Newton Braves
Coach: Matt Parzero, 5th season (44-7 at Newton, 90-33 overall)
Last year: 6-0
2021 Starting SI rating: 75.52
Division: Super Football Conference, National Red
Division opponents: Hackettstown, High Point, Kittatinny, Lenape Valley, Sussex Tech, Vernon
Key players: Jack Young, QB/DB/P, Sr.; Brayden Nolan, RB/LB, Jr.; Matt Iatesta, OL/DL, Sr.; Melkart Abou-Jaoude, TE/DE, Sr.; Robert McCullough, K/DB/QB, Jr.
Outlook: A sense of familiarity from last year’s unbeaten season has Newton looking not only like one of Sussex County’s best but in the conversation of one of the top teams in Group 2 this season.
As a Group 2 team, several players will be playing on both sides of the ball but with several returning starters—6 on offense, 7 on defense—to go along with a plethora of upperclassmen looking to break through in a big way, there won’t be any learning curve to figure out for the Braves.
Newton’s biggest contributor is the leader on both sides of the ball in Jack Young, serving as the Braves’ quarterback and top defensive back. His brother, Luke, was able to lead Newton to the sectional title in 2017 and Jack has a chance to cement his own legacy in Sussex County as another dual-threat quarterback running the show for Newton.
Overall the Braves may find its most familiar group along the trenches. Newton returns 4 of its starting offensive linemen from last year in Matt Iatesta, Matt McLean, Rylan Ivaldi and Melkart Abou-Jaoude and 2 more along the defensive line in About-Jaoude and Brody Guerra.
Newton also expects to have a strong rushing attack at its disposal once more with Brayden Nolan leading the charge with newcomers Taylor Sibblies, Matt May and Donato Bevaqua looking to take some of the rushing load as well.
2021 Schedule
- 9/3 at Sparta
- 9/10 vs. Vernon
- 9/18 at Sussex Tech
- 9/24 vs. Jefferson
- 10/1 vs. Kittatinny
- 10/8 at Hackettstown
- 10/15 at High Point
- 10/22 vs. Lenape…