As the season continues for the KHS football players, the future is already coming into play. The loss of nine seniors took a toll on the team, especially the loss of a quarterback, offensive positions, and defensive positions.  

Head Coach Dustin Grande is already looking at the talents of the underclassmen and what position they will take over, “What we do is look at the best talents of the team, and make the best decision that will lead us to be successful”.  

As Grande finds talent within the younger athletes he is striving to have a winning 2025 season. 

In the offseason, Grande is consistently evaluating his players and strategically decides where each athlete should be placed to make up for the loss of the graduated class.

Kinnelon Football is always able to rebuild season to season due to their ability to have classes intermix. This allows for athletes who will be future varsity starters to prepare.

Grande says, “One of the keys to our successes the last couple of seasons and, having winning records has been the ability to to have different classes intermix.”

While Grande and many on the team believe the rebuilding of Kinnelon Football without the senior class will be easy, some others believe that it will take a great deal of effort to fill the shoes of the graduating class. 

Senior player on the line, Andrew Stickley, has faith that the team will be able to rally together and have a successful season but feels that his place on the team won’t be easily filled. Stickley claims, “Um, you know, maybe maybe not up to, like my standard, but I think they’ll be able to do their job and, you know, be a good player for the team.”

Coach Anthony Colabella says that it’s a difficult season to season trying to recover from the loss of the seniors. He believes that his players will be able to step up and rebuild due to the team’s “next guy up mentality.” Colabela says, “I mean, graduation injuries, it’s always that next guy up mentality, and everybody has to be ready.” 

Players such as Soren Porada, Wyatt Sisco, Kirin Kiesel, Anthony Yannuzzi, and Landon Smith are working hard and playing with excellence. They are ready to lead the team next year along with the rest of their class. They have taken inspiration from their captains, specifically Stickley. Sisco, Porada, and Kiesel all credited Stickley for their successes as athletes. This is important because teamwork is all about building each other up, so hopefully the upcoming senior captains will be able to lift their team and give them the confidence they need to have success next season.

Quarterback Zach Grande has confidence that while the seniors p

lay a big role on the team, the younger talent will be able to rebound. As for who the future quarterback will be, it is still unsure. The team is preparing all of their athletes to be flexible and take charge in unfamiliar positions if needed. He highlights his little brothers Tyler Grande and Matt Siciliano for their talents and recognizes that there is potential QB material.

A handful of other players and coaches also believe Siciliano will have time to throw the ball next season. While nothing is confirmed, it is clear that Siciliano has what it takes.

Lineman Thomas Kosco says, “I think their linemen got big shoes to fill– defense is gonna have to step it up, the younger classmen, but I think they’ll be able to get it done.” As the seniors are so important to the defense this season, the younger athletes must work off-season to prepare to take over the defense. 

Overall, the loss of nine seniors will hurt at first, but Kinnelon Football can come back and be better than ever. Coach Grande’s strategies, the seniors’ inspiration, and the younger athletes working hard to be stars next season. 

“The seniors, they have, the kind of relationship you want on a football team. They have the ideal mindset to play the game.” Says Anthony Yannuzzi, wide receiver and tight end.