The offensive line has all five starters returning, including center Andrew Klimovich. Photo by Patrick Olivero 
Owen Robson is set to take over QB duties for the graduated Luke Sheehan. 
Construction continues on Middletown North’s new turf field. The Lions may be forced to play across town for their first game if the project isn’t finished by Sept. 6.
By Rich Chrampanis
MIDDLETOWN NORTH LIONS
Head Coach: Steve Bush (12th season)
2023 Record: 6-5
Offense: 22.81 points scored per game
Defense: 22.54 points allowed per game
MIDDLETOWN – Every team is looking to answer questions in the preseason. For head coach Steve Bush, the biggest concern has nothing to do with personnel. New turf is being installed at Middletown North and the clock is quickly ticking toward the season opener. The Lions may have to play their first home game at archrival Middletown South. In the short term, Middletown North is excited to learn more about its 2024 squad.
“When you get to actually play somebody else with a different color jersey, we want to see who kind of steps up and can make plays,” Bush said. “We’re really looking forward to the season getting started and seeing what we can do and hopefully our turf is ready, too.”
The Lions finished with a winning record, but back-to-back losses to Irvington in the state playoffs and Middletown South on Thanksgiving have the 2024 Lions eager to find success in November.
“We’re a hardworking team. We had some good wins, but we just got to win when it gets important,” senior Brian O’Donnell said. “We made it to the playoffs, but we just couldn’t. We could have won that first game against Irvington so I think winning when it matters is what we got to look forward to doing.”
At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Joe Grasso is getting FCS looks for good reason. He had 44 tackles and two sacks last year on defense and is ready to contribute on offense at tight end. He has hit the weight room and developed along with the rest of his Lions teammates.
“Our O-line are some of the biggest Mid-North’s ever seen,” Grasso said. “We’ve got over 20 guys benching 225 all across the field. Defensively, we’re going to bring it up front. Our secondary is very elite, too. We’ve got a lot of leaders back there that are going to make sure we hold it down.”
Brody Tooker had 42 tackles and two sacks last year as part of the Lions’ defense and made the most of his only offensive touch of the season when he caught a 22-yard touchdown pass on Thanksgiving against Middletown South.
Owen Robson takes over for Luke Sheehan at quarterback and he can spin it. And during our visit to camp, wide receiver Ryan Clark showed us he can go up and get it. The Middletown North offense always brings creativity, with Bush having one of the deepest playbooks in New Jersey.
“You never know what will be drawn up throughout the year,” O’Donnell said. “It really is amazing. We’ve got new things coming in almost every week when we’re in season. So it is just fun to see what we’re doing each week, depending on what team we play, and it’s fun to see what our guys can do.”
The 5-foot-1-inch Shane Volante brings speed and elusiveness at running back. He’ll be running behind the biggest strength of the 2024 Lions, an offensive line that brings all five starters back, with Andrew Klimovich anchoring at center.
“We’re big, we’re mean, we’re ready to go,” Klimovich said. “We’ve got five returning starting offensive linemen, three returning defensive linemen. It’s going to be a great year up front.”
Middletown North has lost 23 of its last 24 matchups against crosstown rival Middletown South. Once again, the two teams will match up on Thanksgiving Day. But the Lions want more than bragging rights in Middletown and the potential is there to do some serious damage in the Group Four state playoffs.
“We’ve kind of been looked at… as a little brother to South” and an underdog, senior Brody Tooker said. “We’re here to execute and we’re going to finish this year and, you know, prove everyone wrong.”
“We’ve got the energy, we got the talent, we got the attitude,” Kilmovich said. “We’re ready to make not just the playoffs, but, make some noise in there. We’re ready to go for that.”
Middletown North 2024 Football Schedule
Friday, Sept. 6 vs. Lacey
Friday, Sept. 13 vs. Matawan
Friday, Sept. 20 vs. Ocean Township
Saturday, Sept. 28 at Freehold Boro
Friday, Oct. 4 at St. John Vianney
Friday, Oct. 11 vs. Red Bank Regional
Friday, Oct. 25 at Freehold Township
Thursday, Nov. 28 at Middletown South
The article originally appeared in the August 22 – 28, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
