Cedar Grove's Gogerty Excited
To Coach In 47th Simms Classic

He has already established himself as one of the top, young head coaches in the state, including coming off a banner season in 2024 when he guided Cedar Grove to a glittering 13-1 record that included a state sectional title and a berth in the overall Group 1 state final.

Now, Rob Gogerty, who also serves as athletic director for the Panthers sports programs, is a member of the North staff in the 47th Phil Simms New Jersey North-South All-Star Classic, 2:30 p.m., Sunday, June 8, at Kean University’s Alumni Field.

The Simms all-star contest will closely follow the noontime, second annual girls Flag Football All-Star Game.

The North, on a first-time four-game winning streak, leads the series for the initial time ever at 21-20-2. It took the North 45 years, the first game was played in 1979, to take the lead.

The North has won the last four games by one point, five, four and two points.

The South last won in 2018 by the score of 38-16 at Kean.

For the Panthers’ head man and the 2024 Sideline Chatter Essex County Coach of the Year it has become a great situation to help end the school year by returning as a member of the North staff in the Simms Classic.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity to be coaching in the Simms North-South Classic,” said Gogerty who was also once a schoolboy star quarterback for the Panthers. “I had the opportunity in 2021 to coach in the game and I had a blast! And, I was able to network and build relationships with colleagues I still talk to today especially during the season while bouncing ideas off of.

“When the opportunity arose again to be a part of this 2025 staff I was humbled and didn’t hesitate to accept it.

“I am looking forward to working with a great group of athletes and coaches and am excited to be a part of a game with great tradition. The game directors and executive committee do a first-class job and it’s a great weekend for both the athletes and coaches!”

Considered one of the top offensive minds in New Jersey coaching circles, Gogerty has developed a strong connection with his Cedar Grove QBs he’s worked with through the years, and that shouldn’t be a surprise since he was once one of the top schoolboy signal callers in the state while playing for the legendary, now retired former Panthers head man Ed Sadloch.

“Rob was one of our prize pupils,” said Sadloch, a two-time (2004 and 2011) Sideline Chatter Essex County Coach of the Year. “Not only was he an excellent QB, but he was a multi-sport athlete at Cedar Grove.

“He possessed great leadership qualities throughout his football career which culminated with our 2000 state championship.

“I am very proud that he is continuing the high level of the Panthers’ football program tradition.”

Gogerty will have the opportunity to work with North QBs Charlie LaMorte of West Orange (Bucknell University commit) and Chatham’s Will Allen.

“I am excited to work with Coach (Matt) Bloom from Somerville who will be the OC,” said the Cedar Grove head mentor. “I believe we have very similar philosophies too so it will be fun to see the similarities and differences.

“It’s our prom weekend so I’m a bit disappointed our Cedar Grove guys could not represent us in the game, but I am excited about working with a good group of QB’s to really just help them throw it around, learn the offense, and give them the best opportunities to get the ball downfield and make plays!”

Top Play Caller With CG Panthers

Gogerty’s players continue to thrive under his direction, and he demonstrates an uncanny ability to call plays with precision in the offensive game plan, while also showing an uncanny ability to change on the fly - if need be - depending on the situation in the midst of a contest, and frequently see his team then earn a key first down or score a touchdown in the process.

“Coach ‘Gogs’ is amazing with his ability to call the right play at the right time, while also frequently surprising the other team in the process,” said Cedar Grove’s 2024 QB Stephen Paradiso. “And, it always seemed that we’re on the same page.

“He’s a great coach that the entire team can count on to lead us to success.”
As a scholastic star at Cedar Grove Gogerty was 11-1 as the Panthers’ QB for the 2000 N2G1 champs that finished 11-1, and he was 28-4 as a starter for coach Sadloch and company.

His 2021 Cedar Grove team won a North, Group 1 regional championship at MetLife Stadium, and although his 2024 squad would wind up losing to a strong Glassboro team in the overall Group 1 final, the season as a whole was a huge success for the Panthers, including finishing with a single-season, school-record 13 victories.

While they did return a historic, record-setting quarterback and a dynamic wide receiver from the previous team, there were still key holes to fill in the lineup. Regardless of the challenges faced last summer in forming the right mix of veterans and first-year starters, the results were nearly perfect for the Cedar Grove Panthers who achieved a program-record 13 victories in the 2024 fall campaign, while capturing the North 2, Group 1 state sectional playoff title with a 35-14 win vs. a strong New Providence team (9-3), and also reaching the overall Group 1 state championship game at MetLife Stadium.

Although the effort to become the first team in program history to go undefeated would be denied by a dominant, state-ranked Glassboro squad in the Group 1 final, Cedar Grove completes the 2024 season as the county’s No. 1 team led by its prolific passing offense that was spearheaded by the prolific passer Paradiso and his top targets, wide receivers Jackson Morrice and Nick Russo. The defense was led by a number of contributors including linebackers Connor Kerney and Russo and Morrice in the secondary. Also, a key component were special teams which were led by reliable placekicker Sebastian Kovacs.

Top victories included a dominant season-opening 41-3 triumph over South Jersey, Group 1 power Schalick (8-4) in the Battle at the Beach in Egg Harbor Township, followed by a solid 27-7 home-standing victory vs. Weequahic. A key road test came on Oct. 4 at local rival Caldwel where the Panthers fell behind 21-0, but rallied and proceeded to close with a 31-0 run in the second half for a 45-28 victory. Along with dominating neighboring rival Verona (7-4) twice, including in the first round of the playoffs, the Panthers also once again showed their ability to be a very strong second half team when they roared past N1G1 sectional champion Butler (11-1), 52-21, in the Group 1 state semis.

All told, it was a season to remember for the proud Cedar Grove gridiron program which has captured nine sectional playoff titles while appearing in 14 sectional finals.

2025 Simms All-Star Classic North Coaching Staff
HFC Brian Dunn Old Tappan
OC Matt Bloom Somerville
DC Wil Valdez Union City
OL Nick Guttuso Ramapo
LB Brett Ressler Hackensack
WR. Mark Ingram Newark Central
QB Rob Gogerty Cedar Grove
DE Bryan Gallagher Morris Knolls
DT Len Cusamano Pascack Valley
TE/H Dom Gaston Pope John
S Frank Duffy Phillipsburg
DB Anyony Cioffi Dayton