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Team Vitals
Head Coach: Matt Parzero 2018 Record: 10-2 Tenure: 4th season Assistants: Scott Zymet, Kyle Gyzmko, Mike Farrell, Dave Bell, Bernie Hattersly and Matt Popek State Section: North, Group 2
The Players
The Franchise Player(s): Junior RB Peyton Nolan and junior RB Aaron Fantasia.
The Core: Junior LB Shane Nannery and junior TE/DL Jabari Oxley
Studs to Look Out For: Junior OL/DL Jake Tonking, sophomore OL/DL Larry Pittenger, senior RB/DB Julian Sibblies and sophomore QB Jack Young.
The Skinny & Prediction
Since coach Matt Parzero took over as Braves head coach three years ago, this team just oozes with confidence. No matter who is suits up, they just expect to win. They have every reason to as well as Parzero’s record is 28-4 since taking the reigns and took them to two state sectional finals (and won one) in three years.
A little more about Parzero. This is not his first rodeo. Before Newton, he was head coach at North Warren where he took over a struggling program and had them as playoff regulars. He also cut his teeth at Lenape Valley, first as a player, then as an assistant coach – both of which he was part of state champion teams.
This group of players are young but they are not acting like this is a rebuilding year. Parzero has been impressed with the way the guys put the work in the weight room in the off-season and expects guys like Sibblies, Nannery and Pittenger to fill in shoes that were lost to graduation.
Banking wins early is going to be important for the Braves as their schedule very hard at the tail end of the season with Wallkill Valley, Kittatinny and Madison waiting to ruin their playoff hopes.
Expect the Braves to get to the Second Season. But once their, they’ll likely have to face crosstown rival Kittatinny to get a sectional title. And Kittatinny beat Newton to get their first sectional title in school history so the Braves will be hungry to avenge last season.
Schedule
09-06 Lenape Valley Newton HS
09-13 @ Pequannock Pequannock HS
09-20 @ Whippany Park Whippany Park HS
09-27 High Point Newton HS
10-04 Hopatcong Newton HS
10-11 @ North Warren North Warren HS
10-18 Wallkill Valley Newton HS
10-26 @ Kittatinny Kittatinny HS
11-02 @ Madison Madison HS
George Muha has been covering high school sports since 2006. He feels high school scholar-athletes are the most important part of the community and highlighting their achievements on the field, in the classroom and within the community is his personal mission.