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During the weeks leading up to the start of the football season for Shore Conference schools, the Asbury Park Press will feature some of the top position groups around the league. We'll also have traditional team outlooks and highlight the key returning players and top newcomers.
For the past four seasons, Pinelands Regional has steadily climbed the Shore Conference ladder.
The Wildcats have not posted a losing season since 2021 and finished 6-4 in 2025, earning a second-place finish in C South. Despite the winning record, Pinelands was left out of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 3 playoffs, losing out on a postseason berth to Timber Creek who finished 2-7 in the regular season.
Rather than dwell on the disappointment, the Wildcats are embracing an even bigger challenge in 2026.
Pinelands moves into B South this fall, jumping up with C South champion Toms River East and longtime rival Lacey, a program the Wildcats defeated for the first time in school history last season.
If Pinelands is going to compete with some of Ocean County's top programs, it believes the path starts with one of the Shore Conference's deepest linebacker units.
"This is my ninth year as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. It's absolutely the most talented group of linebackers I've ever had," said Joe Adelizzi, Pinelands' defensive coordinator.
*-denotes a returning top linebacker
2025 stats: 40 tackles, 13 solo, 2 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks. Division III Interest.
98 tackles, 32 solo, 4 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception. FCS Division I Interest.
85 tackles, 25 solo, 9 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks. FCS Division I Interest.
16 tackles, 8 solo
The Wildcats return three starters at linebacker who combined for more than 220 tackles last season, giving Pinelands one of the deepest and most productive units in the Shore Conference.
"We have great kids to coach up and down," head coach John Tierney said.
More: Linebackers 'embody' Brick Township football: Shore's top position groups
Senior middle linebacker Owen Taylor gives the Wildcats a steady veteran presence.
Taylor recorded 40 tackles, including 13 solo stops, during the 2025 season and has begun drawing Division III interest.
"He is a coach on the field," Tierney said. "He's very smart. He talks. He's a leader. He's a lunchpail kid. He does everything right."
Tierney knows Taylor's impact often goes beyond the stat sheet.
"He's not going to make big splashy plays," Tierney said. "But he's going to wind up with eight or nine tackles a game."
The heart of Pinelands' defense begins with junior linebackers Paul Veneri and Montrell Carter, two returning starters who have already started attracting Division I FCS attention.
Veneri led the Wildcats with 99 tackles, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception in 2025, while Carter added 85 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks from the outside linebacker position.
For Adelizzi, the duo has become the identity of the defense.
"They are both everything that a coach would ever want in linebackers," Adelizzi said. "They're big, they're fast, they're physical. They love the game. I mean, there's nothing about football they don't love."
Adelizzi said it did not take long for the coaching staff to realize just how special the pairing could become.
"After about two games last year, we kind of all looked at each other and said, 'Holy... we've got these guys for a while,'" Adelizzi said. "This is what our defense is going to be built around."
Tierney praised Carter's instincts and ability to make game-changing plays.
"You can't coach his intangibles," Tierney said. "He has a knack for the ball. His game is finding the football. He can destroy."
Veneri provides just as much versatility.
"He's a ball hawk," Tierney said. "He's gonna make the right reads, fill gaps and do what the defense needs to be done."
More: Manchester has 'students of the game' at LB: Shore top football position groups
Pinelands returns another experienced option in senior Jimmy McCutcheon, who is competing for one of the outside linebacker spots after previously playing safety, defensive end and both linebacker positions.
"He's the definition of a sound football player," Adelizzi said. "He's going to do his job every single time, every single play."
Junior Lucas DeDrew is also battling for the starting spot after missing last season. "What he doesn't have in size, he certainly will make up for with strength and speed," Adelizzi said.
The linebacker room is rounded out by seniors Shane Rider and Jason Klein along with junior Raleigh Kline, giving Pinelands one of its deepest defensive units in recent memory.
"The game's not going to expose them," Tierney said. "A team's not going to come out and say, 'Oh, we can pick on this kid.'"
The Wildcats know moving into B South will present a new challenge.
"It's time for us to go punch up a weight class," Adelizzi said.
With historic programs such as Toms River East, Lacey and Brick Township on the schedule, Pinelands believes its linebackers will allow the defense to match the physicality of larger programs.
The linebackers are only part of what could become one of the Shore Conference's top defenses. The Wildcats also return an experienced secondary led by cornerback Sam Kilasi, who has already begun receiving FCS interest from programs including Villanova, Monmouth and Maine.
Together, the back seven has generated attention from college recruiters while giving Pinelands confidence it can compete for a B South championship.
"With this linebacking group and the way that they pursue the ball and they hit the ball, we're always going to be in games because our defense is always going to be a plus for us," Tierney said.
After narrowly missing the playoffs a year ago, the Wildcats believe they're no longer simply a small-school program hoping to compete.
"We're here to punch with everybody," Adelizzi said. "We're here to hit everybody. And when they get done playing us, they're going to go, 'Holy cow, those guys are physical. They can play.'"
Aug. 29: Collingswood, 2:30 p.m.
Sept. 4: At Freehold Boro, 4 p.m.
Sept. 11: Brick, 6 p.m.
Sept. 17: Lacey, 6 p.m.
Sept. 25: At Toms River East, 6 p.m.
Oct. 2: Lakewood, 6 p.m.
Oct. 9: At Central, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 16: At Barnegat, 6 p.m.
Oct. 23: Toms River South, 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Pinelands linebacker room 'everything a coach would ever want' | Season preview
Continue reading...
For the past four seasons, Pinelands Regional has steadily climbed the Shore Conference ladder.
The Wildcats have not posted a losing season since 2021 and finished 6-4 in 2025, earning a second-place finish in C South. Despite the winning record, Pinelands was left out of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 3 playoffs, losing out on a postseason berth to Timber Creek who finished 2-7 in the regular season.
Rather than dwell on the disappointment, the Wildcats are embracing an even bigger challenge in 2026.
Pinelands moves into B South this fall, jumping up with C South champion Toms River East and longtime rival Lacey, a program the Wildcats defeated for the first time in school history last season.
If Pinelands is going to compete with some of Ocean County's top programs, it believes the path starts with one of the Shore Conference's deepest linebacker units.
"This is my ninth year as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. It's absolutely the most talented group of linebackers I've ever had," said Joe Adelizzi, Pinelands' defensive coordinator.
Pinelands linebacker room
You must be registered for see images attach
*-denotes a returning top linebacker
Owen Taylor, 5-10, 175, Sr. MLB (*)
2025 stats: 40 tackles, 13 solo, 2 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks. Division III Interest.
Paul Veneri, 5-10, 185, Jr. MLB (*)
98 tackles, 32 solo, 4 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception. FCS Division I Interest.
Montrell Carter, 6-0, 210, Jr. OLB (*)
85 tackles, 25 solo, 9 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks. FCS Division I Interest.
Jimmy McCutcheon, 6-2, 215, Sr. OLB
16 tackles, 8 solo
Lucas Dedreu, 5-7, 175, Jr. OLB
Shane Rider, 6-0, 190, Sr. LB
Jason Klein, 5-10, 175, Sr. LB
Raleigh Kline, 6-2, 215, Jr. OLB
The Wildcats return three starters at linebacker who combined for more than 220 tackles last season, giving Pinelands one of the deepest and most productive units in the Shore Conference.
"We have great kids to coach up and down," head coach John Tierney said.
Led by a 'lunchpail kid'
More: Linebackers 'embody' Brick Township football: Shore's top position groups
Senior middle linebacker Owen Taylor gives the Wildcats a steady veteran presence.
Taylor recorded 40 tackles, including 13 solo stops, during the 2025 season and has begun drawing Division III interest.
"He is a coach on the field," Tierney said. "He's very smart. He talks. He's a leader. He's a lunchpail kid. He does everything right."
Tierney knows Taylor's impact often goes beyond the stat sheet.
"He's not going to make big splashy plays," Tierney said. "But he's going to wind up with eight or nine tackles a game."
A coach's dream
The heart of Pinelands' defense begins with junior linebackers Paul Veneri and Montrell Carter, two returning starters who have already started attracting Division I FCS attention.
Veneri led the Wildcats with 99 tackles, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception in 2025, while Carter added 85 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks from the outside linebacker position.
For Adelizzi, the duo has become the identity of the defense.
"They are both everything that a coach would ever want in linebackers," Adelizzi said. "They're big, they're fast, they're physical. They love the game. I mean, there's nothing about football they don't love."
Adelizzi said it did not take long for the coaching staff to realize just how special the pairing could become.
"After about two games last year, we kind of all looked at each other and said, 'Holy... we've got these guys for a while,'" Adelizzi said. "This is what our defense is going to be built around."
Tierney praised Carter's instincts and ability to make game-changing plays.
"You can't coach his intangibles," Tierney said. "He has a knack for the ball. His game is finding the football. He can destroy."
Veneri provides just as much versatility.
"He's a ball hawk," Tierney said. "He's gonna make the right reads, fill gaps and do what the defense needs to be done."
A jack of all trades
More: Manchester has 'students of the game' at LB: Shore top football position groups
Pinelands returns another experienced option in senior Jimmy McCutcheon, who is competing for one of the outside linebacker spots after previously playing safety, defensive end and both linebacker positions.
"He's the definition of a sound football player," Adelizzi said. "He's going to do his job every single time, every single play."
Junior Lucas DeDrew is also battling for the starting spot after missing last season. "What he doesn't have in size, he certainly will make up for with strength and speed," Adelizzi said.
The linebacker room is rounded out by seniors Shane Rider and Jason Klein along with junior Raleigh Kline, giving Pinelands one of its deepest defensive units in recent memory.
"The game's not going to expose them," Tierney said. "A team's not going to come out and say, 'Oh, we can pick on this kid.'"
Ready to punch up a weight class
You must be registered for see images attach
The Wildcats know moving into B South will present a new challenge.
"It's time for us to go punch up a weight class," Adelizzi said.
With historic programs such as Toms River East, Lacey and Brick Township on the schedule, Pinelands believes its linebackers will allow the defense to match the physicality of larger programs.
The linebackers are only part of what could become one of the Shore Conference's top defenses. The Wildcats also return an experienced secondary led by cornerback Sam Kilasi, who has already begun receiving FCS interest from programs including Villanova, Monmouth and Maine.
Together, the back seven has generated attention from college recruiters while giving Pinelands confidence it can compete for a B South championship.
"With this linebacking group and the way that they pursue the ball and they hit the ball, we're always going to be in games because our defense is always going to be a plus for us," Tierney said.
After narrowly missing the playoffs a year ago, the Wildcats believe they're no longer simply a small-school program hoping to compete.
"We're here to punch with everybody," Adelizzi said. "We're here to hit everybody. And when they get done playing us, they're going to go, 'Holy cow, those guys are physical. They can play.'"
Pinelands 2026 football schedule
You must be registered for see images attach
Aug. 29: Collingswood, 2:30 p.m.
Sept. 4: At Freehold Boro, 4 p.m.
Sept. 11: Brick, 6 p.m.
Sept. 17: Lacey, 6 p.m.
Sept. 25: At Toms River East, 6 p.m.
Oct. 2: Lakewood, 6 p.m.
Oct. 9: At Central, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 16: At Barnegat, 6 p.m.
Oct. 23: Toms River South, 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Pinelands linebacker room 'everything a coach would ever want' | Season preview
Continue reading...
