DePaul out to prove it belongs with the best

Christopher Lawlor
Correspondent

WAYNE — There are no ifs, ands, or buts for DePaul Catholic. In a football season that’s scripted week-by-week with one of the nation’s most challenging schedules, the Spartans are predestined for a return trip to the state final. 

Nine months after falling to St. Joseph Regional in the Non-Public Group 3 state final at MetLife Stadium, Aziyah Lora (2) and DePaul Catholic kicked off the season last week against parochial rivals Bergen Catholic.

For the last four years, DePaul has played for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Non-Public championship. Last season they came up short against their nemesis, St. Joseph Regional, in the Non-Public Group 3 title tilt. Anything short of a rematch this year is unfathomable. 

Or can Pope John XXIII of Sparta with a two-headed monster at running back spoil the dream rematch? 

“Anyone in the league can win a division; that’s how strong it is,” said DePaul veteran head coach John McKenna, whose team dropped the final to St. Joseph, 26-17, last December. 

The Spartans, who went 6-6 last season with a New Jersey Super Football League United White Division crown, opened at Bergen Catholic this past weekend.

“Bergen [Catholic] is fast, athletic and have two very good running backs and quarterback,” McKenna said in the preseason.

DePaul Catholic head coach John McKenna begins his 13th season at the Wayne-based parochial school.

DePaul’s offense is loaded with multiple key returnees that accounted for nearly 5,000 all-purpose yards and 38 touchdowns while averaging 25 points per game last fall. 

Dual-threat junior quarterback TaQuan Roberson triggers the offense having thrown for 1,174 yards and 9 touchdowns and running for 365 yards and two more scores.

Senior Vinny DePalma ran for 246 yards and 11 TDs a year ago and Chase Hebron rushed for 687 yards and 9 TDs (7.2 yards per carry). 

The receiving corps are dependable with tight end Liam Cabri (20 receptions, 410 yards, 6 TDs); DePalma (19-171); junior Ronnie Hickman (42-660, 4 TDs); Nysere Nunn (10-122, 1 TD) and 6-foot-3 junior Mohamed Toure. 

Meanwhile, there’s plenty of support on the offensive line with tackle and Boston College-commit Khristopher Banks (6-feet-3, 280 pounds), guard Joe Bastante (6-foot-1, 260 pounds), Fordham-bound Anthony Marinelli (6-foot-4, 295 pounds), Colton Celentano (6-foot-6, 299 pounds) and center Rick Denboske (6-foot-1, 275 pounds). 

Banks is a high-end recruit who doubles as a defensive end. 

DePalma, a linebacker who will sign with Boston College next February, totaled 185 tackles (48 solo) and 5 sacks and is a team captain.

“We have great team chemistry,” said McKenna. 

Up front, the Spartans feature Banks, Eddie Bierals, junior Blerim Rustemi, Jamie Mann (6-foot-6, 345 pounds), CJ Hanson and Celentano. 

The linebackers include DePalma, junior Chris Conti, Shayvon Hamilton and Aziyah Lora (50 tackles, 2 INTs). 

The secondary is chock-full of ball-hawking backs in Nunn (78 tackles, 2 INTs), sophomore safety Sean Kelly and Hickman (2 INTs). 

Junior John Amodeo handles the placekicking and punting (33 yards per punt) duties and has connected on 29-of-36 extra-points and 9-of-11 field goals (long of 37 yards) for 56 points. 

When the NJSFL structured before last season, there was a strong feeling statewide it would produce championship-like matchups weekly. Others felt the United Red and White were among the best in the nation. 

Check both yes boxes. 

“Anyone who starts in this league will play college football at some level,” said McKenna. 

The Spartans will run the gauntlet the first month of the season playing Bergen Catholic, Paramus Catholic and Don Bosco Prep before getting a “breather’’ against Hudson Catholic in Week 4. They will resume with St. Peter’s Prep (Oct. 6) and then play Delbarton, Seton Hall Prep and Pope John in the United White before the regular-season finale at St. Joseph. 

The former game gives Big Green an idea of what they will need to do in order to stop the bleeding against the Montvale-based parochial school. 

It won’t be easy for the Spartans, but their destiny should take them back to MetLife Stadium for a crack at the state hardware. 

“Our team knows how to stay in the moment, but we have a lot of work ahead,” said McKenna. “We only went 6-6 last year and it’s the same schedule.”