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By Jared Lowy
Football
The Varsity Football program, led by Head Coach Brian Bowers, had a season of ups and downs while taking on many of the state’s top football programs. While the team finished 5-6, players competed hard on every single play, pitted against perennial powerhouses like Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco and DePaul Catholic.
The Green Wave opened the season 2-0 with big wins over Pope John 49-14 and St. Anthony’s (Huntington, NY) 21-0. In a big Super Football Conference matchup, the Green Wave took on the state’s top program in Bergen Catholic. After falling behind early, Delbarton surged back to cut the lead to 1. The Crusaders ultimately were too much to handle late in the game, and Delbarton dropped to 2-1 with a 28-19 loss. The Green Wave rebounded nicely against Paramus Catholic, before losing a close 14-7 game under the lights to DePaul Catholic. This would start a threegame losing streak, including losses to Don Bosco Prep on Homecoming Day and a home loss to Seton Hall Prep. Delbarton would not give up, nor give in, defeating Clifton 34-27 helping clinch a home state playoff game. For the first time since 2017, Delbarton won a state playoff game, defeating Camden Catholic 42-14 and setting up a
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matchup with #2 seed St. Augustine. The football season concluded the next week as Delbarton was upended by St. Augustine 28-13. The Green Wave was led by quarterback Robert Russo ’23 who threw for 1810 yards and 16 touchdowns. Senior running back Aidan Papantonis ’22 was one of the state’s most productive backs this year, rushing for 935 yards and 9 rushing touchdowns. In the air, Delbarton had a 1-2 punch of Dylan Hakes ’22 and David Link ’22. Hakes finished with five touchdowns and 415 yards receiving, while Link had three touchdowns and 462 yards receiving. The Green Wave defense was once again one of the strongest in New Jersey, led by captain Chuck Nnaeto ’22 and Patrick Caughey ’22. Nnaeto had 28 total tackles, including two quarterback sacks. Stanfordcommit Caughey finished with 53 total tackles and four sacks. Junior Matt Gemma ’23 had five QB sacks as well, while defensive backs Austin Quandt ’24 and Jack Eisenhardt ’23 each had interceptions, playing extremely well on the defensive side of the field all season long. There was a great deal of young talent within the 2021 season football program and we look forward to seeing these boys return to the gridiron in fall 2022.
