If you spend any time around Sparta, New Jersey, you know the vibe. It is quiet, scenic, and feels a world away from the grit of North Jersey's urban football powerhouses. But then you look at the schedule for pope john nj football. It’s a gauntlet. It is, quite frankly, a weekly invitation to get punched in the mouth by the best teams in the country.
People see a 2-8 record for the 2025-26 season and assume the program is sliding. They see the losses to Bergen Catholic and DePaul and think the "glory days" are buried in the trophy case. Honestly? That’s a massive misunderstanding of what’s actually happening on the turf at Pope John XXIII Regional High School.
The Reality of the Super - United White Gauntlet
Let’s be real. Most high school teams would give anything to avoid the Super Football Conference (SFC) United White division. We are talking about a league where you have to line up against Delbarton, Seton Hall Prep, and Bergen Catholic.
In 2025, head coach Dominique Gaston led his squad through a schedule that looked like a Top 25 national ranking list. They opened against DePaul Catholic—the eventual Non-Public B finalists—and things didn't get easier from there.
- The 2025 Season Record: 2-8 overall.
- League Play: 0-4 in the Super - United White.
- State Ranking: Still sat at #61 in New Jersey despite the losses.
Why the high ranking for a two-win team? It is the "Strength of Schedule." MaxPreps rated their SOS as one of the highest in the state (a 31.7 rating). When you lose 17-15 to a powerhouse like Seton Hall Prep, like the Lions did on October 11, 2025, you aren't "bad." You are just competing in a different stratosphere.
The Gaston Era and Rebuilding the Pride
Dominique Gaston took over a program with a massive shadow. You can't talk about pope john nj football without mentioning Victor Paternostro. The man won 373 games and 20 state championships. He was a legend.
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Gaston isn't trying to be Paternostro, though. He’s trying to navigate a modern landscape where private school recruiting and "super-conferences" have changed the math. The 2025 roster was young. It relied heavily on guys like junior wide receiver Zayne Carswell, who was a bright spot all season.
Carswell averaged 70.1 receiving yards per game and led the team in touchdowns. He’s the kind of explosive athlete that keeps defensive coordinators awake at night. Then you have Luke Gialanella, a junior back who chewed up over 60 yards a game on the ground.
On the defensive side, Sam Conetta was a machine. As a senior in 2025, he averaged nearly 10 tackles per game. These aren't inflated stats against weak competition; these are numbers put up against offensive lines heading to the Big Ten and the ACC.
Breaking Down the 2025 Roster
The roster last year was a mix of veteran grit and "wait until next year" potential.
- Offense: Led by Zayne Carswell (WR) and Luke Gialanella (RB).
- Defense: Sam Conetta (LB) and Akei Griffin (DB), who snagged two interceptions.
- Young Guns: Watch out for sophomores like Ryan Watts and Vincent Gesumaria.
The Alumni Pipeline: From Sparta to the Pros
If you think this is just a small-town school, you haven't looked at the NFL Sunday rosters lately. Pope John produces pro talent at a rate that defies its enrollment size.
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Noah Brown is probably the most famous recent name. He went from catching passes in Sparta to the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and eventually Washington. He's been a consistent playmaker in the NFL through 2025.
Then there’s Ryan Izzo. He was a beast at tight end for the Lions before heading to Florida State and getting drafted by the New England Patriots. Even going back further, the school has a history of sending players to big-time D1 programs like Notre Dame and Michigan.
The program's ability to develop "under-the-radar" talent into elite prospects is sort of their secret sauce. They take kids who might be overlooked by the massive Bergen County schools and turn them into refined, disciplined football players.
Why the 2026 Season Could Be Different
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, there is a sense of cautious optimism. The 2025 team was young in key spots. Most of that explosive receiving corps and parts of the secondary are returning as seniors.
The Lions are staying in the Non-Public Group B division. This is key. For a few years, they were bumping heads with the "Group A" giants—the Bosco’s and the Bergen’s of the world—in the playoffs. Moving into Group B gives them a more realistic path to a state title at MetLife Stadium.
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They made the finals in late 2024, falling to DePaul in a hard-fought game. That taste of the big stage hasn't left the mouths of the current upperclassmen.
What to Watch in 2026
- Quarterback Development: With several young arms on the roster, seeing who takes the reins of the Gaston offense will be the #1 storyline of the summer.
- The Secondary: Akei Griffin is a ball-hawk. If he can anchor a defensive backfield that limits big plays, the Lions will stay in every game.
- Home Field Advantage: There is nothing quite like a Saturday afternoon game in Sparta. The atmosphere is intimate and loud.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Recruits
If you are following pope john nj football, don't just look at the box scores. You've got to see the film to understand the level of competition they face.
- For Fans: Get to the games early. The tailgating scene in Sparta is underrated. Follow the "Pope John Football" accounts on social media for real-time score updates, as local news coverage of Sussex County can sometimes be a bit slow.
- For Recruits: Pope John offers something the "mega-schools" don't: a chance to play early against the best competition in the country. If you want to get noticed by D1 scouts, there is no better film than a game against Delbarton.
- For Students: Join the "Lion Pride" student section. It is one of the more organized and vocal groups in the SFC.
Basically, the program is in a rebuilding phase, but the foundation is solid. They aren't backing down from the tough schedules, and that grit is what will eventually lead them back to a championship trophy. Keep an eye on the 2026 schedule—it's going to be another wild ride.
Check the official NJSIAA brackets once November rolls around. That is where the real story of this team will be written.