The Cinnaminson High School football team wrapped up an exciting season with a trip to the state playoffs. Although the year ended with a tough Halloween loss to Holmdel, the Pirates showed major growth through hard work, teamwork, and leadership.

“It’s definitely been an up-and-down season in terms of wins and losses,” Coach Bobby Murray said. “But this team has a lot of fight. Every game was a battle.”

The Pirates started the year trading wins and losses, but found their rhythm late in the season. Their strong finish earned them a playoff spot in the South Jersey Group II bracket, a big achievement considering their tough schedule.

Senior leaders like Jason Straub, Dominic DelGrippo, Jackson Machado, and John and Christian Minniti helped guide a younger roster and set the standard for effort and commitment.

“Our seniors did a great job laying the foundation for what a senior class should do,” Murray said.

Senior Christian Minniti said the team made huge progress. 

“We started off kind of slow, but by the end of the season, we really picked it up. We came together and made the playoffs, which was a big goal for us,” Minniti said.

After a tough 35-0 loss to Delran in mid-September, the team regrouped and found a new focus. 

“We realized everyone had to contribute, from starters to scout players,” DelGrippo said. “Once we did that, things started to change.”

Some standout performances helped fuel the Pirates’ playoff push. DelGrippo led the offense with 11 touchdowns and 540 rushing yards, while junior quarterback Maddox Scott threw for 474 passing yards, helping Cinnaminson stay competitive in every game.

Coach Murray said the team represented what Cinnaminson football is all about. 

“We’ve got a lot to be proud of. The seniors showed great leadership, and now the younger players know what it takes,” Murray said.

With many players returning next year, Cinnaminson hopes to build on this success and make an even deeper playoff run in 2026.