KENILWORTH – The last time Brearley lost a state championship game – in 2005 – the Bears came back and captured one the next season.
It may be a bit much to ask this year’s Brearley squad to follow up last year’s sectional finalist team with a state title since the Bears were hit pretty hard by graduation, losing key senior players such as quarterback Sebastian Montesdeoca, running back Anthony Primavera, wide receiver Evan Collier and linemen Erik Loneker and Tyler DaCosta.
However, head coach Scott Miller – now in his 15th season at the helm of the Bears – does have some talented players back that can make an impact.
They include senior tight ends Nick Arcieri and Dan Palumbo, junior running back Khalid Bonnet, senior defensive lineman Robert Moscicki and senior safeties Richard Ermeus and Christian Burns.
Brearley gradually improved again over the recent years to reach its third state championship game under Miller last season. It was the second time that Miller had a team that was 11-0 playing in a state championship game.
Although the undefeated Mid-State 38 Conference-Valley Division champion Bears were upended by Hoboken 34-12 in the North 2, Group 1 final at Kean, Brearley proved to be back again among the elite Group 1 schools in North Jersey.
This season, somewhat of a new cast will navigate through a Union Division schedule that has the Bears at home to start the season for a third straight year.
Brearley opens Sept. 9 against Pingry, which was a team the Bears handled 35-6 at home a year ago. This month’s game won’t be quite as easy for a Brearley team with many new players learning at important positions.
Brearley also has home games scheduled against South Hunterdon, arch rival Roselle Park and Hillside at the end of the year, with the Comets – under first-year head coach Barris Grant – expected to be vastly improved.
NORTH 2, GROUP 1 FOOTBALL FOR 2016 (16 schools): Bound Brook, Brearley, Dunellen, Glen Ridge, Hoboken, Dayton, Shabazz, Metuchen, Middlesex, Newark Collegiate, North Arlington, Ridgefield, Roselle Park, Secaucus, Weehawken, Weequahic.
FROM MAX PREPS AS OF SEPT. 4
BREARLEY’S
MULTIPLE-PRO OFFENSE:
G Tommyjon Tsikis, junior (5-10)
T Michael Ceceri, junior, (6-0, 255)
T Ciran Dougherty, sophomore, (5-11, 214)
TE Dan Palumbo, senior, (6-3, 205)
TE Nick Arcieri, senior, (6-0, 205)
TE Brian Lesniewski, junior, (6-0, 170)
WR Nick Heuschkel, junior, (5-10, 155)
WR Richard Ermeus, senior, (6-0, 180)
WR Salim Lalgee, senior, (6-2, 145)
WR Chris Keith, sophomore, (6-1, 161)
QB Mike Ramos, junior, (5-9, 155)
RB Vin Rappa, sophomore, (5-9, 160)
RB Khalid Bonnet, junior, (5-7, 210)
RB Christian Burns, senior, (5-11, 152)
PK Nick Arcieri, senior, (6-0, 205)
Returning starters (4): Palumbo, Arcieri,
Keith, Bonnet.
BREARLEY’S 5-2 DEFENSE:
E-T Robert Moscicki, senior, (6-1, 230)
T Tommyjon Tsikis, junior, (5-10)
T Michael Ceceri, junior, (6-0, 255)
T Ciaran Dougherty, sophomore, (5-11, 214)
E Dan Palumbo, senior, (6-3, 205)
MLB Khalid Bonnet, junior, (5-7, 210)
MLB Brian Lesniewski, junior, (6-0, 170)
FS Richard Ermeus, senior, (6-0, 180)
FS Christian Burns, senior, (5-11, 152)
FS Sam Lalgee, senior, (6-2, 145)
SS Mike Ramos, junior, (5-9, 155)
CB Nick Heuschkel, junior, (5-10, 155)
CB Kyle Shaw, sophomore, (5-10, 145)
CB Vin Rappa, sophomore, (5-9, 160)
Returning starters (4): Moscicki, Palumbo,
Ermeus, Burns.
BREARLEY BEARS
Head Coach: Scott Miller, since 2002.
A 1987 Brearley Regional graduate.
15th season: 101-46-1 (.687)
Conference: Mid-State 38
Division: Union
Section: North 2, Group 1
Brearley’s last sectional title: 2006
2015: (11-1 and 8-0, first in Valley Division)
Ward Field in Kenilworth: Grass
Miller has guided Brearley to the playoffs 11 times
in his first 14 seasons at the helm. His playoff record is
9-10, including an appearance in the Central Jersey,
Group 1 final in 2005, the North 2, Group 1
championship in 2006 and last year’s N2, G1 final.
BREARLEY BEARS 2016
Sept. 9 Pingry, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Belvidere, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 South Hunterdon, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 Roselle Park, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 at Dayton, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 at Manville, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21 at Bound Brook, 7 p.m.
Oct. 28 New Providence, 7 p.m.
Nov. 4 Hillside, 7 p.m.
2015 BREARLEY BEARS (11-1)
(A) Brearley 28, Belvidere 14
(H) Brearley 30, South Hunterdon 6
(H) Brearley 27, Dayton 14
(A) Brearley 20, Roselle Park 10
(H) Brearley 39, Manville 0
(H) Brearley 35, Pingry 6
(A) Brearley 35, Roselle 21
(A) Brearley 25, Bound Brook 0
(H) Brearley 27, New Providence 19
(H) Brearley 35, North Arlington 6
(H) Brearley 34, Belvidere 14
(N) Hoboken 34, Brearley 12
Head coach: Scott Miller,
14th season
Section: North 2, Group 1
Conference: Mid-State 38
Division: Valley 8-0, champs
Record: 11-1
Home: 7-0
Away: 4-0
Neutral: 0-1
Points for: 347
Points against: 153
Shutouts: 2
Overtime: 0-0