The 'win-now' mode is in full effect in Kinnelon.
And based on traditional timeline expectations, third-year coach Dustin Grande is right on schedule.
Since taking over at the Morris County school in 2022, Grande has spent his first two years establishing the foundation for a winning program.
Last year, the Colts turned in another winning season, going 5-4 and qualifying for the NJSIAA playoffs for the second straight year. If they finish above .500 again this fall, it would mark the first time since the 1960s that the program posted three straight winning seasons.
“We’ve put together two good years and I like the direction the program is going,” Grande said. “We’re building a winning culture here and the athletes and community have bought in. We’re working with the youth-level coaches and establishing and teaching what we do on the high school level. There’s a lot that goes into building a program. The kids have responded.”
The Colts return five starters on offense and another seven returning on defense. Three of the five back on offense are skill position players, led by three-year starting quarterback Zach Grande (932 yards, 10 touchdowns).
“Having a three-year starter at quarterback is comforting for any coach. Zach has a good understanding of the offense and the game. He’s like another coach on the field,” Grande said. “We’ve had success running the ball over the last two years, but we’re going to open it up a bit with our passing game.”
The Colts recently participated at the competitive East Stroudsburg Camp, where they had the opportunity to compete against larger Group 3 and 4 schools.
“We were the smallest school in attendance and we held our own,” Grande said. “We got a lot of good reps and learned a lot in the time we were there. It was a good gauge of where we are at this time.”
The tradition
Kinnelon won its first and only sectional title in 2012 in North 1, Group 2. Since then, the Colts have qualified for the postseason three times (2019, 2022 and 2023).
Last year, Kinnelon lost to top-seeded and eventual Group 1 champion Mountain Lakes in the sectional quarterfinals. The Colts are now 4-5 all-time in the postseason.
The challenge
The Colts are inexperienced up front and must fill three holes on the offensive line. With two starters back, Grande expects it’s just a matter of time before the line gels and gets up to speed.
While Kinnelon averaged 29 points per game last season, it’s defense surrendered 26 points per game. Limiting the opposition’s scoring is a high priority.
Expectations
After showing year-over-year improvement the last two seasons, and with several starters back on both sides, it’s realistic to think that the Colts will continue to progress and take another step.
“We have starters back in key spots and quite a few of them have big-game experience,” Grande said. “We have some issues with depth, but that’s a common theme at small schools. We have the opportunity to spread out our offense and mix it up. It’s something we haven’t been able to do consistently the last two years.”
Schedule
Aug. 30: Lenape Valley
Sept. 6: at Verona
Sept. 13: vs. Wallkill Valley
Sept. 20: at Whippany Park
Sept. 27: vs. Pequannock
Oct. 4: vs. Boonton
Oct. 10: at Hopatcong
Oct. 18: vs. Shabazz
Oct. 25: at North Warren
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