Youth is Served: 2025 Marlboro Football Preview

Doug Brustman|August 20, 2025|Last Updated August 20, 2025

Coming off of a 6-4 season, including 3-2 in the tough A North Division, the Marlboro High School football team is looking to make a leap into the stratosphere of Shore Conference football. Graduating a lot of experience and talent from the 2024 team, Head Coach Jason Dagato said it is a very simple formula for this years Mustangs to be successful, “We need to grow up quickly.”

If work ethic and chemistry can catapult a team to success, the 2025 version of the Mustangs should be in good shape. “We have a group of players who work extremely hard and have great chemistry together” said Dagato. “We have to replace a lot of great players and we will be relying on a mixture of older and younger players to do so.”

The Mustangs return a total of 6 starters between the offense and defense. The biggest losses come at the running back and receiver positions. Running back Christian LaFonte produced 950 rushing yards and 14 TD’s out of the backfield, while last year’s leading receiver Luke Houston’s 26 receptions, 466 yards, and 2 TD’s have graduated as well. While they are inexperienced at the running back and receiver positions, Marlboro does return it’s signal caller for the 2025 season.

5-foot-9 junior Nick Dimino will begin his second season as the starting QB for the Mustangs. Dimino completed 50% of his passes last season (49/98, 725 yards) while accounting for 2 TD’s and 3 INT’s. Having a year of starting experience should help Dimino, as he battled against some of the toughest defenses in the Shore last year (Rumson Fair-Haven, Red Bank Catholic.) Dimino’s standout effort last year came against Toms River South in the Central Jersey Group 4 quarterfinal, where he completed 13 of 29 passes for 223 yards in the victory.

The backfield, as noted before, will be starting from scratch this season. Junior Chris Scaff (5-foot-7, 150) is the only returning back that saw action (3 carries, 5 yards.) The Mustangs will rely heavily on newcomers Zach Mojares (Jr, 5-foot-10, 180) and Hudson Muhlbach (Jr, 5-foot-10, 170) to tote the rock. Mojares will also see time at fullback along with Jennaro Percodani (Sr, 5-foot-9, 185.)

Much like the backfield, the receiver position will be a bunch of fresh faces and hands for QB Dimino. Coach Dagato will have rely on a bunch of newcomers to fill the WR positions. Training camp will be especially important for a few of these names to step forward and claim the starting jobs. Jake Stone (Sr, 6-foot-1, 180) , Jayson Acosta (Sr, 5-foot-11, 165), Mason Trombetta (Sr, 5-foot-9, 175), Charlie Kaplan (Jr, 5-foot-9, 165), James Carmichael (Sr, 5-foot-7, 155), Ryan Randolph (Sr, 5-foot-7, 155), and Ardy Mehmedaj (Jr, 5-foot-10, 170) will be vying for playing time this season. The development of this group will go a long way in helping Dimino take a big step forward from the 2024 season.

The offensive line has two returning starters, but both are at key positions. Center Colin Burke (Sr, 5-foot-10, 265, 3 year starter) and right tackle Alex LaQuinta (Sr, 6-foot-1, 215) will anchor a line that was decimated by graduation. The remaining offensive line positions will be occupied by newcomers. Mark Risi (Jr, 6-foot-1, 215) will take over at left tackle. Nate Wilson (Sr, 5-foot-11, 210) and Jake Bazerman (Jr, 5-foot-10, 225) will battle it out for the starting left guard spot. Sebastian Forgione (Jr, 6-foot, 220) and Xavier De Hoyos (Sr, 5-foot-10, 220) will compete for the right guard spot. Tight End will be a battle between two inexperienced players in James Torres (Jr, 6-foot-2, 210), and Max Luzio (Sr, 5-foot-10, 190.)

The Mustangs operate out of a 3-4 defense. Their line will be tough and experienced in the form of LaQuinta, Burke, and Bazerman. The outside linebacker spots will be held down by Zach Mojares and Ardy Mehmedaj, while Hudson Muhlbach and Jake Stone (Sr, 6-foot-1, 180) will add depth to the position. The Inside Linebacker positions will be anchored by Percodani and Lucas Kleinman (Jr, 5-foot-7, 180) with Garret Kleinman (Jr, 5-foot-7, 180) looking to spell the starters.

The defensive backfield will rely on their size and speed to slow down opposing offenses. Dimino will be paired with Jayson Acosta at the corners, with Scaff and James Carmichael (Sr, 5-foot-7, 155) rotating in. Kaplan will roam the secondary as the free safety position, and Mason Trombetta (Sr, 5-foot-9, 175, RS) will hold down the strong safety position.

Max Luzio will handle both the kicking and punting duties for the Mustangs.

Coach Dagato feels that this years squad will be up for the challenges that lie ahead. “We play in one of the most competitive divisions in the Shore and possibly the state, and we have embraced that challenge. The players work extremely hard day in and day out, and are looking to rise to the challenge. We are looking to continue the upward trend of this program, and we will need to come together quickly to do so. The competition in camp will be intense, and with an “iron sharpens iron” mentality, we expect to see a lot of improvement during that time.”

Marlboro at a Glance:

Head coach: Jason Dagato

Career record: 44-74

2024 record: 6-4

Offense: Multiple

Defense: 3-4

Coaching Staff

Offensive Coordinator: Jeff Brown

Defensive Coordinator: Reid Stapp

Special Teams Coordinator: Jim Papalia

Running backs: Reid Stapp

Offensive line: Bill Cook

Defensive line: Bill Cook

Linebackers: Reid Stapp

Athletic trainer: Anais Mixson

Circle the Date: October 24 at Red Bank Catholic 7:00pm

After getting shut out by RBC last season 42-0, the last game of the 2025 regular season will show how much Marlboro has grown and improved over the course of the season as they face the uber-talented Caseys at Count Basie Field.

Newcomer to Watch: Zach Mojares, Jr., Running Back/Linebacker

Mojares will be counted on heavily to lead the inexperienced backfield for the Mustangs. The talented 2-way player will also play a big role as one of the ILB in Marlboro’s 3-4 defense.

Stat to Know:

Marlboro’s defense pitched 4 shutouts last year. In those games, the Mustangs outscored their opponents 93-0.

SCHEDULE

Date Team Time

Thursday 8/28 Colts Neck 7 p.m.

Friday 9/5 at Toms River South 6 p.m.

Friday 9/12 at Middletown North 7 p.m.

Friday 9/19 Rumson-FH 7 p.m.

Friday 9/26 Middletown South 7 p.m.

Friday 10/3 Howell 7 p.m.

Friday 10/10 at Holmdel 7 p.m.

Friday 10/17 Wall 7 p.m.