HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW / SUFFOLK DIVISION I: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition 1]
Reported by Gregg Sarra. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 16 Sep 2001:
1. SACHEM (8-2)
Coach: Fred Fusaro (31st year).
Key Players: Senior FB/LB Joe Muratore (5-11, 220), senior QB/DB Joe Guiliano (6-0, 195), senior DB/WR Ryan Howard (6-2, 180), senior OT/LB Chris Geshan (6-1, 235), senior TB/DB Matt Rickert (5-9, 205), senior OL/DL Pierce Brennan (6-1, 240).
Top Newcomers: Junior TB/DB Charles Hall (6-1, 185), junior OL/DL Jason Fautas (5-10, 215), junior DB/TB Mike Soto (5-9, 175).
Comment: Sachem looks to reach the playoffs for the 20th straight season. The Flaming Arrows’ lone Long Island championship game appearance was in 1995, a 14-7 loss to Lawrences. They have an outstanding corps of skilled position players and a large offensive line. Coach Fred Fusaro, who nearly retired after last season, comes back for at least one more season and would love to go out with a title. All-Long Island tight end Brian Nutter will be hard to replace, but 12 returning starters should overcome that.
2. COMMACK (9-2)
Coach: John Foley (sixth year).
Key Players: Senior WR/SS Sean Malone (6-0, 180), senior QB/FS Keith Connors (6-0, 180), senior FB/DE Chad Ellis (6-1, 240), senior TB/LB Jeff Dena (5-9, 160), senior TE/LB Jordan Klein (6-1, 205).
Top Newcomers: Senior FB/LB Matt Miglio (5-9, 210), junior G/DT Bill Wilensky (6-0, 210), junior G/LB Brian Connelly (6-1, 210).
Comment: The Cougars are coming off the best season in school history. They marched into the Long Island Class I championship game on the strength of a record-breaking quarterback (Mike Prahalis) and a record-breaking wideout (Bryan Tornee). The defense was anchored by middle linebacker Clint Riggs, an All-Long Island selection who lit up opposing offensive units. The schedule was relatively soft for the eighth seed last season; that won’t be the case in 2001. The Cougars are ready for a schedule that includes the top seven seeds and concludes at Sachem and Lindenhurst in two of the final four weeks.
3. FLOYD (4-4)
Coach: Paul Longo (seventh year).
Key Players: Senior WR/CB Charlie Trent, senior G/DE Justin Crisci (6-3, 275), senior WR/SS Matt Miller (6-0, 180), senior HB/CB Chad Rissland (5-10, 165).
Top Newcomers: Junior OG/DT Mike Kmiotek (6-0, 240), senior QB/SS Henry Ford (6-2, 200).
Comment: The Colonials, who were denied a playoff spot last year, find themselves in a difficult position as the third seed with games against top-seeded Sachem and at No. 2 Commack within a three-week span. Those games come in the first half of the season and will go a long way toward determining the Division I playoff picture. The Colonials have eight players returning on the defense and that should key a playoff drive.
4. PATCHOGUE-MEDFORD (3-5)
Coach: James Chiarella (first year).
Key Players: Senior QB Mike Farrell (6-1, 210), senior OL/DL Matt Speis (6-0, 280), junior OL/DL Mike Smeja (6-0, 180), senior FB/LB Dan Silva (5-11, 215), junior RB/SS Alan D’Meza (6-2, 215).
Top Newcomers: Junior TB/FS Alex Baez (5-10, 175).
Comment: Coach Bob Sconone is gone after eight years and two Long Island championships in 1996 and ’97. He will assist at East Islip while rookie coach James Chiarello tries to pick up the pieces for Patchogue-Medford, which didn’t make the playoffs the last two years. The transition won’t be easy, but the Red Raiders have a winning tradition, and the return of an abundance of linemen should help send them in the right direction.
5. SMITHTOWN (3-5)
Coach: Jim Saladino (second year).
Key Players: Senior QB/D Gordon Jacobs (6-0, 180), senior FB/LB Louis Serpico (5-11, 195), senior RB/DB Michael McManus (5-8, 165), senior RB/DB Adam Sherrard (5-8, 160).
Top Newcomers: Junior RB/DB Graig Superina (5-7, 150), junior LB/ OL Keith Lizzi (5-9, 185), junior C/DL Ryan Thomas (5-8, 240).
Comment: Twelve starters return, and players moving up from a talented junior varsity will strengthen the Bulls. Coach Jim Saladino is pleased with the offseason workout regimen and the return of his skilled position players. “We can make a playoff run,” Saladino said.
6. LINDENHURST (7-3)
Coach: Rich Biancanello (19th year).
Key Players: Senior Danny Salvaggio WR/DB (5-11, 173), senior C.J. Mulhearn OG/DT (5-10, 230), senior OG/DT Lou Falco (6-3, 278), senior LB/RB Matt Mendell (5-10, 167), senior WR/LB Charles Ankner (6-2, 183).
Top Newcomers: Junior QB Matt Quigley (6-0, 172), senior TE John Cronin (6-2, 235), senior DE David Hartzler (6-0, 179).
Comment: Lindenhurst has reached the playoffs in 13 of the past 18 years. The defense remains strong and there is still a load of experience on the line and in the secondary. The Bulldogs handed Commack its only regular-season loss, solving the Cougars’ quick- strike offense. But the Bulldogs were beaten soundly in the divisional semifinal round by Commack.
7. NORTHPORT (3-5)
Coach: Kip Lukralle (16th year).
Key Players: Senior QB Kyle Dowd (5-10, 180), sophomore WR Terri Ross (6-2, 175), senior RB Ray Morales (5-11, 185), senior OG/LB Nick Mele (5-11, 200), senior C/DT Bill Mallon (5-11, 210), senior RB/SS Ryan Lang (5-11, 185).
Top Newcomers: Junior RB/CB Elvis Ramos (5-6, 150), junior RB/LB Nick Augusta (5-10, 195), junior TE/LB James Woods (5-11, 200).
Comment: The Tigers will rely on an experienced offense to make a run at the playoffs. Coack Kip Lukralle said the skill position players are excellent and he believes the team can improve.
8. BRENTWOOD (2-6)
Coach: Bob Kolar (fifth year).
Key Players: Senior QB/LB Tom Blumenauer (6-2, 190), senior TE/K Tony Torres (6-0, 230), junior OT/LB Justin Orcel (6-1, 210).
Top Newcomers: Sophomore TB/LB Malik Brown (5-10, 170), freshman FB/LB Dominick Lorenson (6-1, 185).
Comment: Very young group that coach Bob Kolar believes gets better in practice every day. Will depend on a few veterans to carry the team. Opens the season against Cental Islip, a playoff team last season. Blumenauer and Torres lead the offense; the defense is young.
9. WARD MELVILLE (3-5)
Coach: Craig Perrino (fifth year).
Key Players: Senior OG/LB Tim Stratton (5-11, 215), senior OG/LB Anthony Belvedere (5-11, 225), senior QB Brian Lange (6-0, 180), senior HB/DB Joe Tangredi (5-10, 170).
Top Newcomers: Junior QB/DB Brian Gray (5-10, 160), junior TE/OLB Dave Schwartzberg (6-0, 215).
Comment: Ward Melville had one of the lowest-scoring offenses in the division with only 86 points last season. It’s expected to get much better in 2001. They had a 7-1 JV and a group of experienced seniors to improve on last year’s finish.
10. CENTRAL ISLIP (5-4)
Coach: Tom Black (13th year).
Key Players: Senior quarterback Nate Mickle (5-11, 185), senior OG/ LB J.T. Andreassi (6-5, 200), senior RB Valdmir Silverio (6-0, 175).
Top Newcomers: Junior LB Steve Goode (5-10, 200), junior OT/DT Jamie Harley (6-3, 215).
Comment: The Musketeers earned a playoff berth behind halfback Steven Davis and a strong offensive line. They drop to the 10th seed with 31 varsity players and an inexperienced line, but coach Tom Black believes they can compete every week.
11. LONGWOOD (0-8)
Coach: John Murphy (second year).
Key Players: Senior FB/MLB David LaGala (5-9, 185), senior TB/DB Tremaine France (5-7, 160), senior OG/DT Chris King (6-2, 300), senior OT/DT James Sanders (6-5, 305), senior RB/DB Joe Ritacco (5- 5, 150).
Top Newcomers: Junior RB/LB Ricky Bullock (6-0, 230), junior OT/ LB John Moran (6-2, 240).
Comment: The Lions are just three years removed from winning the Long Island Class I championship in 1998. But the upheaval in the coaching staff and a weak senior class last season decimated a proud program and left the Lions winless for the first time since 1990. Longwood backed into the playoffs after a 14-6 loss to Central Islip in 1999. The Lions have lost 10 straight games.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL / WEEK 1 /
Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 23 Sep 2001:
Connetquot 31, Longwood 14: Tailback Chris Tomasky rushed for 158 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown to lead No. 12 Connetquot. Rich DeJesus had six catches for 92 yards for the Thunderbirds. Mike Frasca rushed for 64 yards on 10 carries as Connetquot totaled 283 yards. Mike Napolitano led the Connetquot defense with 11 solo tackles. Mark Colbert added seven solo tackles, four extra points and a field goal.
Ward Melville 21, Longwood 7: Michael Ward scored touchdowns three different ways to lead Ward Melville (2-0). He caught a 46-yard pass from Brian Lange to tie the score at 7 with under a minute left in the second quarter. Ward then capped a 12-play, 65-yard drive on Ward Melville’s second possession of the third quarter for a 14-7 lead. Ward also intercepted a pass midway through the fourth quarter and returned it 53 yards for a score to seal the win.
Joe Ippolitto had 11 tackles to lead the Melville defense. Tremaine France scored from 6 yards as Longwood (0-2) took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 30 Sep 2001:
Northport 21, Longwood 0: Quarterback Kyle Dowd rushed for 75 yards on five carries and two touchdowns (55 and 2) for Northport on Friday night. Dowd completed 11 of 20 passes for 150 yards. His favorite target was sophomore wide receiver Terri Ross, who had 125 yards on six receptions. Northport (3-0) held Longwood (0-3) to 160 total yards as linebacker Jim Woods, end Keith Herskowitz and tackle John Brennan contributed seven tackles apiece. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 07 Oct 2001:
Floyd 35, Longwood 7: Chad Rissland broke a 75-yarder for a touchdown with 1:51 remaining in the third quarter to give Floyd (4- 0) a 28-7 lead Friday night. Rissland then intercepted a pass to stop a drive by Longwood (0-4) deep in Floyd territory with 7:37 left in the game. Rissland finished with 144 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Colonials quarterback Henry Ford completed 7 of 11 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 14 Oct 2001:
Smithtown 24, Longwood 21: Michael McManus scored on a 4-yard sweep with 4:20 remaining and Gordon Jacobs kicked the extra point to win it for Smithtown (3-2). Jacobs completed 10 of 15 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns. Longwood (0-5) took a 21-17 lead when Joe Taddeo scored on a 1-yard run. Oct. 21
| Longwood 7077 – 21 |
| Smithtown 7737 – 24 |
| L-Taddeo 1 run (Pepe kick) |
S-Seedorf 11 pass from Jacobs (Jacobs kick)
S-Guidice 6 pass from Jacobs (kick)
S-FG Jacobs 31
L-Francis 30 pass from Elsalam (Pepe kick)
L-Taddeo 1 run (Pepe kick)
S-McManus 4 run (Jacobs kick)
Longwood 47, Newfield 12: Tremaine France rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and David Lagala ran for 74 yards and a score on seven carries for Longwood (1-5). Linebacker Joe Taddio (eight sacks) led a defense that totaled 14 sacks, according to coach John Murphy. Newfield is 0-6. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 28 Oct 2001:
Longwood 35, Bay Shore 13: Tremaine France rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries and Stephen Francis had three interceptions to lead the defense for Longwood (2-5) in Division I. Joe Ritacco rushed for 81 yards on eight carries and scored on a 27- yard run to give Longwood a 35-7 advantage in the fourth quarter. Longwood amassed 412 yards on 56 carries and David LaGala paced the defense with 16 tackles (eight solo). Bay Shore is 0-7. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 04 Nov 2001:
Central Islip 27, Longwood 0: Vladimir Silverio (133 yards, 18 carries) ran for a 33-yard score in the second quarter to cap an eight-play, 80-yard drive as Central Islip (5-3) took a 13-0 lead Friday night. Nate Mickle threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Haslip to extend CI’s lead to 19-0. Longwood is 2-6. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 11 Nov 2001