Brick Memorial Football 2026 Preview, Players and Schedule | Top 25 Public HSFB
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2026 Teams to Know Season Preview: Brick Memorial (NJ)
Brick Memorial follows its first sectional title since 2008 with a new head coach, a rebuilt backfield and a veteran line and defense.
Top 25 Public HSFB8/25/20266 min read
Brick Memorial's 2025 breakthrough ended a long wait. The Mustangs won 10 games, captured Central Jersey Group 4 and brought home the program's first sectional championship since 2008.
Now comes the test I always find most revealing: was that a great senior class, or has Brick Memorial become a championship program again? James Mahoney takes over after six years on the staff, and the answer will begin with a veteran line and defense while almost all of last year's featured skill production is replaced.
Team Snapshot
Team: Brick Memorial Mustangs
Location: Brick Township, New Jersey
Head Coach: James Mahoney
2025 Record: 10-3
2025 Finish: Central Jersey Group 4 sectional champion; state semifinalist
Returning Starters: 5 offense, 6 defense
Continuity Without the Same Cast
Mahoney knows the language, the players and the physical identity that carried Brick Memorial through November. That continuity matters after the graduation of quarterback Jason Lajara, receiver Nyzier Matthews, linebacker and fullback Trey Tallmadge, and running back Na'Zeer Whittaker. The system stays. The touches have to go somewhere new.
The good news is that the Mustangs do not have to rebuild their identity while they replace so many familiar names. Jaxon Ellis, Jaxon Pacheco and Joe Livio give them proven strength up front, Shawn Fowler is the most accomplished returning perimeter player, and Colin Schoellkopf is ready for more responsibility on defense. Camp has also created real competition at quarterback and in the secondary, which is exactly what this roster needed after graduation opened so many Friday-night snaps.
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I would not expect this team to look exactly like the 2025 champions, and it should not try. Brick Memorial's best path is to control the line of scrimmage, keep games in the fourth quarter and let the next group of playmakers grow inside a system they already understand. If that happens quickly, the Mustangs will be much more than a program celebrating what last year's team accomplished.
Players to Know
Jaxon Ellis, OL/EDGE, Class of 2027
Ellis earned first-team All-Shore recognition on the offensive line and received Brick Memorial's Lombardi Award after the championship season. He also finished with 44 tackles and a sack on defense, so his value is not limited to the side of the ball where the honors arrived. When the Mustangs need one dependable answer while the offense settles in, running behind Ellis is the logical place to start.
Jaxon Pacheco, C/DT, Class of 2027
At roughly 6-foot-2 and 300 pounds, Pacheco gives Brick Memorial a true interior anchor on both sides of the ball. He recorded 41 tackles, five sacks and 14 quarterback hurries last season, earned second-team All-Shore recognition on defense and received the program's Warlord Award. Rhode Island and Stetson have offered scholarships, while Virginia Tech has extended a preferred walk-on opportunity. His ability to hold the middle without coming off the field is a major reason the Mustangs can remain physical through a difficult schedule.
Shawn Fowler, WR/CB, Class of 2027
Fowler is the most proven returning skill player after catching passes for 518 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. He also made 23 tackles and broke up five passes at cornerback, production that helped him earn second-team All-Shore recognition. With the quarterback job changing hands and several playmakers gone, Brick Memorial needs Fowler to be both a reliable target and a defender who can handle a difficult matchup.
Joe Livio, TE/EDGE, Class of 2027
Livio gives the offense a tight end who can stay attached to the formation, block and still punish a defense for losing track of him. He produced 356 receiving yards and four touchdowns last season, then added 36 tackles and nine quarterback hurries on defense. His second-team All-Shore selection at tight end was deserved, but the more important point for 2026 is how many problems he can solve without forcing Brick Memorial to substitute.
Colin Schoellkopf, OLB, Class of 2027
Schoellkopf turned his first major varsity opportunity into 47 tackles, two sacks and six quarterback hurries. Brick Memorial named him its Defensive Rookie of the Year, and now the expectations change. He is no longer just a young player flashing potential; he is one of the linebackers the Mustangs will count on to keep the front organized and finish drives.
Jack Marotta and Logan Perry, Class of 2027
Marotta led Brick Memorial with three interceptions and was named the program's Special Teams MVP. That combination tells you why he matters: he can change field position with one play on defense or in the kicking game. Perry earned Offensive Rookie of the Year recognition and gives the Mustangs another returning lineman to build around as the offense replaces a veteran backfield.
Newcomers to Follow
Senior quarterback Tyler Pierce saw varsity action last season and now enters the competition to replace Jason Lajara. Junior Jayvon Ellison and senior Casey Pierce, both WR/DBs, were recognized as the program's JV MVPs and have a clear path to larger roles. Freshman WR/DB Zyion Weaver is a young perimeter player worth tracking, while senior Gabe Do Amaral adds two-way flexibility at OL/LB. Nymir Goodwin, Mark Gambaro, Devin Mingalone, Zakir Moss and Nick Barry remain part of a much broader competition for the snaps left behind by a decorated senior class. Brick Memorial does not need every one of them to break out at once, but it does need several to become dependable before the schedule reaches its toughest stretch.
Schedule Breakdown
The schedule gives Mahoney no easing-in period. After the Wall Township opener, Brick Memorial visits crosstown rival Brick Township, then hosts Donovan Catholic and Toms River North on consecutive Fridays.
The second half is just as demanding. Point Boro, Rumson-Fair Haven and Southern Regional all test the physical style Brick Memorial wants to play, and the Oct. 16 trip to Rumson gives the Mustangs a chance to measure their growth against one of last season’s three losses.
Complete 2026 Schedule
Aug. 28: Wall Township
Sept. 3: at Brick Township
Sept. 11: Donovan Catholic
Sept. 18: Toms River North
Sept. 25: at Point Boro
Oct. 2: Neptune
Oct. 9: at Jackson
Oct. 16: at Rumson-Fair Haven
Oct. 23: Southern Regional
Biggest Question
Can the veteran line and defense give Brick Memorial's rebuilt offense enough time to grow?
That is the season for me. Ellis, Pacheco, Livio, Fowler and Schoellkopf give Mahoney a core he can trust. If they keep the Mustangs out of obvious passing situations and prevent early deficits, the new quarterback and backs can learn without being asked to replace four record-setting seniors overnight.
Bottom Line
Brick Memorial is defending a championship, but the more important test is whether the program has moved beyond one special class. The staff continuity and line-of-scrimmage experience give the Mustangs a credible chance to prove that it has.
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8-1 regular season, and a return to the state semis as the Group IV Central Jersey Champion.
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