The Manalapan football team wrapped up the 2025 campaign with a 7‑4 record, but the margin of defeat in each loss was razor‑thin, amounting to just eleven points across four games.
Adding to the optimism, ten starters are set to return in 2026, and the program has been elevated to the competitive Class A North division, a move that promises tougher matchups but also greater exposure.
The upcoming schedule features marquee contests against traditional rivals such as Wall, Red Bank Catholic and Rumson‑Fair Haven, as well as a slate that includes Middletown North, St. John Vianney and Toms River North.
Offensively, the team averaged 28.4 points per game last season, driven by quarterback Cameron Desfosse, who threw for 1,634 yards and 16 touchdowns, and tailback Nick Palmieri, who contributed 693 rushing yards and six scores.
Defensively, the unit held opponents to 16.9 points per game, a respectable figure that reflects the work of a defense that will retain several key contributors.
Key Returning Players
Among the returning talent, Desfosse will again anchor the offense, while Palmieri looks to build on his productive ground game. Tight end Anthony Relay is slated to assume the starting role, and a host of other veterans — including Tommy Donaway, Ethan Fogelstrom, Cooper Savage, Justin Carlson and many others — are expected to provide depth at skill positions.
Coach Paulie Santomarco and his staff are confident that the blend of experience and emerging talent will allow Manalapan to turn those narrow defeats into wins, potentially positioning the team as a contender for a division title in its inaugural Class A North season.