It is that time of year again, when the summer winds down and the everyone is gearing for pumpkin spice everything, not to mention high school football ratcheting up for the 2025 season.
As for Chatham High School (N.J.), it took part in its first scrimmage of the season against Madison, West Milford, and Trenton Central yesterday at Madison High School.
The Cougars were able to get looks from a variety of different types of systems from both sides of the football, helping the coaching staff gauge what they have on its squad.
“We got really good quality work in today, going against three other opponents,” head coach Evan Picariello explained. “It’s always nice to see different schemes offensively and defensively. You get tons of guys reps. It was exactly what we wanted out of a quad scrimmage.”
At the ever so important quarterback position there is a three-way dog fight between rising senior Michael MacAniff, rising sophomore Milo Semioli, and rising junior Ryan Hogan.
It is a high-class problem to have for Picariello, who said he has confidence in all three options, with everyone getting an equal shot at being behind center this year.
“Going into camp, we have faith in all three guys being able to run our offense right now,” he said. “It’s a three-way battle, and we’re obviously going to let the guy that gives us the best opportunity to win be the guy. But right now, they’re all getting equal reps, and we’re just trying to evaluate them right now. I have faith in all three of them leading us.”
After going 7-3 and a first round playoff win over Wayne Valley, plus several players receiving college football offers, some believe the bar has been raised for the Cougars heading into 2025.
But Picariello is not looking back on last season, saying that he is eyeing his gifted senior crew to lead the team into new horizons and beyond going forward.
“I think there is definitely some expectations and all that, but we really can’t worry about that,” Picariello emphasized. “Last year is over, so you can throw our record out. That doesn’t matter. We have returning starters coming back, but again, that doesn’t matter. This team is its own individual, and it’s up to our senior class every year to make sure that we don’t skip a beat. And we’re able to build on last year’s success.”
Chatham will have the tandem of rising senior Shep Boyd and rising junior Will Richie at the running back position, as well rising junior Aidan Tornberg.
Last season’s top receiver and dynamic two-sport rising junior athlete Nick Lagunowich, who caught 53 passes for 737 yards, is recovering from a broken clavicle bone, but should back early in the year, hopefully, per sources.
Rising senior receiver Sonny Arden, who is committed to Division III Carnegie Mellon, is out with an injury as well. Also out is Caden Gabriele, an outside linebacker and overall athlete who recently picked up his first DI offer from Bucknell.
But Picariello said he sees the absences as chances for other players to impress and make their marks.
“It’s typical camp stuff,” he said of the injuries. “You got some guys banged up. You’re dealing injuries. But, like I said to these guys, it’s an opportunity for someone else to step up and showcase what they can do.”
Among those players are rising senior Michael Freeman, who made a nice touchdown reception in the scrimmage, and has worked hard in the off-season to put on muscle and improve. Additionally, Dalton Loftin, another rising senior who will get his shot at catching passes in 2025.
Rising senior Hunter Bigham, coming off a solid season in which he caught 12 passes for 179 yards with three TDs, should be even better at the tight end spot this campaign.
Rising senior Jase Catullo, who is a 6-foot-3.5-inch, 295-pound gifted two-way lineman committed to DI UPenn, will anchor the O-line. Rising senior Charlie Murray, a two-way player who holds four offers from DIII schools, will see more action on the offensive line and should play nicely.
The offensive line starters will be solid, but they do lack some depth up front, according to the team.
On defense, Bigham, a linebacker, too (89 tackles, two interceptions), Catullo, Murray (66), Freeman (48), Gabriele (53, two forced fumbles), rising senior defensive tackle Dylan Abernethy, a player with good size, strength, and speed for a big guy, among other guys, should pace the Cougars on the other side of the pigskin.
Chatham will scrimmage against host East Orange Friday at 10:30 a.m. and opens up the season on Saturday, September at 1:00 p.m. on the road versus Morris Hills.
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NY NJ Sports World/Brooklyn Sports World 