Friday nights in Holmdel just feel different. You pull into the lot at St. John Vianney, and there's this specific energy—a mix of salty Atlantic air and the smell of overpriced concession stand popcorn. It's the kind of environment where names like Abdul Turay and Zach LaBarca aren't just names on a jersey; they're the guys carrying the weight of a legacy that's been building since the '80s.
Honestly, if you follow St. John Vianney football, you know the program is currently in one of its most fascinating "pivot" years. After a wild 2024 season that saw the Lancers go 9-4 and push deep into the Non-Public B semifinals, 2025 brought some serious changes. New faces. New schemes. A new guy holding the clipboard.
The Greg Penta Era Begins
Let’s talk about the coaching carousel for a second. It's been a bit of a revolving door lately. Greg Penta stepped in as the fifth head coach since 2019, which sounds like a lot of turnover because, well, it is. But Penta isn't some random hire. He’s a Shore Conference lifer. He was a star quarterback at Brick Memorial and spent over a decade learning the ropes at Long Branch.
He inherited a roster that was, quite frankly, a bit of a mystery box.
The 2025 season finished with a 5-6 record. On paper? Looks like a step back. On the field? It was a dogfight every week. They opened the year with a brutal 14-12 loss to Seton Hall Prep, a game that could have easily gone the other way if a couple of bounces favored the Lancers. That’s been the story of SJV lately—they play up to their competition, no matter how many stars the other team has on their recruiting profile.
The Roster Reality
You can't talk about this team without mentioning the sheer talent they lost recently. Abdul Turay was a human highlight reel. The kid led the entire state of New Jersey in rushing in 2024 with over 2,500 yards. You don't just "replace" that kind of production. You compensate for it with a collective effort.
💡 You might also like: Jake Ehlinger Sign: The Real Story Behind the College GameDay Controversy
In the 2025 campaign, senior QB Zach LaBarca had to take on a massive leadership role. He’s a 6'1" dual-threat guy who can sling it, but he’s also got that "get-it-done" grit that defines SJV players. Watching him operate Penta’s multiple-look offense was a study in patience.
The defense, though, is where the real "Lancer" DNA shows up.
- Thomas Foley: A 6'5" monster on the edge.
- Daniel Breen: A linebacker who hits like a ton of bricks.
- Robert Yakovchuk: Anchoring the trenches at 6'4".
These guys aren't just big; they’re disciplined. Penta has leaned heavily on a front seven that makes life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. They proved it in their 36-0 shutout of Howell and a gritty 27-21 road win at Jackson Township.
What People Get Wrong About Non-Public Football
There is this massive misconception that private schools like St. John Vianney just "buy" their teams. It’s a lazy take. While they certainly draw from a wider area than a local township school, the pressure at SJV is immense. You’re playing in the Shore Conference, arguably one of the most competitive pockets of high school football in the country.
The Lancers moved into Class B North for 2025, which meant squaring off against Manalapan, Wall, and Howell regularly. There are no "gimme" weeks.
📖 Related: What Really Happened With Nick Chubb: The Injury, The Recovery, and The Houston Twist
One thing that often gets overlooked is the school's historical success. People remember the recent runs, but SJV actually won a Non-Public A South state sectional title back in 1980. They’ve been doing this for a long time. They aren't some "flash in the pan" program that popped up because of a few transfers. They have a culture of winning that spans decades.
The Big Games That Defined 2025
The October 3rd matchup against Red Bank Catholic (RBC) was circled on every calendar in Monmouth County. It was a rematch of the previous year's state quarterfinal. SJV fought hard but fell 24-14. It was one of those games where you could see the gap closing between the "powerhouse" programs and the Lancers' current rebuild.
Then came the playoffs.
They took down Pope John 35-17 in a convincing NJSIAA Tournament opener. That win showed that even in a "down" year, SJV is a playoff threat. They eventually hit a wall against DePaul Catholic, losing 35-14, but the message was sent. This program isn't going anywhere.
Looking Toward the 2026 Horizon
If you’re looking at St. John Vianney football for the upcoming 2026 season, keep your eyes on the juniors who are about to become the faces of the program.
- Scott McClaren: A wideout who started showing real flashes of elite route-running toward the end of '25.
- Jordan Malloy: A center/DT who basically lives in the weight room.
- Trey Gerstmyer: At 6'7", he’s a literal skyscraper on the offensive line.
The transition from the Acosta era to the Penta era is basically complete now. The "new coach" excuses are gone. The expectations in Holmdel are back to where they usually are: win the division and make a deep run in Non-Public Group B.
👉 See also: Men's Sophie Cunningham Jersey: Why This Specific Kit is Selling Out Everywhere
Kinda crazy when you think about it. Most schools would kill for a 5-6 season that includes a playoff win, but at SJV, that's considered a "learning year." That tells you everything you need to know about the standards there.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Athletes
If you're a player looking to join the ranks or a fan trying to keep up, here is what actually matters for the future of the program:
Monitor the Shore Conference Realignment The Shore Conference loves to shuffle divisions. Keeping an eye on which "pod" SJV lands in for 2026 will dictate their strength of schedule and playoff seeding.
Watch the Quarterback Development With LaBarca graduating, the QB competition this spring will be the biggest storyline. Penta is known as a "quarterback whisperer," so expect whoever wins the job to be highly polished.
Focus on the Trenches The Lancers are returning a significant portion of their defensive and offensive lines. In New Jersey football, the team with the better "bigs" usually wins 80% of the time.
The road back to a state championship isn't easy, especially with schools like RBC and DePaul in the way. But St. John Vianney has a weird way of surprising people when they’re counted out. They aren't just a football team; they’re a staple of the Shore community. And as long as they keep producing guys like Turay and coaching minds like Penta, the Lancers will be a problem for everyone else on the schedule.
Keep an eye on the spring ball announcements. That's where the next championship run usually starts.