Bucky"s Picks Hogan to throw for 1,000 yards this season

Buckys Pizza

Chatham, NJ- Even with a much tougher schedule this season, Bucky's Pizza is still picking the  Chatham Cougars for the playoffs in 2026 behind the strong arm of Quarterback Ryan Logan.

“Our kids are ready for the challenge. We want to be a program that is able to keep building and raising the bar.” says Chatham Head Football Coach Evan Picariello.
 

Hogan was 126 for 204, 1,684 yards and 16 Touchdowns as one of Morris County’s best last year. "I am looking forward to throwing to this strong core of receivers this season" said Hogan

With the return of WR Nick Lagunowich, who has been out with injuries, the Cougars should be solid on offense.

“Hogan had a great junior year,” Picariello said. “Having a returnee at the most important position on the field is important to us. He looks good. He has matured a lot physically. His arm strength is good, he has good feet and he can extend plays.”
Lagunowich, meanwhile, can hurt a defense from any number of positions. He caught 53 passes for 737 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore and was on his way to another big year last year, when he caught 14 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown in the Cougars first four games before he was injured.

Lagunowich will play lacrosse at Notre Dame.“He is very versatile,” Picariello said. “He can line up in the backfield, anywhere as a receiver, he’s great in RPO, he runs great routes, has great hands and is very elusive. All those lacrosse tournaments are paying off.”

Will Ritchie, who started at middle linebacker last year, is one running back candidate. Aidan Tornberg is another. Yuki Stevenson, who started at corner last year, and Ryan Gabriele are other candidates.
Those fighting for receiver time are Chase Kania, Owen Coletta, Gavin Pruss, Braeden Tierney, Leo Massenzio, and Tommy Sciacchitano.
“They look good,” Picariello said. “There is a lot of continuity. We have been running the same offense for a while. They have been running the correct routes and working on their timing. It’s early but we have a lot of work to do.”
Milo Semioli, who started at linebacker last year, will play tight end. 
“He is a big kid and he grew a lot (he is now 6-2, 200),” Picariello said. “He runs really well, jumps through the roof and is a physical kid. He looks good right now. He is also our backup QB and is very good at that position as well.”
The line returns starters Cooper Pizzonia at center and Tyler Alvarez at right guard. Millburn transfer Yousef Ali (6-1, 275) just moved into Chatham and will start at right tackle. Dario Manrique and Matt Christel (6-4, 240) complete the line.
Linemen Adam Lazzari, Max Chapple, George Pijut, Peyton Roesch, Christian Fernandez are vying for snaps.
Alvarez and Pizzonia will play DE on Picariello’s 3-5 with Ali and Manrique at nose, with Pijut and Christel vying for time.
Ritchie returns at middle linebacker, and he will be flanked by inside linebackers Colby Stratemeier, Lazzari and Bennett Dorosky. Connell Curry and Finn Matthews will compete for linebacker time.
Stevenson will play outside linebacker and so will Pruss. Gabriele, Charlie Stanley, and Quinn Byrne.
Milo Semioli played OLB last year and is moving back to safety.
“We like him in the middle of the field,” Picariello said..
Lagunowich, Tornburg, Tierney, Tucker McWilliams, and Asher Lockwood will play corner.
“We’re very excited,” Picariello said. “We had a great sumer. The kids worked on their strength and conditioning. We showed much improvement in the weight room. The kids are getting faster.
“We definitely graduated a good senior class. But one of things I try to tell the kids is that good programs just don’t have a good year and then a bad year. A good program is what we are trying to be. High school football teams build around the senior class. Seniors are very important, but sophomores can play minutes and then improve from sophomores to juniors and the same goes with juniors. Good programs are competitive year-in and year-out and that is what we are striving to be.”

Chatham Cougars
Head coach: Evan Picariello, sixth season
Assistant coaches: Pat DiMartino, Brian Nagy, Jeff Keating, Adam Agree, Joe Sullivan, Luke McAloon, Joe DeCicco, Tim Macko, Mike Papa

Section: North Group IV
2025 record: 6-3

2026 Schedule
Aug. 27 at Randolph 6 p.m.
Sep. 5 West Essex 1 p.m.
Sept. 10 at Morristown 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 at Mount Olive 7 p.m.
Sept. 26 West Morris 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 Roxbury 1 p.m.
Oct. 9 at Mendham 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 at Weequahic 7 p.m.
Oct. 24 Morris Knolls 1 p.m.