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New coach, no problem.
Brick Memorial football eyes back-to-back titles in 2026 - Brick Memorial has promoted offensive coordinator James Mahoney to head coach after Walt Currie stepped down.
- Senior Tyler Pierce is set to take over as quarterback, following a line of successful players.
- Despite losing key players, the team returns several All-Shore and all-division selections.
- The Mustangs are expected to be strong in the trenches with several Division I prospects on the lines.
BRICK A new head coach stands on the Brick Memorial sideline this fall, but inside the Mustang program, the expectations haven't changed.
After longtime head coach Walt Currie stepped down following 19 seasons, Brick Memorial promoted offensive coordinator James Mahoney, a coach who has spent the last 14 years helping build one of the Shore Conference's premier programs.
Rather than ushering in a new era, Mahoney sees his first season as an opportunity to continue the standard Currie established.
Brick Memorial a year ago won its first setional title since 2008 and third in program history.
"Everything," Mahoney said when asked what he learned from Currie.
"Walt's been incredible to me..
He's allowed me to do a lot of things a head coach would do before being a head coach.
The biggest thing he's done for me now is staying on our staff." Currie remains with the program as the defensive backs coach, providing continuity for a team that has won 29 games over the past three seasons.
While Brick Memorial graduated arguably the greatest senior class in school historyincluding quarterback Jason Lajara, running back NaZeer Whittaker, receiver Nyzier Matthews and linebacker Trey Tallmadgethe Mustangs return four All-Shore selections and seven all-division players.
"We want to be at least what we were last year," senior defensive tackle Jaxon Pacheco said.
"The standard hasn't gone any lower than it already was.
We want to get where we were last year and win the game." Tyler Pierce is ready to lead No player faces bigger expectations than senior quarterback Tyler Pierce, who replaces Lajara after spending years waiting for his opportunity.
Mahoney believes Pierce's journey has prepared him for the moment.
"Tyler's a culture builder," Mahoney said.
"He doesn't have to be Connor Dietz or Jason Lajara.
He's just got to be the best version of himself." Pierce inherits one of the Shore Conference's most successful quarterback legacies.
Lajara finished his career with more than 4,500 passing yards, over 1,500 rushing yards and 79 total touchdowns, numbers racked up from two years as the starter.
Before him, Connor Dietz established himself as another standout quarterback and now plays at American International College.
Mahoney said Pierce's story is different, but no less impressive.
The senior didn't start at quarterback on the freshman team, earned the JV job as a sophomore, spent last season backing up Lajara while continuing to develop and never wavered in his commitment to the program.
Pierce said watching Lajara every day helped prepare him for his opportunity.
"I learned everything from Jason," Pierce said.
"Hard work pays off.
We used to go to the turf after basketball practice every day and train and go to the weight room.
He was a tough kid." While Pierce may not possess the varsity resume of the quarterbacks before him, his teammates and coaches point to his work ethic and leadership as the reasons they're confident in the transition.
Now, as the unquestioned starter entering his senior season, Pierce understands exactly what comes with leading Brick Memorial's offense.
"It's a big responsibility," Pierce said.
"You got to get everyone set.
You got to know everything, all the plays.
We studied and trained hard this offseason, so we'll be fine." Brick Memorial Football at a glance Coach: James Mahoney Career record: 0-0 Offensive scheme: Spread option Defensive scheme: 4-2-5 Team record last five seasons: 2025- 10-3 2024- 9-3 2023- 10-1 2022- 6-5 2021- 3-7 2026 Division: Shore Conference A South NJSIAA Group Classification: Central Jersey Group 4 Key returners: Jaxon Pacheco (Sr.
OL/DL), Jaxon Ellis (Sr.
OL/DL), Joe Livio (Sr.
TE/DL), Shawn Fowler (Sr.
WR/DB), Logan Perry (Sr.
OL/DL), Jack Marotta (Sr.
RB/DB/PK), Colin Schoelkolpf (Sr.
RB/LB) Breakout candidates: Tyler Pierce (Sr.
QB/DB), Nymir Goodwin (Jr.
RB/DB), Jayvon Ellison (Jr.
WR/DB), Casey Pierce (Sr.
WR/DB), Zyion Weaver (Fr.
WR/DB), Zakir Moss (Jr.
OL/DL), Mark Gambaro (Sr.
OL/DL), Devin Mingalone (Sr.
WR/DB), Shea Salerno (Jr.
TE/DL) Waiting their turn Replacing all-state caliber playmakers Nyzier Matthews and Nazeer Whittaker won't be easy.
Matthews graduated as Brick Memorial's all-time leading receiver while Whittaker accounted for more than 1,400 yards from scrimmage during the Mustangs' championship season.
That responsibility now falls to senior Shawn Fowler, who emerged as one of the Shore Conference's top young receivers last season after hauling in 22 receptions for 518 yards and four touchdowns, earning All-Shore third team honors.
Now entering his senior year, Fowler is expected to become Tyler Pierce's top target while taking on a larger leadership role.
"It means everything to me," Fowler said of representing Brick Memorial.
"Yeah, we lost a lot of seniors, but all we got to do is stay close with the younger guys and stay close to each other.
Our standard is still held to be high." Fowler said spending the past two seasons alongside Matthews, Whittaker and Lajara helped prepare him for the role.
"We would go to the fields late almost every other day with Jason and all the older guys," Fowler said.
"People don't understand how close we were.
We learned a lot from each other, and that helped tremendously." "He's so athletic and talented and fast," Mahoney said.
"But his biggest quality is how intelligent he is.
He's able to play every spot.
He can play all three receiver positions, some running back, some quarterback, and even multiple spots in the secondary." In the backfield, Brick Memorial is expected to rely on a committee approach featuring junior Nymir Goodwin alongside seniors Colin Schoellkopf and Jack Marrota.
Schoellkopf earned second-team all-division honors as a linebacker last season, while Marrota was recognized as an all-division kicker, giving the Mustangs two experienced veterans stepping into expanded offensive roles.
Division I talent in the trenches Brick Memorial's biggest advantage entering 2026 in A South will be in the trenches, where the Mustangs return one of the Shores most accomplished groups.
The offensive line is anchored by All-Shore selection Jaxon Ellis, who helped pave the way for an offense that averaged more than 33 points per game last season.
Beyond football, Ellis is also one of New Jersey's top shot put throwers and has drawn Division I interest in track and field, including visits to several Ivy League programs.
Alongside him is all-division tackle Logan Perry, whose physical style and growing college recruitment make him another cornerstone of the unit.
On the defensive side, Jaxon Pacheco and Joe Livio headline a front that combines experience with college-level talent.
Pacheco enters his senior season with an FCS offer from Rhode Island and a preferred walk-on opportunity at Virginia Tech, while Livio has picked up an FCS offer from Stonehill as recruiting interest continues to grow for both players.
"Our intensity and proving everybody wrong," Ellis said.
"A lot of people are counting us out.
I really think we're going to prove everybody wrong and really shock some people." That mentality starts with protecting Pierce.
Perry said the offensive line's job remains unchanged regardless of who's taking the snaps.
"Even though Jason Lajara's gone, it's still the same with Tyler Pierce," Perry said.
"Keep protecting him always.
Stay physical up front." Livio, meanwhile, embodies the toughness Mahoney expects from his team.
A two-way starter at tight end and defensive end, Livio rarely comes off the field and embraces the demanding workload that comes with it.
"It's so tiring," Livio said.
"One-way players get to go on the bench after a drive.
For two-way players, you've got to stay out there and work hard.
That means your coaches trust you." As one of the program's veteran leaders, Livio hopes the younger players understand what it takes to sustain Brick Memorial's success.
"Don't take any days off," Livio said.
"You've got to grind for everything, and don't take it for granted.
It goes by fast." The Brick Memorial standard Brick Memorial opens the season against Wall before embarking on one of the Shore Conference's most demanding schedules.
The Mustangs will also face division powers Toms River North, Donovan Catholic, Jackson Township, Point Pleasant Borough and Southern, leaving little room for error each week.
Despite the difficult road ahead and the graduation of several program-defining players, Mahoney believes success will come from the same principles that fueled last year's championship run.
"We have to stand out doing the little things," Mahoney said.
"Being disciplined, working hard in the weight room, taking care of the football, being gap sound on defense and being better in the kicking game." Mahoney has repeatedly emphasized that while the Mustangs may not have the same household names as a year ago, they return a roster full of players who patiently developed in reserve roles before earning their opportunity to lead.
That confidence has spread throughout the locker room, where the expectations have remained unchanged despite the offseason turnover.
Perry said the team isn't satisfied with simply returning to contention after last year's sectional championship.
"We're going to go win a championship," Perry said.
"We're going to go farther than we did last year and keep working every day." For Pacheco, staying at Brick Memorial made last year's title especially meaningful.
Now entering his senior season as the Shores top defensive linemen, he has his sights set on accomplishing something even greater.
"It was everything," Pacheco said.
"But now I want to go back-to-back." The message throughout Brick Memorial's program has remained remarkably consistent since Mahoney took over: the names may have changed, but the standard hasn't.
If the Mustangs are to add another championship banner in 2026, they'll do it the same way they've built one of the Shore Conference's premier programs - with toughness.
Brick Memorial football 2026 schedule Aug.
27: Wall, 6 p.m.
Sept.
3: At Brick, 6 p.m.
Sept.
11: Donovan Catholic, 6 p.m.
Sept.
18: Toms River North, 6 p.m.
Sept.
25: At Point Boro, 6:30 p.m.
Oct.
2: Neptune, 6 p.m.
Oct.
9: At Jackson, 6:30 p.m.
Oct.
16: At Rumson-Fair Haven, 7 p.m.
Oct.
23: Southern, 6 p.m.