Turn the Corner: 2024 Toms River East Football Preview
Coming off a 4-6 season that was middle of the road in almost every category, Toms River East will try to turn the corner this year against a list of familiar foes in a new-look division.
Four starters return on each side of the ball for ninth-year head coach Kyle Sandberg, led by a quartet of returning all-division selections in senior running back Christian Valeo, senior wide receivers/defensive backs Izzy Singleton and P.J. Kempker, and senior two-way lineman James Lynch.
Offensively, the Raiders will operate out of a spread formation coming off a season in which they averaged 18.2 points per game. Senior Anthony DeMarco returns as the starting quarterback after throwing for 564 yards and three touchdowns while junior Brayden Flanagan is also in the mix at quarterback. Valeo and sophomore Colin Heale are the running backs with Singleton, Kempker and senior returning starter Dylan Errion at wide receiver. The tight ends are seniors Dylan Spalletta, Ethan Huff and Luke Mathus.
Anchoring the offensive line is Lynch, a multi-year starter who is also one of New Jersey’s top heavyweight wrestlers. He’ll be at right guard next to junior center Nico Giannetti and senior right tackle James Cohen. The left side of the line has senior Terrance Thomas at tackle and junior Seamus O’Grady at guard. Also looking for playing time up front are junior Ben Standfast at left tackle, junior Sean Hudson at left guard, sophomore Peter Deleon at center, senior Nick Innarella at right guard and junior Jacob Humphrey at right tackle.
The Toms River East defense allowed 22 points per game last season and held four opponents to two touchdowns or less. The Raiders will use multiple fronts out of a base 4-2-5 setup. The defensive tackles are Lynch and junior James Mirto with Innarella and Deleon also in the mix. The defensive ends are Thomas and O’Grady with Giannetti and junior Jayden Rios providing depth. The linebackers are seniors Christopher Hernandez and John Buchmuller with seniors Mert Fat and I’Saan Dixon backing up.
Kempker leads the five-man secondary at cornerback after he grabbed three interceptions last season. Senior Aidan Zitt is the other corner while Singleton and junior Brandon Siebert are the strong safeties and junior Nick Caruso, a lacrosse standout, is the free safety. Also in the mix are juniors Dylan Ramirez and Michael Garrabrant at cornerback, Heale and junior Colin Cummings at strong safety, and sophomore Austin Sanok at free safety.
The special teams unit includes Fat returning as the kicker and punter with junior Jaidel Tavernite also at kicker and Siebert at punter.
After tangling with Toms River South, Pinelands, Monmouth, Central and Neptune in last season’s Liberty Division where it finished fourth with a 2-3 division mark, Toms River East will be a part of a new Class B South division with Ocean County rivals Toms River South, Brick, Central, Lacey and Southern as they look for their first winning season since 2019.
At a Glance
Head coach: Kyle Sandberg, ninth season
Career record: 25-51
2023 record: 4-6
Offense: Spread
Defense: Multiple
Coaching Staff
-Quarterbacks: Dan Cicala
-Running backs: Jimmy Doyle, Mario Steriti
-Receivers: Nick Costa, April Florie, Steve Petrosino
-Offensive line: Frank Giannetti, Rob Dietlmeier, Nick Florio
-Defensive line: Franke Giannetti, Rob Dietlmeier, Nick Florio
-Linebackers: Nick Costa, April Florie, Mario Steriti
-Secondary: Jimmy Doyle, Dan Cicala, Steve Petrosino
–Freshmen: Mike Nemeth (head coach), Casey Scallon, Vern Rutter
-Athletic trainer: Kristen Dilloian
Circle the Date: Friday, Oct. 11 vs. Toms River South
The Raiders welcome their district rivals to Dvorak Field in Week 6 for what could be a pivotal Class B South contest. Toms River South took last season’s game, 21-14, after Toms River East won 27-7 in 2022.
Rookie Watch: Peter Deleon, So., OL/DL and Colin Heale, So., RB/LB
Deleon could see time at center and defensive tackle while Heale will get carries backing up Valeo and could see action in the secondary.
Did you know?
Toms River East offensive/defensive line coach Frank Giannetti, a former Raiders standout lineman himself, starred at Penn State in the late 1980s and early 90s before being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the 10th round of the 1991 NFL draft. He was an All-Big East selection in 1990.
SCHEDULE
| Thursday 8/29 | Barnegat | 5 p.m. |
| Friday 9/6 | @Toms River North | 6 p.m. |
| Friday 9/13 | @Central | 7 p.m. |
| Friday 9/20 | @Southern | 7 p.m. |
| Friday 9/27 | Brick | 6 p.m. |
| Friday 10/4 | @Pinelands | 6 p.m. |
| Friday 10/11 | Toms River South | 6 p.m. |
| Friday 10/18 | Asbury Park | 6 p.m. |
| Friday 10/25 | Lacey | 6 p.m. |
