Advertisement

St. Joseph releases 2024 football schedule: Full analysis

darren cooper, northjersey.com
·4 min read

St. Joseph Regional football is running it back.

The Green Knights are once again under the guidance of coach Augie Hoffmann, who led the program from 2014-2019. After four years of college coaching, Hoffmann is back at his alma mater. He went 49-19 in his first stint and won two state titles (Non-Public 4 in 2018 and Non-Public 3 in 2016).

The Green Knights finished 6-4 last season under coach Dan Marangi (now at Indian Hills). Their 2024 schedule includes two out-of-state opponents, plus their first game against North Jersey superpower cousin Paramus Catholic since 2020.

Here’s a full breakdown of the team's 2024 schedule. Dates and times are subject to change.

Nathan Bailey (7) of St. Joseph runs with the football after completing a pass in the 4th quarter of a football game between Bergen Catholic High School and St. Joseph Regional High School at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell on Sunday, October 15, 2023.
Nathan Bailey (7) of St. Joseph runs with the football after completing a pass in the 4th quarter of a football game between Bergen Catholic High School and St. Joseph Regional High School at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell on Sunday, October 15, 2023.

Aug. 31: vs. St. Frances Academy (Md.), 1 p.m.

The Panthers started last season ranked No. 6 in the nation, but finished 5-6 against a schedule that included Chaminade Madonna, St. John Bosco, Mater Dei and IMG.

Wow. That’s a loaded schedule.

Coach Messay Hailerman is in his fourth year of his second stint with the program, after Biff Poggi moved on to UNC Charlotte. The Panthers return a stud cornerback tandem in Blake Woodby (offer from Ohio State) and Jermichael Gillis (LSU, Michigan and Miami).

The two teams met in Hoffmann’s last year at St. Joes in 2019, with the Panthers winning 28-0.

Sept. 7: at Seton Hall Prep, 1 p.m.

The Green Knights face their first New Jersey opponent and it’s the team that has eliminated them from the playoffs each of the last two years.

The Pirates went 5-7 last year but have dominated the all-time series over St. Joe’s, 10-5.

Sept. 14: at Stepinac (N.Y.), 1:30 p.m.

St. Joe’s makes the 20-mile ride to White Plains (it’s actually closer than going to DePaul) to face the Crusaders, who went 8-3 last year and lost in the NYCHSFL AAA final to Cardinal Hayes.

The Crusaders bring back defensive lineman Kadear Dembele (Minnesota, Wake Forest and Cincinnati). Hoffmann went 9-7 with St. Joe’s against out-of-state opponents in his first go-around.

Sept. 21: vs. Paramus Catholic, 1 p.m.

This will be the first meeting between these two North Jersey powers since the COVID season of 2020. The Green Knights won that game 43-6.

The last time Paramus Catholic beat the Green Knights was in 2012 when current New England Patriots defensive back Jabrill Peppers lined up as Wildcat QB for most of the game.

Jahmir Joseph (3) of St. Joseph blocks a punt by Brandon Arpacilar (25) of Bergen Catholic during a football game between Bergen Catholic High School and St. Joseph Regional High School at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell on Sunday, October 15, 2023.
Jahmir Joseph (3) of St. Joseph blocks a punt by Brandon Arpacilar (25) of Bergen Catholic during a football game between Bergen Catholic High School and St. Joseph Regional High School at Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell on Sunday, October 15, 2023.

Sept. 28: vs. St. Peter’s Prep, 1 p.m.

The Green Knights beat the Marauders, 40-28, in 2023 after losing by a field goal in 2022.

St. Peter’s Prep finished 1-9 last year and will be looking to build around rising junior quarterback Tyler Bell.

Oct. 11: at Don Bosco, 7 p.m.

After a bye week, the Green Knights go to Granatell Stadium to face the Ironmen in what has become a hot rivalry. The Green Knights shut out Don Bosco, 21-0, last year in a game halted early because of bad weather. The teams split two meetings in 2021.

Hoffmann’s last game on the St. Joe's sideline in 2019 was a 10-8 playoff loss to the Ironmen in Montvale when the Green Knights were stopped on a late two-point play.

Oct. 19: at Pope John, 1 p.m.

The Lions were one of the breakthrough teams in 2023, finishing 7-4, but losing their last two games.

Pope John is 0-9 all-time against the Green Knights.

Oct. 26: vs. Bergen Catholic, 1 p.m.

St. Joe’s played the Crusaders the closest of any New Jersey team in 2023, losing by five points in Montvale, 28-23.

Bergen Catholic has been the No. 1 team in New Jersey for three straight seasons and will likely start as No. 1 again in 2024. The last time St. Joe’s beat the Crusaders was in 2019, Hoffmann’s final season.

Nov. 2: vs. DePaul, 1 p.m.

The last time DePaul played at DiNallo Stadium in 2021, the Spartans shut out the Green Knights, 17-0, and it was the first time St. Joe’s had been blanked at home by a Garden State team since 1986.

St. Joe’s got revenge on DePaul with a 36-31 win in 2022, but the two schools didn’t play in 2023. DePaul has reached the last three Non-Public B state finals, and brings back quarterback Derek Zammit and star wide receiver Elijah Burress (Duke, Cincinnati).

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: St. Joseph Montvale NJ football: 2024 schedule and analysis