SPP Football Blog

6/7/2025

A Team In Service

The first team service opportunity of the spring came at Camp Liberty. For the past several springs, Prep has supported the Educational Arts Team summer camp by assisting with camp clean up and setting up for the ensuing summer youth camps at the site. Located between Saint Peter's and Cochrane Stadium, the organization was founded in 1974 to bring art and drama workshops to Jersey City youth. Over the next 50+ years the organization - and the site - has evolved quite a bit and served thousands of kids through various programs.

The second team collaboration this spring was with the Hoboken Community Center Pantry. The pantry is located at the old site of the Hoboken-North Hudson YMCA that closed it's doors in 2010 due to insufficient funding. The pantry serves over 3,000 registered clients and runs many events in support of the community. The site also consists of 96 affordable housing units run by the HCC.

Prep football has volunteered at the food pantry for several years. Tasks typically include organizing food deliveries and packing bags for bi-monthly distribution.

Prep Football has also maintained a strong relationship with the AngelaCARES, Inc. organization. Founded and run by Jersey City resident and New Jersey State Senator Angela McKnight, the foundation aims "to serve as an advocate and support system for senior citizens, a support system for a senior caregivers and a mentor to the youth by educating and empowering them to volunteer."

The organization has a central office in Jersey City and leads many different community initiatives. This May, Prep football volunteered at the office to help pack bags for bi-monthly food pantry distribution.

For the second straight year, Prep players also volunteered at the AngelaCARES Senior Citizen Prom. This event, held at the Duncan Skyroom at Saint Peter's University, is free for Hudson County Seniors and has been running annually for the past ten years. The players assist in greeting arrivals, helping with check-ins, and escorting attendees to their seats.

4/15/2025

National Signing Day(s) Recap for Class of 2025

The early signing day period for 2024 began on December 4, 2024. On this day, we honored Kyron Grayson who signed his National Letter of Intent with Towson. Kyron worked diligently to become the first student-athlete to graduate early from Prep in order to enroll in college before the spring. This put him on track to enroll in January, begin to take classes at Towson, and participate in Spring Ball with the team.

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, was National Signing Day (not to be confused with the Early Signing Day in December). Graduates in the class of 2025 can sign National Letters of Intent from this day through August. We had a ceremony to honor two additional players who made their college decisions: Justin Gonzalez (Kutztown University) and Santino Cortes-Gil (Bates College).

On April 14, 2025, we held one final Signing Day Ceremony for the remaining student-athletes in the class of 2025 who had made their commitment decisions in the spring. On this day, we recognized the following seniors: Emmett Haughney (Amherst College), Ethan ("Sammy") Bartoszek (Pace University), Andres Perez (American International College), Aidan Lamb (John Carroll University), and Elijah Knowles (Susquehanna University).

3/14/2025

NJFCA Super 100 Selections

Congratulations to Ethan Bartoszek and Kyron Grayson, who were both selected to the New Jersey Football Coaches Association Super 100 All-State Team. The couple were honored and presented with their plaques at a luncheon on March 9, 2025. The award is given out to the top 100 senior players in NJ each year, as nominated and voted on by the coaches association.

2/11/2025

Where are they now? Alumni Spotlight - Jeff Skinner, '95

Jeff Skinner, from Kearny, N.J., quarterbacked Prep to the 1994 NJSIAA championship, a 26-24 victory over Bergen Catholic, which was ranked #5 in the U.S. at the time. The victory gave the Marauders their 14th state title and they ended the season ranked #6 in the country.

After graduation, Jeff was a student-athlete at Wagner College, where he played quarterback and graduated in 1999 with a degree in Business Management. He is now a compliance professional in the financial services industry and is an omnipresent figure at Prep, attending games and leading fundraising and other alumni activities as a founding board member of The Bubba Fund, the charity honoring Bill “Bubba” O’Donnell ‘95, a Prep football star who tragically passed away in 2016.

What made you go to Prep?

It was kind of predestined. I grew up right down the road in Kearny, both my parents were from Jersey City, and my older brother went to Prep. There was never a doubt.
What's your most lasting memory of Prep?

Beating Bergen in Giants Stadium to win the 1994 championship. We had a great group of players and coaches, and it was an amazing ride.
How important was football to your prep experience?

Football was paramount to my Prep experience. Being the starting QB for the #1 team in the state was my identity and I loved every minute of it. Of course, attending Prep was more than just football, and the entire experience has played a huge role in helping me become the man I am today.

Equally as important, I made lifelong friendships during my time at Prep. A transformative experience for me.
What are you doing now?

For my day job, I am a compliance professional in the financial services industry but I’m most passionate about coaching my sons and other young men. I have two boys, and both are very active in youth sports. I also coach football for Bergen Stars, a travel team, and on the 7v7 football circuit.

What can you tell us about the Bubba Fund?

It’s a scholarship fund vested at St Peter’s Prep in loving memory of my friend and teammate Bill “Bubba” O’Donnell. The Foundation has been active since 2017, and we continue to host a few events a year to raise tuition assistance funds for student-athletes associated with Prep football. It’s a great way to keep Bill’s memory alive. He was a great friend and teammate.
How has your Prep experience helped you in the real world?

I’ll often leverage my Prep network to help navigate real life situations. The brotherhood is a real thing, and guys are always willing to help one another.

I’ve also seen my Prep background benefit me beyond my Prep network because once people hear you’re associated with St. Peter’s, they assume they’re dealing with someone who has integrity. That really matters.

This blog was written by Randy Williams, P'27 who also conducted the interview.

2/7/2025

Mini-Maxwell Award for Justin Gonzalez

Justin Gonzalez received his Mini Maxwell Award at a luncheon on February 2nd, 2025. This award acknowledges players across NJ, PA and DE based on exceptional performance on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. Congrats Justin!

Congrats to Senior Justin Gonzalez who was selected as a Mini Max Award Winner (below). This award recognizes 55 players from across the state who were evaluated on football performance, academics, and community service. The Maxwell Football Club then selects one Player of the Year. All awardees are recognized at the annual Mini-Maxwell Awards on Feb. 2, 2025 at the Drexelbrook Catering and Event Center in Drexel Hill, PA.

2/7/2025

2024 Team Banquet

On February 5th, 2025, Prep football held our annual end-of-season banquet. The banquet was an enjoyable night where we came together to honor the class of 2025 and show gratitude to all those who support our program. Every player is attendance received a certificate of participation and every senior was gifted a framed jersey. The following players also received special recognition for their contributions during the 2024 season:

JV Offensive Player of the Year: Ryan Bartels
JV Defensive Player of the Year: Julian Contreras
New School Records - Passing TDs in a Game (6) & Total TDs in a Game (7): Tyler Bell
Scout Team Player of the Year: Gabe Pena
Offensive Player of the Year: Andres Perez
Defensive Player of the Year: Justin Gonzalez
Newcomer Award: Ty'ire Clark
The Rock Award: Emmett Haughney

The 2024 Team Captains were also formally recognized: Emmett Haughney, Justin Gonzalez, Sammy Bartoszek, Andres Perez, & DJ Brown.

This night is always bittersweet as we honor the 2024 team but also flip the page and begin a new chapter surging into 2025!

1/31/2025

Marauders Face Off In CFP National Championship

Prep Football Alum Cody Simon, '20 and RJ Oben, '19 faced off on opposite sides of the field in this year's College Football Playoff National Championship. Ohio State defeated Notre Dame by a score of 34-23 and OSU Captain and defensive leader Cody Simon was named the Defensive Player of the Game. Cody became the third Prep Football graduate to star on a national championship team in recent memory. He joins 2015 graduate Minkah Fitzpatrick (University of Alabama) and 2008 graduate Will Hill (University of Florida).

Both RJ and Cody played instrumental roles in their teams road to the finals. In the CFP Semifinals, Ohio State defeated Texas in the Cotton Bowl and Notre Dame defeated Penn State in the Orange Bowl. In the Quarterfinals, Ohio State routed the #1 seeded Oregon Ducks while Notre Dame upset the #2 seeded Georgia Bulldogs. Oben had the biggest defensive play of the game when he turned the corner and executed a perfect strip sack of Georgia QB Gunner Stockton. The forced fumble set up ND in Georgia territory and led to a TD before the half to put ND up 13-3. In the Rose Bowl, Simon led the Buckeyes to a huge win over Oregon. Cody was named the Rose Bowl Defensive MVP and finished the game with 11 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 TFLs, and 1 pass defended.

When the book was closed on the 2024-25 college football season, Cody had a dream season capped off with an amazing playoff run. Oben shined in his own sense. This article in the Haitian Times recaps his college career and this year's playoff run. Congrats to both Marauder alum!

12/16/2024

NJ.com All-State Selections

NJ.com All-State Selections

Congrats to the 5 players who earned All-State Non Public recognition from NJ.com/ Advanced Media Group (left).

Jr. Jordan Rodriguez was recognized as a 2nd team selection while Seniors Ethan Bartoszek (DL), Justin Gonzalez (DB), Andres Perez (WR), and Emmett Haughney (OL) were all recognized with 3rd team honors.

11/22/2024

Marauders Honored with SFC All-Division Selections

Members from the 2024 Marauder Football team were honored with Super Football Conference All-Division selections. The following Marauders made the team.

1st Team: Sammy Bartoszek, Justin Gonzalez, Jordan Rodriguez, Emmett Haughney

2nd Team: Tyler Bell, Andres Perez, Hunter Watson, Olu Olubobola, Julian Cruz, Kyron Grayson

Honorable Mention: DJ Brown

A full list of SFC All-Division selections can be found on the SFC website here.

11/16/2024

Prep vs St. Joe's Regional Playoffs Recap

In the Non-Public A quarterfinals, the Marauders fell to the Green Knights of St. Joe’s Regional 20-7. This was the second meeting this season between the Marauders and the Green Knights.
The Marauders were held scoreless in the first half and trailed 10-0 at halftime. St. Joe’s scored one touchdown in the first quarter and a field goal in the second quarter. St. Joe’s would score another touchdown in the third quarter and another field goal in the fourth quarter before the Marauders would get on the board. The Marauders scored their only touchdown of the game on another Tyler Bell pass to Hunter Watson from 42 yards away. That would be the only score for Prep in the game, as St. Joe’s would win the game 20-7.
Prep finishes with a 4-6 record, and that concludes the 2024 season for the Marauders.

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