2020 Boonton Bombers Preseason Football Preview

The 2020 Preseason Football Previews are sponsored by the County College of Morris, offering an an outstanding education at an affordable price with Division II and III athletics. Go to www.ccm.edu right now to learn more about this amazing educational institution that is right in our backyard in Randolph, NJ.

The Staff

Head Coach: Bryan Gallagher

Years on the Job: 10th season

Assistants: Pete Llaneza (Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers, Offensive Line), Anthony Chierici (Special Teams Coordinator, HB’s, DB’s), Mike London (WR’s, DB’s), Ryan Connolly (OL, DL) and Sean Norton (FB’s, LB’s)

Returning Starters: Sr. QB/DB Danny Portas, Sr. C/MLB Adrian Ferati, Sr. K Sean Tucker, Sr. OL/DL Jeff Yanez, Sr. RB/OLB Vin Federico, Sr. DL Isaiah Anthony, Jr. RB/DB Hunter Van Zant, Jr. OL/LB Xavier LaCorte, Jr. RB/DB Clyde Liverpool, Jr. WR/DB John Rigas, Jr. OLB Donte Brooks, Jr. OL/DL Ryan Schlachter & Jr. LB Dylan Zuppa

Player’s Expected to Step Up: Jr. RB/DB Nate Prater, Sr. OL Turner Brennan, Sr. WR Wanis Messeleka, Jr. WR Bryan Figueroa, Soph. Utility Nick Scaltro & Sr. OL/DL Mateusz Luniewski

From the Coach

What This Team Does Better than Anybody: They have worked hard and adapted to all the obstacles of this off-season.

Biggest Surprise of the Off-season:  It was neat to see some of our seniors embrace a leadership role during the quarantine.

Team Goal:  Our goal is to improve every day and play to our maximum potential each week.

Final Thought:  We have never been more grateful for the opportunity to play football together!

George Muha’s Take

George Muha’s Take is sponsored by Parisi Speed School of Morristown. Reach out to Parisi today to get bigger, faster and stronger because champions are made in the off-season.

I don’t know how you top a season where you win a sectional championship, lead the state in rushing and support your wife while she gives birth to your first born, but knowing coach Bryan Gallagher, I bet he’s game-planning to best his 2019.  I am sure his wife Lauren is hoping having back-to-back babies is not part of Coach’s playbook this year.  But I guarantee winning is and despite losing stars like Corey Dempster and Jordan DeCosta, it seems like the Bombers are just heating up as a program.  Danny Portas, Adrian Ferati, Isaiah Anthony, Hunter Van Zant, Clyde Liverpool and Donte Brooks all have varsity experience and have their eyes set on repeating another championship season.  Prediction:  I have to admit, I am not loving the new Covid-19 dictated season Boonton was dealt.  Even though the Bombers are only a Group 1 team, they match up great against some of the bigger Group 2 rivals they’ve been playing in recent years.  As an example, I love the Boonton vs Mt Lakes battles every year.  Well, I suppose things will go back to normal next year (knock on wood).  As for this year, the Bombers will be the bully on their schedule and won’t be able to play the underdog card they are used to doing.  Instead, each one of those opponents will be getting up for the week they play the Bombers. With that said, expect the Black & Red to be back in the postseason in 2020 and plan on buying multiple playoff tickets because they will not be one-and-done.

Schedule

Friday, Oct 2, 2020 @ Hopatcong
Friday, Oct 9, 2020 @ Whippany Park
Friday, Oct 16, 2020 Wallkill Valley
Friday, Oct 23, 2020 Sussex Tech
Saturday, Oct 31, 2020 @ North Warren
Saturday, Nov 7, 2020 Parsippany

Roster

2 Danny Portas Sr QB/DB
3 Johan Marcelino Sr WR/DB
4 John Rigas Jr WR/DB
5 Donte Brooks Jr RB/LB
7 Jeff DiLorenzo Jr QB/LB
8 Nate Prater Jr RB/DB
9 Dylan Zuppa Jr WR/LB
10 Victor Gonzalez Jr WR/DB
11 Luc Mathis So WR/DB
12 Ibrahim Falol Jr WR/DB
14 Adem Qose Fr QB/LB
16 Wanis Messeleka Sr WR/DB
20 Hunter Van Zant Jr RB/DB
21 Nick Scaltro So QB/DB
23 Gianny Ovalles Fr WR/DB
24 Liam Bostrom So RB/DB
26 Ethan Volante So RB/DB
28 Clyde Liverpool Jr RB/DB
30 Mahdi Naqvi Jr RB/DE
32 Jonathan Lockette Jr RB/LB
34 Vinnie Federico Sr RB/LB
35 Nick Dicoio Fr RB/LB
44 Dylan Cannizzaro Fr RB/LB
47 Michael Zuercher Fr OT/DE
50 Summaid Rashid Sr OL/DL
51 Jawad Arshad Jr OL/LB
52 Adrian Ferati Sr C/LB
53 Xavier LaCorte Jr OG/LB
54 Ryan Schlachter Jr OT/DE
55 Syed Ahmed Jr OG/DE
56 Isaiah Anthony Sr OL/DL
57 Mason Davis Sr G/DT
58 Turner Brennan Sr OT/DE
62 Gavin Gaetano So T/DE
63 Andrew DiFalco Jr C/DT
64 Matt Luniewski Sr OT/DE
65 Arian Ferati So C/NG
66 Kevin Joinson Jr OG/NG
67 Jeffrey Yanez Sr OG/DE
70 Sean Tucker Sr K/OG/DT
71 Kai Billa So G/DT
72 Aiden Esteves So C/NG
73 Ibrahim Haroon Jr OG/DT
75 Steven Mann Sr OG/DE
79 Ryan Diese So OT/DE
84 Bryan Figueroa Jr WR/LB
89 Eunwoo Hahm So WR/LB
Yunus Akyol Jr
Jacob Mladenovic So