Nutley players work on running with the ball during a drill at practice in August at the Park Oval.
NUTLEY — The Nutley High School football team qualified for the state sectional playoffs in each of the past two seasons.
If you ask head coach Chris Helm, this year’s Maroon Raiders, especially the seniors, want to “keep it going” and earn another playoff berth. Nutley finished 4-6 last season after losing to Mount Olive in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 state playoffs.
The Raiders’ team-first mentality and work ethic will certainly go a long way toward achieving that goal.
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“This is a really good group of kids,” said Helm, a 2001 NHS graduate and former standout Raider running back-linebacker, prior to a practice session on Aug. 12. “They really killed it in the weight room. I think they are excited.
“They are very selfless players. They don’t care who scores or what their stats are; they want to see the scoreboard read the right way at the end of the game.”
Nutey opened the 2026 season with a heartbreaking 31-29 loss at Pascack Valley on Friday, Aug. 28.
This year’s seniors on the team were Helm’s first group when he took over as head coach in 2023 and they understand the system and process.
Among the returning seniors are quarterback Brady King, running back-linebacker Aidan Rotbaum, skill player Dom Saladino and two-way linemen Nolan Brewer, Matty Richards and Matt Iannitelli. Rotbaum, a county and district wrestling champion, is a four-year starter.
“He is a good leader,” Helm said. “He is tough and a scrappy kid.”
Brewer is another standout wrestler who was a district champion and reached the state championships in Atlantic City.
King returns at quarterback and has grown physically since his sophomore year. He especially had a standout summer at 7-on-7s, Helm noted. Last year, he passed for more than 1,100 yards to lead the Raiders. The defense will be sparked by Rotbaum and junior linebacker Devin Telcide. Junior Louie Pizzano will join Brewer, Richards and Iannittelli to form a strong D-line.
In the secondary, sophomore Max McCarthy, who is a backup QB, is particularly intriguing after gaining reps in last year’s playoff game.
Helm is encouraged by this year’s defense, which is “way ahead” of any other defense that he’s had so far in his Raider tenure. If the Raiders make the playoffs, it will be especially well-earned. The schedule is extremely challenging, Helm said, with such formidable foes as Pascack Valley in the opener, Wayne Hills, West Essex and Montclair, not to mention Bloomfield, which has become a rival over the years.
“We have a very tough schedule,” Helm said. “We’re just taking it one game at a time. If we stay healthy, we should be alright.”
The Raiders lost to Pascack Valley 31-29 in the season opener at PV in Montvale.
King was 12-of-25 passing for 180 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and he ran for two TDs, finishing with 18 rushing yards on five carries.
Rotbaum rushed for 41 yards on 16 carries.
Saladino had five catches for 122 yards and a TD, and senior receiver Henry Nalvarte (two catches for 9 yards) also had a TD catch. Defensively, senior linebacker Avian Santana had nine tackles with 1.5 sacks and Rotbaum, junior defensive back Ryan Puleo and junior LB Devin Telcide each had seven tackles.
Schedule
Aug. 28: loss, at Pascack Valley, 31-29
Sept. 4: at Orange, 7 p.m.
Sept. 10: vs. Weequahic, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 18: vs. Wayne Hills, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 26: vs. Newark Central, 1 p.m.
Oct. 2: at Wayne Valley, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 9: at Bloomfield, 6 p.m.
Oct. 16: vs. Montclair, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 23: at West Essex, 6:30 p.m.
Photos by Joe Ragozzino
Photos: Raiders practice at the Park Oval
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