The Beef is Back: 2026 Keansburg Football Preview

Shore Sports Insider|July 17, 2026|Last Updated July 17, 2026

Keansburg opened the 2025 season with a 40-21 victory over Freehold Boro before enduring a five-game losing streak. The Titans responded by winning two of their final three contests to finish the year 3-6.

Despite last season’s record, there is a renewed sense of optimism surrounding the program. Keansburg enters 2026 with a level of size along both the offensive and defensive lines that the school has not seen since its legendary 1994 “Here’s the Beef” team—a nickname coined by the Asbury Park Press. That dominant front, anchored by Titans legends Sean Chimenti (6-6, 295), Brian Riley (6-6, 280), and Jeramie Hutchins (6-3, 280), paved the way for the program’s second sectional championship and remains one of the most iconic groups in school history.

Three decades later, the beef is back in Keansburg. The Titans’ offensive line will average 291 pounds across the front, with every projected starter standing at least 6 feet tall. It’s an unusually large unit for any high school team, let alone a Group 1 program. Even more encouraging, only one of the projected starters is a senior, giving Keansburg a foundation that could reshape the trajectory of the program over the next few years.

The Titans will compete in Class C South alongside rival Keyport, New Egypt, Point Beach, and the rest of the division. If the line develops into one of the Shore Conference’s premier units, Keansburg could be well-positioned for a resurgence.

Offense

The Titans return four starters from an offense that averaged 21.8 points per game last season.

Junior Mason Rand (6-3, 200) returns at quarterback after earning Second Team All-Class D South honors in 2025. Possessing prototype size for Keansburg’s spread offense, Rand gives the Titans an experienced leader under center heading into his second season as the starter.

Junior Taurian Black (5-9, 190) is back at running back after also earning Second Team All-Class D South honors last season. A standout dual-sport athlete, Black is coming off a strong basketball season and will once again be the focal point of the Titans’ ground game.

Senior Mikey Clayton (5-10, 180) is the lone returning starter at wide receiver. He’ll be joined by juniors Daizahn Jones (6-1, 165) and Jaylin Glassco (5-10, 170), along with sophomore Josh Sanchez (5-9, 170), giving Rand a promising group of targets on the perimeter.

Juniors Landon Kane (6-0, 185) and Dahmier Hill (6-0, 205) will split time at tight end.

The lone returning starter on Keansburg’s gargantuan offensive line is senior center Aiden Alt (6-3, 320). Junior David Mount (6-6, 320) will anchor the left tackle position, with sophomore Brian LeComte (6-2, 300) lining up at left guard. Sophomore John Carmine Rodriguez (6-0, 250), the smallest member of the unit, will start at right guard, while sophomore Jahrell Gordon (6-0, 265) rounds out the front five at right tackle.

Clayton will handle the kicking and punting duties for the Titans.

Defense

The Titans return four starters from a defense that surrendered 34.0 points per game last season.

Alt will anchor the three-man front at nose tackle, with Mount lining up at defensive tackle and Hill occupying the defensive end position.

Junior Anthony Rodriguez (5-9, 165) returns at inside linebacker and will be joined by senior Ayden Duryea (6-0, 215) to form the heart of the defense.

Clayton is back at outside linebacker after earning First Team All-Class D South honors last season. Kane will start at the opposite outside linebacker spot.

Black and Jones will line up at cornerback, while Glassco and Sanchez are slated to start at safety.

Keansburg at a glance

Head coach: John Bird, 9th season

Career record: 29-44

2025 record: 3-6

Offense: Spread

Defense: 3-4

Coaching Staff

Offensive Coordinator/OL: Richie Squeo

Defensive Coordinator/LB/RB: Uriel Morfin

QB/DB: Tom O’Keefe

WR/LB: Frank Sautner

OL/DL: Danny White

Volunteer: Brendan Flanzbaum

Athletic trainer: Carly Lewandowski

Circle the Date: Sept. 26 vs Keyport

The Titans dropped last year’s rivalry matchup to the Red Raiders, 51-20, providing plenty of motivation heading into this season’s meeting. The game is expected to carry significant divisional implications, and if both teams return to state playoff contention, it could also play a role in the Group 1 seeding race.

Newcomer to Watch: David Mount, Jr., OL/DL

Mount possesses legitimate FBS size at 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds. If he can pair those measurables with a strong season’s worth of game film, he should quickly draw the attention of numerous college programs.