Former Bergen Catholic Soccer Player Brings Leg to Paramus Football

Because he lettered in soccer last season, Luka Stojanovic would have to wait 30 days to play after transferring from Bergen Catholic to .

Instead, the 5-foot-7, 142-pound Stojanovic, who recently celebrated his 18^th birthday, decided to try out for the PHS football team.

“I’ve always wanted to try out kicking,” he said, “but I never really went through with it [before].”

Stojanovic helps fill a void for the Spartans, who have been searching for a kicker, and the former Crusader earned the job.

“I'm loving it so far,” Stojanovic said.

Stojanovic follows other former soccer players Dustin Schwartz and Tony Nadera, who kicked for PHS in the past.

“He’s fit in well,” head coach Dan Sabella said. “His teammates like him. He definitely has a strong leg, he seems to be adjusting well [and] he’s a big upgrade to our kickoff team.”

Quarterback Mike Bussanich is happy to have a new addition to the team.

“It’s great having a new kicker around,” the senior signal caller said. “Those three points [he can provide] can make a difference.”

Not only is Bussanich pleased with what he sees on the field, he also feels that Stojanovic has the right mindset.

“He’s a good kid,” Bussanich said. “He listens and he has heart.”

Stojanovic completed his first career field goal against Saint Joseph Regional.

“I was a bit nervous before the field goal [attempt,]” he said. “But I was very confident as well. I knew that it was well within my range. Being able to put up some points on a fourth down is always a good thing.”

Stojanovic admits the transition between sports wasn’t easy at first.

“The adjustment from soccer to football was a little rough in the beginning, because kicking a football, you kick it hard every time," he said. "My leg felt a little strained at the beginning.”

But when it came to fitting in as a new personality in the locker room, Stojanovic said, “The team seems to like me and I get along with everybody pretty well, including all the coaches. They're a great group of kids and I feel like I developed a friendship with many of them.”

Stojanovic credits Sabella and assistant coach Jeff Katzner for helping him acclimate to his new sport.

“I enjoy football a lot,” the senior said. “I feel like it develops a strong sense of character and team. I spend so many hours with the team that I started to feel like the team is my family now.”

Stojanovic spends team practices working with Katzner, who helps him stretch before kicking field goals and kick offs.

“The ball flies off his foot,” Katzner said. “He’s a natural. He wants to work, very agreeable to anything. You almost have to pull him back and say, ‘you’ve kicked enough.’”

Katzner noted that on field goal attempts, Stojanovic is “money” from the left hash, but still needs some work from the right side.

Stojanovic missed a field goal in Paramus’ 38-0 loss to Wayne Hills, but he didn’t draw ire from his coach.

“The thing I like about him is he’s a competitor,” Sabella said of his kicker. “He’s one of those guys who says, 'Give me another shot.'”

Stojanovic is content with leaving soccer behind and has fallen in love with football. He’d like to play at the next level, if possible.

“It would be great if I got recruited somewhere to kick in college,” he said. “If I improve on my kicking, I could always also walk on in college, which would be great too.”