Dayton Superb From The Start
In Roaring To Impressive Win

SPRINGFIELD - A big part of Dayton's progression last season, to get to where the Bulldogs are so far in 2025, was to get on the bus and then clash with a division opponent on the road, showing they could hold their own away from home.

Dayton's first of three road triumphs in 2024 came by four points at South River, the school that it hosted last Saturday, Sept. 27.

The statement the Bulldogs wanted to make this past Saturday was a much higher ceiling than a nominal victory. Dayton wanted to dominate from start to finish.

Five different Dayton players reached the end zone: senior returner Chidiogo Iherobiem on the game's opening kickoff, Seton Hall Prep transfer and junior running back Tyler Fuscaldo on two short runs, junior quarterback Adrian Bernknopf on a run, junior lineman Isaiah Rivas on a fumble recovery in the end zone and junior wide receiver Jackson Babiarz on a touchdown pass thrown by Bernknopf. Babiarz was also a perfect four-for-four in extra-point kicks.

It added up to an expected 42-7 Big Central Conference-Freedom Gold Division triumph over a struggling South River squad. Dayton won its second straight to improve to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the Freedom Gold Division. South River remained winless at 0-5 overall and fell to 0-3 in the Freedom Gold.

Dayton, seeking its first winning season since 2010, scored the most points in a Bulldog victory since winning at Dunellen 47-14 on Sept. 24, 2021.

The Bulldogs, who are seeking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2012, scored the most points in a Dayton victory at home since downing North Arlington 43-26 on Nov. 10, 2016, the season-finale that year.

Dayton is also 3-1 for the first time since 2011 and, perhaps, halfway to a playoff season, which this time would be out of North, Group 2.

South River, which received a 48-yard touchdown run by junior running back Kah'mori Cotto against Dayton's reserve defense in the fourth quarter, last produced a winning season in 2020.

Dayton is now busy preparing for this Saturday's, Oct. 4 contest at 10 a.m. at non-division rival Belvidere (2-3).

"We need to continue to work hard and want to win as much as possible," said Bernknopf, whose brother Brandyn played at Dayton before graduating in 2024.

"We're all starting to come together as a team, like a brotherhood," Babiarz said. "At times we may disagree, but we put it behind us and move on."

Berknopf and Babiarz were in total agreement on Dayton's final touchdown against South River. Bernknopf threw a ball from his 15 that Babiarz caught against single coverage at the 50. Babiarz then ran the second half of the field untouched and into the end zone for six.

'It's a fade-to-go ball, where I signal 'just go,'" Berknopf said.

After splitting road games by beating South Hunterdon and falling to division rival Highland Park, the Bulldogs made their first real statement of the season by producing a convincing 37-20 home-opening  win over 2-0 Roselle Park.

"The kids continue to buy in," said fourth-year Dayton head coach Nick Iannacone. "We started with a great kick return for a touchdown, the defense responded well and we played for the entire 48 minutes."

With Jason Mullman as offensive coordinator, Anthony Cioffi as defensive coordinator and Andrew Martin in charge of special teams, his father Bob Martin was the longtime defensive coordinator, Dayton is clicking on all cylinders.

Iannacone also mentioned one other person who has played a key role in Dayton's success.

"That's our strength and conditioning coach Mark Cuglari, who has gotten the kids in to our weight room," Iannacone said.     

Dayton's starting defense pitched a shutout against South River, stopping the Rams from scoring on a drive that stretched from the end of the third quarter to the beginning of the fourth. Dayton senior lineman Max Manfredi made a fine, solo tackle for a six-yard loss when South River's Christopher Young received a pitch left.

On the next play, which turned out to be the final play of the drive, Rivas and sophomore defensive back Kevin Paiva combined to stop Cotto short of the goal line, knocking him out of bounds.

"It's a blessing to be able to coach the kids here," said Cioffi, a four-year starter at Dayton from 2009-2012 who helped lead the Bulldogs to two winning seasons, one .500 campaign, three playoff appearances and one playoff victory.

The 31-year-old Cioffi, born Aug. 26, 1994, joined Iannacone's staff last season and also coached for the North squad in this June's Phil Simms North-South All-Star Game at Kean University.

Cioffi and Iannacone, who played at New Providence, played against each other in high school. Both graduated in 2013. Iannacone was a sophomore starter on New Providence's last state championship team in 2010, a 21-8 win over Lincoln of Jersey City at the first year of the new Giants Stadium, which was also the last game New Providence legendary head coach Frank Bottone coached. 

Iannacone, 30, was born July 13, 1995.

New Providence routinely beat Dayton every year until the Bulldogs won at New Providence 18-7 in Cioffi's freshman season of 2009. New Providence then won again the next three seasons in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Now Iannacone and Cioffi may be leading Dayton to its first playoff season in 13 years.

"We have the potential to go where we want to go," Cioffi said. "They're good listeners. You need to get their attention and then you have to teach them."

Dayton won three of its final four games last year to finish 4-6 and set itself up for this year's continued success.

"Last year was a learning curve to change the perspective," Cioffi said. "We're pretty happy about it."

Cioffi, who is now the owner and CEO of Point of Sale and Credit Card Processing, last played professionally with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League before being released in March of 2024. Before that the Rutgers standout had a professional resume that included the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent, the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League, the New York Jets, the BC Lions of the CFL and the Tampa Bay Bandits and Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League.

BIG CENTRAL CONFERENCE-FREEDOM GOLD DIVISION CONTEST
South River (0-5, 0-3)                      00          00          00          07 - 07
Dayton (3-1, 2-1)                              13          22          00          07 - 42 

FIRST QUARTER:
Dayton - Chidiogo Iherobiem 81 kickoff return, run failed (D 6-0)
This came on the very first play of the game.
Dayton - Tyler Fuscaldo 2 run, Jackson Babiarz kick (D 13-0)
7 plays, 82 yards, 3:00 used

SECOND QUARTER:
Dayton - Adrian Bernknopf 11 run, Adrian Bernknopf run (D 21-0)
4 plays, 41 yards, 1:29 used
Dayton capitalized on a turnover on a special teams play.
A Dayton punt hit the leg of a South River player and then Dayton recovered.
Dayton - Tyler Fuscaldo 2 run, Jackson Babiarz kick (D 28-0)
1 play, 2 yards, :06 used
Dayton scored immediately after South River fell on the ball on a failed punt attempt.
Dayton - Isaiah Rivas fumble recovery in end zone, Jackson Babiarz kick (D 35-0)
Rivas scored on the same play when Jackson Babiarz returned an interception from the Dayton 45 to the South River five. There, the ball came loose and rolled forward, with Rivas recovering in the end zone for a touchdown.

FOURTH QUARTER (during mercy rule running clock):
Dayton - Jackson Babiarz 85 pass from Adrian Bernknopf, Jackson Babiarz kick (D 42-0) 
2 plays, 91 yards, 1:09 used
South River - Kah'mori Cotto 48 run, Ronaldo Gregorio kick (D 42-7)
The play came moments after Dayton junior defensive back Kenny Kamugish (5-5, 125) made a fine solo tackle of Cotto (5-10, 160).

2025 DAYTON 3-1 START:
Sept. 5: Dayton 21, South Hunterdon 6 - at South Hunterdon
Sept. 12: Highland Park 26, Dayton 14 - at Highland Park
Sept. 19: Dayton 37, Roselle Park 20 - at Dayton
Sept. 27: Dayton 42, South River 7 - at Dayton

2011 DAYTON 3-1 START:
Sept. 9: New Providence 48, Dayton 13 - at New Providence 
Sept. 17: Dayton 34, Bound Brook 0 - at Union
Sept. 23: Dayton 19, Brearley 7 - at Brearley
Oct. 1: Dayton 31, Roselle Park 7 - at Union
Dayton finished 5-5 and did not make the playoffs.

ANTHONY CIOFFI YEARS AT DAYTON (2009-2012):
2009: (8-2) made playoffs in North 2, Group 1
and lost to Becton 27-6 at Union.
Head coach: Joe Goerge
2010: (9-2) made playoffs in North 2, Group 1.
Dayton beat Belvidere 31-10 at Union and then
lost to Lincoln 42-14 at Union in the semifinals.
Following an arm injury suffered vs. Belvidere,
Cioffi did not play against Lincoln. 
Head coach: Joe Goerge 
2011: (5-5) did not make playoffs.
Head coach: Joe Goerge
2012: (4-6) made playoffs in North 2, Group 1
and lost at Hoboken 54-14
Head coach: Steve Trivino
Arguably one of Dayton's best four-year periods of football
saw the Bulldogs go 26-15 during Cioffi's four varsity seasons,
make the playoffs three times and produce the program's second
and last playoff victory.