Hackettstown's search for consistency continues in coach Mike Arakelian's fourth season.
The Tigers have been out on the field for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, plus an hour in the weight room. On Thursdays, they just lift. Hackettstown had a 7-on-7 against Group 4 Morris Knolls, which Arakelian called "a good opportunity for our kids to get out."
Hackettstown lost 17 players to graduation. There are at least 10 seniors, most of whom were at least one-way starters last fall. But most of the Tigers' roster is sophomores and freshmen.
Senior LB/RB Matt Tyburczy (120 tackles) and senior WR/DB Myles Hatten are both back, as are two-way linemen Tyler Jenkins, Jacob Stephany and Joe Kraley. Junior DB/WR Wally Tyburczy, WR/LB Kolton Maney, WR/DB Bryce Lambo and OL/DL Samir Mrad all got significant playing time as sophomores.
There are three players competing for QB reps.
"We're trying to figure out where everybody fits," Arakelian said. "There's a lot of competition. Until we have pads on, it's going to be difficult to put in stone where the depth chart is."
The tradition
Hackettstown has an all-time record of 540-352-37 since the football program launched in 1914. Though the Tigers reached the postseason in 2022, they have not advanced to a sectional final since 2017. Their lone championship came in 1981.
Hackettstown will wrap up the regular season with the 100th anniversary of its series against Warren Hills.
The challenge
Longtime Passaic Valley track and football coach Bill Johnson, who helped Montclair reach the 2023 NJSIAA North 1, Group 5 final, has joined Hackettstown as defensive coordinator. Former Phillipsburg defensive end Bryce McClain will be the defensive line and tight ends coach.
Said Arakelian, "We'll be a little different structurally, just a little different language."
Expectations
This will be the Tigers' second season in Group 2, after shifting down. It's also the second year of the current American Blue, with home and away games flipped from last fall. The only change is adding a season-opening trip to Belvidere on Aug. 28.
Will that familiarity help or hurt Hackettstown? The Tigers have beaten North Warren three straight times, including for their only win of the season in 2023.
"I've never been a really big, 'We're going to win X number of games,' kind of guy," Arakelian said. "Let's be better today than we were yesterday, and each week takes care of itself. We don't have one specific team we're highlighting or emphasizing with the kids. We'll try to be the best version of us and hopefully the games will take care of themselves."
2025 schedule
Week 0: at Belvidere
Week 1: vs. High Point
Week 2: at Sussex Tech
Week 3: vs. Morris Hills
Week 4: at North Warren
Week 5: at Kittatinny
Week 6: vs. Newton
Week 7: at Lenape Valley
Week 8: vs. Warren Hills