With football season in the heart of the season and players starting to make a name for themselves, we cannot help to think of hero's of past years.  We hunted down some of the old Iron Hills stars to find out what their up to these days.

We caught up with Kevin Barnes, Brett Bononno and Tyler Berntsen of last year's Iron Hills Champions.  Joining in on the action were Justin Doniloski and Matt Marotta of Morris Hills 2008 State Finals season.  Also along for the conversation were last year's Hills Division studs in Cam Wood from Chatham and Pete Nagy from Hanover Park.  Mt. Olive's All County lineman Kyle Hopler also joined in.

We discussed what their college experience is like, what their favorite high school football moment was and what their message to their former team is.  Enjoy!

Name: Kevin Barnes
Former school: West Morris Central
Year graduated: 2009
College attending: Montclair State University
Sport playing: Lacrosse
Major: Health & Phys. Ed.
Biggest difference about college ball: The speed and the amount of time spent conditioning and lifting.
Favorite high school football moment: Senior year homecoming game when we beat Livingston in OT 28-27
Message to your former football team: Don’t take anything for granted play every game like your not going to step on the field ever again. Play to the ability you know you can every single down.

Name: Cam Wood
Former school: Chatham High School
Year graduated: 2009
College attending: University of North Carolina
Sport playing: Lacrosse
Biggest difference about college ball: The biggest difference between high school sports and D1 is the pace at which everything moves. The demand to know the playbook is also a huge transition because there is so much information.
Favorite high school football moment: My favorite high school football moment was when we beat Caldwell in the state semi’s my junior year.
Message to your former football team: I’m really happy to hear of all your success. Keep it up and leave it all on the field because you may never play football again and it really is like no other sport.

Name: Tyler Berntsen
Former school: West Morris Central
Year graduated: 2009
High school nickname: Tyler “3rd Degree” Berntsen
College attending: Monmouth University
Sport playing: Football
About the college football transition: I was recruited as an athlete. The first day a camp I received a defensive playbook for safety. Very next day they converted me to tight end. I would love to play quarterback, but tight end is a great opportunity for me here a Monmouth.
Biggest difference about college ball: The biggest difference would have to be the speed of the game and the size of everyone else. Coming in as a freshman you are longer one of the top guys on your team, whatever you did in high school no longer matters.
Favorite high school football moment: The classic game with Livingston. Both teams exploding to score 21 points each in the first half, it was anyones game. Then for the second half we were scoreless and went overtime. Coach decided to go for the two-point conversion in OT. In the huddle we all knew we would get it done. Coach Hennelly believed in us to get the job done, and Coach Wydner called a play that there were so many options to go with the ball. I hit Brett Bonnono on a Red Doubles Joker Flood Pass Right to win the game in overtime. It was a great win for us coming off a loss to Morristown the week before, and Livingston was coming in undefeated. The crowd rushed the field, it was just awesome. Our team has so much respect for Livingston, we were very happy that they were able to represent the Iron Division and win the State Championship. Also it would have to be winning the very last Iron Hills Conference Championship.
Message to your former football team: Savor every moment, because you will never forget it. The lights in the Valley, and the feeling you get running through that tunnel is something you will never forget. There is nothing like high school football.

Name: Justin Doniloski
Former school: Morris Hills
Year graduated: 2008
High school nickname: J.D., Justin D.
College attending: The College of New Jersey
Sport playing: Football
Biggest difference about college ball: I would definitely say the biggest difference from high school to college is the speed of the game. Everyone and everything is much faster now and it’s a big adjustment that you have to make.
Favorite high school football moment: Although we didn't win the State Championship my senior year, everything about Giants Stadium and leading up to the game was the best moment for me. Just having so much support from the entire community, it was awesome to be part of that.
Message to your former football team: Your time in high school goes really fast so for the seniors, make sure you play every game like it’s your last one and leave it all on the field.

Name: Pete Nagy
Former school: Hanover Park
Year graduated: 2009
High school nickname: The Notorious N.A.G.Y.
College attending: Montclair State University
Sport playing: Football
Biggest difference about college ball: The biggest difference is the high level of commitment it takes to play at the college level.
Favorite high school football moment: My favorite high school football moment was our come from behind victory over Chatham opening day. We were trailing 19-7 in the 4th quarter and we came back to win 20-19 after I blocked the winning field goal attempt.
Message to your former football team: To play every play like it’s your last because there is nothing like playing under the lights on Friday nights.

Name: Matt Marotta
Former school: Morris Hills
Year graduated: 2008
High school nickname: The Beast
College attending: Saint Joseph's University
Sport playing: Rugby
Major: Finance
Biggest difference about college ball: Rugby is a lot of fun and very physical but not quiet the same as football.
Favorite high school football moment: Coming out onto the field at Giants Stadium under the lights with snow coming down on the field. It was the most excited I have ever been. The day didn’t work out too well for us on the whole but it was still a really cool experience.
Message to your former football team: Good luck in the new conference!

Name: Brett Bononno
Former school: West Morris Central
Year graduated: 2009
College attending: Rutgers University
Favorite high school football moment: Two point conversion to beat Livingston
Message to your former football team: Give it 100% boys, because you don't realize how much you'll miss it when it's over. Wack em' Wednesday!

Name: Kyle Hopler
Former school: Mount Olive
Year graduated: 2009
College attending: East Stroudsburg University
Sport playing: Wrestling
Favorite high school football moment: I would have to say my favorite high school football moment was our game against Morristown. Even though we didn’t pull out the win (it was a tie) it was one of the toughest games we played as a team.
Message to your former football team: The three years of varsity football go by way too fast so play every down like it’s your last and have no regrets.

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