown as anyone.

Offense

Point Beach returns 6 starters from a unit that averaged 18.4 points per game a year ago.

One of the many reasons for optimism is the return of quarterback Matthew Rossi (Sr., 6’2″, 200) who threw for 628 yards and 6 touchdowns a year ago. Rossi is a tall quarterback with good arm strength which should help the Garnet Gulls keep defenses from stacking the box against their Wing-T rushing attack.

One of Point Beach’s biggest losses from a year ago is running back Liam Brosnan who rushed for 1,125 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final season. The Garnet Gulls will be splitting the backfield responsibilities between a pair of sophomores in Gage Boyle (5’10”, 175) and Thomas Aiosa (5’8″, 175).

The Garnet Gulls return two wing backs in Elijah Ives (Sr., 5’11”, 185) and Danny Neal (5’10”, 180). Ives put up some production in the passing game a year ago recording 6 receptions for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns. The pair will be joined by Jalen Kreiger (Fr., 5’10”, 170) who will also be in the mix.

Leading receiver Danny Cavanaugh (Jr., 6’3″, 165) returns at wide receiver where he caught 7 passes for 133 yards a year ago. With his height, he could be the primary receiving target for Rossi. He will be joined by Blaise Sholander (So., 5’10”, 165).

Point Beach also returns tight end Michael Marzarella (Sr., 6’2″, 230) who will have a large role as a blocker in the Wing-T attack.

The Garnet Gulls return one starter on the offensive line in left tackle Allan Micheletti (Jr., 6’2″, 235). He will be joined by left guard Adam Garcia (Sr., 6’0″, 200), center Jack Snyder (So., 5’10”, 170), and right tackle CJ Engelhardt (Jr., 6’0″, 200). The right guard will be either Bruce Duran (Sr., 6’0″, 195) or JJ Sichuga (Sr., 5’10”, 175).

Cavanaugh will assume placekicking duties.

Defense

The Garnet Gulls allowed 26.2 points per game last season, a number which was significantly deflated in a 64-7 loss against eventual Group 1 State Champion Glassboro. Point Beach will deploy multiple defensive fronts in an attempt to keep the offense off balance this season.

Rossi will be one of the rare players to line up as both a quarterback on offense and a defensive end with his hand in the dirt on defense. The other defensive end will be Lucas Adams (Jr., 5’10”, 165). Both defensive tackles are returning starters with good size in Micheletti and Michael Marzarella.

Boyle will start at middle linebacker where he registered a team-leading 85 tackles a year ago as a freshman. Neal will line up at outside linebacker where he recorded 49 tackles last season. The other outside linebacker will be a first year starter in Aiosa.

In the secondary, Ives will return at one cornerback spot will Sholander will step into a starting role at the other cornerback position. Cavanaugh will return at free safety while the strong safety will have a new starter in Ben Marzarella (Sr., 6’0″, 175).

Cavanaugh will be the punter.

Point Beach at a glance

Head coach: Joseph Zaccone, 7th season

Career record: 21-36

2024 record: 6-4

Offense: Wing-T

Defense: Multiple

Coaching Staff

Offensive coordinator/QB/DB: Josh Yates

Defensive coordinator/LB/RB: Jeff Bower

Special Teams Coordinator/LB/RB: Mike McGee

OL/DL: Brenden Neary

JV HC/WR/LB: Chris Boniface

DB/WR: Jake VanBrunt

Athletic Trainer: Cat Haggerty

Circle the Date: Sept. 12 vs. New Egypt

An early season match-up with the Warriors of New Egypt could set the tone in the Class D-North divisional race. The Garnet Gulls were able to get the better of New Egypt last season and could give themselves a leg up in the divisional race with a victory.

Newcomer to Watch: Thomas Aiosa, So., RB/LB

Aiosa will be stepping into major roles on both sides of the ball as he will asked to carry the ball on offense while filling gaps and tackling the ball carrier on defense. Either position can inflict a heavy toll on any player especially a sophomore. Aiosa will have to demonstrate Coach Zaccone’s mantra by playing iron man football for the good of the team.