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The old saying that “fortune favors the bold” may be taking a bit longer than expected to manifest for Lyndhurst.
Coach Rich Tuero Jr. showed confidence in his Golden Bears during two critical, late-game situations last season. They tried for two points and a win after a fourth-quarter touchdown at Becton, but they were stopped and fell short, 14-13.
Lyndhurst finished one game behind the Wildcats for the NJIC Colonial division title and a spot in the conference playoffs for the second year in a row.
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“And they were both one-score games,” Tuero noted.
Two weeks later, the Golden Bears faced fourth-and-goal from the one on the final play against Glen Rock, but the Panthers held on for a 17-10 win.
Lyndhurst then wound up with the No. 8 seed for the North 2, Group 2 sectional playoffs and ran into powerful Shabazz in its opener, finishing 6-4.
“We were two plays away from having a two-loss season,” Tuero said. “If we’re disciplined enough and are able to just focus on what we need to execute in those tough moments… that’s going to make the difference this season, without a doubt.”
Numerous starters who learned from those tough moments are returning, and Tuero believes in challenging his Golden Bears to be bolder Bears.
“We have a tough schedule, but that’s how we like it,” he said, “because of the way power points go and everything else. It’s definitely more beneficial to have a harder schedule than an easier schedule.”
The tradition
Lyndhurst long has been known for its physical and mental toughness, which led to the program becoming a powerhouse from the late 1940s through the 1950s.
The Golden Bears were awarded 10 sectional championships in a 12-season span – pre-NJSIAA playoffs – with eight coming during the tenure of Eddie Zak (1950-61). He remains No. 2 on the team’s win list with a 69-30-4 record.
Joe Cippola (1962-74), the namesake of Lyndhurst’s home field, followed with a 63-49-3 mark and three sectional titles, including an 8-1, six-shutout campaign in 1973.
Tuero (61-53-1) begins his 13th season ranked No. 4 all-time in wins for the Golden Bears, and defense will be at the forefront for 2026.
The challenge
Several rising seniors will be involved on both sides of the ball, including QB/LB Jayson Bellenger (14 TD passes) and RB/LB Allen Frias (413 rushing yards, 3 TD).
That duo, plus “Chris Penny, Anthony Ricigliano – all my linebackers are back,” Tuero said. “Three out of four defensive backs are back. … I feel pretty strong about our defense and what’s returning.”
The biggest challenges, therefore, will be on the other side of the ball. Three offensive linemen graduated, and 1,000-yard rusher Avery Cano transferred to DePaul, primarily for basketball.
“Obviously, I was upset that I lost Avery, he’s a very good player,” Tuero said. “But it’s not like, ‘Oh, we’re done.’ It was more like, ‘All right, next man up’.”
Expectations
Lyndhurst is in the thick of conference- and state-tournament contention every year, and this one will be no exception.
Frias and rising seniors Naim Davis and Randy Leon all have experience rushing and receiving, so Bellenger will have offensive options to lean on as the line continues to jell.
Westwood and Shabazz were the only two teams to top 20 points against the Golden Bears ‘D’ last fall, and those two teams met in the Group 2 state semifinals.
That Tuero’s team remains tough is a given. Perhaps it is just a matter of time before fortune follows their boldness.
“The difference is going to be in our discipline in the tough moments,” the coach said. “When adversity hits, how are we going to respond?”
2026 schedule
Aug. 27: vs. Hanover Park
Sept. 3: vs. Rutherford
Sept. 11: vs. Lodi
Sept. 18: at Garfield
Sept. 25: at Governor Livingston
Oct. 2: vs. Becton
Oct. 9: at Manchester
Oct. 16: TBD
Oct. 23: TBD
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Lyndhurst football focused on making winning plays in 2026
