After stumbling to back-to-back losing seasons during the height of the pandemic, the Golden Knights re-established themselves as a Bergen County power by winning a state title in 2022 and reaching a sectional final last season.
Stylistically, the Golden Knights (9-2) showed that they could win any way last season. They ranked third in North Jersey in points per game, racked up five shutouts on defense and had a special teams ace in current Nebraska freshman Nico Ottomanelli.
Motivation doesn't seem to be lacking now as coach Brian Dunn prepares for his 25th season. This year's team enters the season ranked No. 6 in the North Jersey Public Top 20.
With an experienced offensive group led by quarterback and Johns Hopkins commit Alex Orecchio, the Golden Knights are eager to build on the foundation in place and stay atop the Super Football Conference Patriot Blue division.
"I think overall this summer and this offseason, we've put in a lot more work than we have in the previous years," senior linebacker Robert Agans said at SFC Media Day. "More days in the gym. More days on the field, practicing and getting ready for the season."
Not many teams have been more successful than Old Tappan since Dunn took over. The Golden Knights have reached the state playoffs in 14 straight years - excluding 2020, when the tournament was put on hold.
"I think definitely this year we've been a lot more tight-knit of a team," senior running back and linebacker Nick Rossi said. "We had a lot more team bonding events this year. We've definitely become more close than we were last year. I think that's something that in my sophomore year, we were very good at."
Old Tappan will always be known as the first North Jersey public school to win a true state title. The Golden Knights earned that honor in 2022 by going all the way in the first year of expanded playoffs.
Three other Old Tappan teams claimed sectional titles. The first came in 1985 when the Golden Knights finished on top of North 1, Group 3. The next two came in 2015 and 2017 as a member of North 1, Group 4.
Dunn stands as the program's all-time wins leader with a 175-83 record.
The challenge
For Old Tappan, the schedule is full of heavy hitters.
The Golden Knights open up with returning state finalist West Essex and will face three top-10 teams down the road.
One other challenge will be rebuilding most of the line after losing Jack Small to Duke and Dennis Delaney to Norwich after all-county caliber seasons.
Expectations
Old Tappan has the makings of another formidable team.
Orecchio is coming off a monster junior year at QB, throwing for 21 touchdowns and adding 11 on the ground. The Golden Knights also bring back their rushing leader in Rossi (918 yards) and a capable No. 1 receiver in Ronan Malady.
Old Tappan will be younger than usual with 10 seniors, but Dunn sees a good group of up-and-comers who "how to live up to the work ethic that we pride ourselves on".
"I think the question for us is just the youth and whether we're up to the physicality of the schedule," Dunn said. "We pride ourselves on playing physical and being tough but with young kids you don't know until they get on the field how they are going to respond."