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Are you ready for some football?
The weather may not have changed yet, but the calendar says it’s football season once again. And just as it does every preseason, hope springs eternal for the five Hudson Valley programs in our area, most of which are hoping to improve on disappointing 2006 campaigns. Here’s a look at what to expect in 2007.
When your team goes 1-9 and finishes in last place, there is one benefit. There’s nowhere to go but up.
“We’re trying not to think about what did or didn’t happen last year,” said first-year head coach Dominick DeMatteo. “You can always improve any situation. So far, the kids’ enthusiasm has been outstanding and the community seems very excited. I don’t know if that will translate into wins and losses, but I’m hoping we’ll at least be competitive.”
Dematteo’s approach should help. He’s hoping to take pressure off the results by focusing on a rather unjock-like concept.
“We have five program goals and the first one is for each kid to attain self-actualization. It’s a bit philosophical, but we want each player to be the best he can be as a student, an athlete and a citizen. That’s our focus more than anything.”
As for on-the-field, DeMatteo thinks the strength of this year’s Admirals will be on the offensive line.
“The kids have been really committed in the weight room during the offseason,” he said. “It’s an intelligent bunch.”
The starting quarterback spot is still up for grabs between junior Dylan Rotger and sophomore Sam Loussedes, though DeMatteo said they could split time at the position. Other notable Admirals include senior fullback and strong safety Omar Malcolm, senior offensive and defensive tackle Mike Russo, senior tight end and defensive end Dave Vandeyar and senior split end and free safety Andrew Spenatchio.
Arlington opens its season on Sept. 8 at home against Clarkstown North.
Harry Harrington is entering his second season as the head varsity coach of the Presidents. And so far, he likes what he sees.
“This year, we’re going to be more balanced,” said Harrington. “We’re pretty much pumped up and ready to play.”
Last year’s squad was 4-5, and though Harrington expects improvement, he isn’t setting any specific goals.
“We’ll take it game-by-game,” he said. “We want to have a positive record at the end of the season, but we’re still in the building process.”
Some of the standouts for the Presidents include senior offensive and defensive lineman Mike Cook, senior wide receiver Anthony D’Alessio, senior running back Johnny DiCarlo, senior fullback and defensive end James Harmonay, senior offensive and defensive lineman Alex Trocinol and senior quarterback Will Wing.
“(Our identity) will be determined by the situation,” he said. “But we have a quarterback who can throw the ball and we have some real threats at running back.”
Harrington also said he sees the team’s work ethic as one of its strengths.
“We’re going to have to work for it,” he said. “The kids have been working all summer long. I can’t wait to get started.”
FDR’s season kicks off on Aug. 31 against Kingston.
Second-year head coach Pat Keevins was pleased with the way his squad finished up last season. After starting the season 1-3, Ketcham won its last five games to finish at 6-3. Now Keevins wants to make sure his team comes out of the gate strong in 2007.
“We graduated a lot of seniors,” said Keevins. “But it’s our second year in the program now and I think our players have a better handle on the offensive and defensive schemes. Last year we struggled early. It’s not easy for high school kids to learn entirely new systems. But by the end of the year, we were putting 40 points per game on the board.”
Keevins said his offense got a reputation for running the ball in 2006, but is looking to spread things out a bit in the upcoming season.
“We’ve got an athletic quarterback (junior Peter Objay) we’re confident in,” Keevins said. “We’re looking to open it up a little.
Defensively, Keevins said his team is ready to attack.
“We’re going to look to be really aggressive,” he said. “The kids enjoy that style. We’re looking for big plays and turnovers.”
Besides Objay, Ketcham is led on offense by senior halfback Bobby Santangelo who also returns kicks, senior fullback Akeem Jackson, senior offensive and defensive lineman Mark Mayotte and senior halfback and outside linebacker Eric Mimnaugh who last season led the team in tackles-for-loss.
Ketcham’s season begins on Sept. 7 at Ramapo.
Despite coming off a season in which his Pioneers were 6-4 and knocked out of the sectional playoffs by New Rochelle, third-year head coach Ken Barger sees an even brighter future for his team.
“This is the most individually talented team I’ve ever coached,” said Barger. “What will determine how well we do is how we play together.”
Barger graduated 18 seniors that carried a heavy load of playing time last year, and thinks the key to this season is chemistry.
The Pioneers’ offense will revolve around a player Barger calls “the best athlete I’ve ever coached.”
“Moquan Dickens is the best running back in the section. Of course, my perspective is a little slanted,” said Barger with a chuckle.
“Teams know they have to commit to stopping him,” he continued. “We have to be able to maximize Moquan’s abilities. We need to be balanced while also getting him the ball as much as possible.”
Barger did an off-season overhaul of his defensive staff and is excited to see the results on the field.
“We’re going really old-school,” he said. “We have a lot of contact in practice. We’ll be fast, pursue the football and hit hard. It’s just a matter of how we match up with the size of others.”
The Pioneers have three players besides Dickens who were invited to Division I camps over the summer. Senior wideout and cornerback Darrell Carter is the featured receiver in the Poughkeepsie offense. Senior tackle Jordan Weir is 6’4”, 245 lbs. and, according to Barger, “has the ability to dominate any game.” Senior fullback and middle linebacker Marcus Figueroa is returning to Poughkeepsie after a year in Brooklyn.
“The league we’re in (Section I AA North) is a challenge every week,” said Barger, whose team opens its schedule on Sept. 8 against Clarkstown South. “Each week will be a great test.”
First-year coach Don Neise has one goal for his Spartans, who are coming off a disappointing 1-8, 2006 campaign.
“We’re looking to put some passion in the program,” said Neise. “We want to make sure we work together. Our goal is to be competitive in games and take it from there.”
Neise is pointing to league games versus Highland, Ellenville, O’Neill and Liberty as barometers for his team.
“Those are the games that will help us see where we’re at,” he said.
Neise said that his team will spread the ball on offense while trying to get the ball to their skill players in the open field. And while the team as a whole is inexperienced, the Spartans return some key linebackers that should make the defense fun to watch.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to stop the run and put teams in situations we can take advantage of,” said Neise.
Neise points to a senior core that includes running back/linebacker Adam Wright, wide receiver/linebacker Patrick Martin, offensive lineman/linebacker Mario Ortega and offensive lineman/defensive lineman Joe Spens as the key to his team’s success.
“We’re looking to leave it all on the field,” said Neise. “We want to have the kids prepared. Then we’ll see what happens.”
