Head Coach: Len Cusumano (2nd season)

Last year’s record: 4-6

Key returnees: Brandon Lin (Sr. OL/LB), Matt Ziccarelli (Sr. WR/DB), Charlie Looes (Jr. T/DT), Andrew Demboski (Jr. OL/DL), Jerry Madden (Sr. G/DT), Matt Curcurato (Sr. C/DT), Joe Campagna (Jr. QB), Austin Piorkowski (Sr. FB/MLB), Justin Nicita (Jr. OLB/TE), Jake DeMilia (Jr. WR/CB)

Key losses: Phil Wong (TE/DT), Josh Tillis (FB/LB), Tommy Uhl (OL/MLB), Matt Urrea (RB/NT/K), Kyle Alvarado (WR/DB), Jack Jankowsky (RB/SS), Mike Leicht (OL), Brendan McAuliffe (OL/DL), Matt Novakowski (WR/CB)

Key newcomers: Stephen Begen (So. QB/DB), Craig Moorehead (So. QB/WR/FS), Andrew Garcia (Sr. RB/DB), Greg Zoll (Sr. RB/DB), James Allmers (So. RB/DB), Stephen Soravilla (Jr. RB/CB), Jake Williams (So. RB/LB), Jordan Issackedes (Sr. FB/DL), Joe Cuti (So. OL, DL), James Della Pesca (So. TE/OLB), Chuck Viteritti (Sr. FB/MLB), Jake Ciocca (So. WR/DB), Andrew Martinez (So. WR/DB), Jesse Lagrosa (Jr. OL/MLB)

Strengths of team: Passion.  “This team has a great passion to be perfect.  We know that if we shoot that high, we know we can achieve greatness.  The group has really committed themselves in the offseason to obtaining our goals.  Now it is just transitioning that to the field,” Cusumano said.

Areas that need improvement: Inexperience and gelling as a unit.  “Every year everybody is trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle together.”  Many sophomores and juniors are likely to see their first action at the varsity level, so the team will look “get those young guys more experience,” Cusumano said.

Outlook: Pascack Valley got off to a slow start last season, dropping its first five games of the season, although all five of those losses were to playoff teams, two of which (River Dell and Wayne Hills) went on to win state titles.  However, the Indians recovered nicely, winning four of their final five, due in large part to the contributions of Matt Urrea.  Urrea rushed for 1631 yards, with 20 rushing touchdowns in his senior campaign.  With Urrea lost to graduation, Valley will look elsewhere to produce offensively.  Cusumano noted that the team will utilize multiple running backs to fill the void, as the team is “very deep” in that position.  Cusumano said that Joe Campagna “did the best job he could last year” under center as a sophomore, finishing with a .419 completion percentage, 5 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.  According to Cusumano, while Campagna is “in the mix,” Sam Cassidy, Stephen Begen, and Craig Moorehead are taking reps in practice, as well.  Cusumano praised Cassidy’s “senior leadership,” and Moorehead’s “size” and “speed,” while noting that Begen “has done a great job as a sophomore.”  The Indians have not been shy about starting sophomores at quarterback in the past.  On the defensive side of the ball, “it all starts up front,” according to Cusumano, for the Indians with the defensive line.  Cusumano knows the importance of being strong defensively, as “having a great defense will transition to [the] offense.”

Coach’s comment: “My expectation is just improvement.  Improvement in all three phases of the game: offense, defense, [and] special teams. We are not backing down anybody. We know what happened last year.  It’s in the past.  We are learning from our past, and we are moving on.  The body of work is now complete, and it’s time.  It’s go time. Our players are ready. Our coaches are ready to go. We are just excited to get started.”