CASTLETON, VT. - The Castleton University football team turned the tides a season ago, going 6-4 overall and 4-2 in conference play to return to the upper echelon of ECFC programs. The Spartans look to build on last year’s progress, returning eight starters on offense and five starters on defense.
Ninth-year head coach Tony Volpone re-shuffled the cards in his coaching deck over the summer, naming former defensive coordinator Anthony Marsella as his new offensive coordinator while former graduate assistant coach and Spartan alumnus Tyler Higley returns to Castleton as the team’s defensive coordinator after spending time as the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator at Western New England. Gordon Brown, Lukas Carlson, Greg McGoldrick, Andrew Breting and John Rhoades all return to the staff for another season as well, while 2022 graduate Tony Martinez joins the staff as the wide receivers coach.
The Spartans’ strength lies in its offensive line, with all five starters from 2021 returning to anchor the offense this season. Holding down the fort at left tackle is team captain and 2021 ECFC Offensive Lineman of the Year Tucker Gaudette. Gaudette was also named All-New England by both Noontime Sports and the New England Football Writers. Joe Stimpfel, who spent time at left guard in 2021, was also named to the ECFC All-Conference team in 2021, while Thomas Donovan, Ben Reid and Mitchell Gunther return to the unit as well to block for a stable of running backs in Simon Davis Jr., Lucas Morse and Devin Wollner. Each of the three backs saw substantial success in 2021, with Morse racking up 247 yards rushing in the season finale a season ago.
After seeing action sparingly in his first full collegiate season last fall, Evan Smith looks to take over the reins at quarterback in 2022. He completed nearly 60 percent of passes in 2021, racking up 508 yards and six touchdowns without throwing an interception. His top returning targets this season are Saijon McIntosh, who had a pair of touchdowns a season ago, and Chance Fee, who had the second-most catches on the team in 2021 with 19 receptions for 264 yards and a score. Wyatt Jackson is also back on the outside, with Evan Keegan returning as a red-zone target at tight end.
Defensively, the Spartans’ front-seven saw substantial changes over the summer following the graduation of four All-ECFC honorees, but Castleton has a number of experienced players waiting in the wings to step into starting roles. Second-Team All-ECFC defensive end Andrew Genier returns to anchor the unit, with Jordan Wright back on the opposite side of the line. A number of players—including Robert Guerin, Jacob Gonzalez and Davin McIver—will see action on the interior of the defensive line, while Jacob Griggs. Kristopher Carroll and Kevin McDonough will keep teams at bay from the linebacker position. All three saw significant action last season, with Griggs ranking third on the team in total tackles.
Castleton’s defensive backs bring an abundance of experience to the team, with Ethan Palazetti, Ian DeTulleo, Kyle Ford and Damiyr Martinez returning after playing in starting roles in 2021. Martinez and DeTulleo had a pair of interceptions each, while Martinez and Palazetti tied for the team lead in pass breakups with five each.
On special teams, Noah Crossman returns after setting a Castleton record for made field goals in a season after knocking through 10 of his 13 attempts in 2021. He was also 26-of-29 on point-after attempts, and averaged 54.8 yards per kickoff with seven touchbacks. His 40-yard field goal against Anna Maria was the longest made kick by a Spartan since the 2009 season.
Castleton opens the 2022 campaign at Plymouth State on September 3 before hosting Fitchburg State on Homecoming and Family Weekend on September 10. The Spartans then travel to Norwich on September 17 before playing back-to-back weeks at home against St. Lawrence and Dean on September 24 and October 1, respectively. On October 8, the Spartans travel south to Gallaudet before taking on Maritime (N.Y.) at home on October 15. A road trip to Keystone on October 22 continues ECFC play before Castleton returns for the final home game of the season on October 29 against Alfred State. The Spartans wrap up the 2022 regular season at the defending-conference champions Anna Maria on November 12.
