2005 All-Long Island Football

A look at Newsday's 44th annual team

BY JASON MOLINET AND GREGG SARRA | Newsday Staff Writers
December 11, 2005
A look at the football players who stood out on Long Island high school varsity squads in the fall of 2005.

RICKY MANIGAT
THORP AWARD WINNER
RB, Baldwin
(5-10, 155, Sr.)
 Manigat exploded onto the scene and ran away with the Thorp Award, given to Nassau's most outstanding player. Manigat carried Baldwin to its first Nassau Conference I title and best season since 1953. He rushed for 1,246 yards on 153 carries and scored a Long Island-best 21 touchdowns. Manigat secured the county title and his place in Nassau history with a 316-yard, three-touchdown performance.

ROBERT MOORE
DB, Brentwood
(5-11, 175, Jr.)
 Moore was the strong safety of a Brentwood defense that went all the way to the Suffolk Division I title game. Moore totaled 97 tackles, including 43 solos, knocked down 11 passes and interecpted three. He also had 1,162 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns.

ERIC ROMANCHUK
QB, West Babylon
(6-3, 195, Sr.)
Romanchuk set the county record for touchdown passes in a game when he threw for six scores and 415 yards in a 49-48 loss to Newfield. That performance and his elusive running style helped him win the Boomer Esiason Award, presented to Suffolk's top quarterback. He finished the season with 15 scoring passes.

MARLON ROMULUS
DL, Floral Park
(6-3, 280, Sr.)
Romulus opened holes for second-teamer Beal Reese on offense and closed them just as forcefully on defense. He was the muscle behind Floral Park's trip to the Nassau Conference III title game. Romulus made 34 tackles, including eight for losses and five sacks. Romulus had five pressures and recorded 11 career sacks.

PETER RUSSELL
LB, Elmont
(5-11, 185, Sr.)
 Russell was Nassau's hardest runner and equally tough on defense for Elmont, which reached the Nassau Conference II semifinals. Russell rushed for 1,498 yards on 217 carries and scored 17 touchdowns. He had 60 tackles and an interception at linebacker.

JOHN SCHAEFFER
QB, Plainedge
(6-2, 205, Sr.)
Schaeffer was among those whose fund-raising efforts over the summer made a season possible. He went on to win the Snyder Award, given to Nassau's best quarterback. Schaeffer completed 103 of 156 passes for 1,502 yards and eight touchdowns, and ran for 434 yards on 79 carries and five scores. His leadership carried Plainedge (10-1) to the Nassau Conference III title.

CHRIS SCHUVILLE
WR, Cold Spring Harbor
(5-11, 170, Sr.)
 Schuville has been dangerous his last two seasons, but the capper was his record-breaking day in the Long Island Class IV title game. He racked up 229 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He caught 36 passes for 802 yards and had 14 touchdowns for the season and 25 for his career.

STEPHEN SCHWICKE
LB, Bellport
(6-3, 235, Sr.)
Schwicke was voted the MVP of Suffolk Division II and earned the Collotta Award presented to Suffolk's top linebacker. His tremendous quickness helped him amass 137 tackles, including a whopping 24 for losses, five sacks and five forced fumbles. He intercepted four passes and led the Clippers (11-0) to the Newsday Large Schools poll title.

KURT STEUBING
LB, Plainedge
(6-2, 225, Sr.)
 Steubing was the punishing finisher on the feared Plainedge defense, which earned him the Piner Award as Nassau's best linebacker. He had 109 tackles, including 29 for losses, three sacks and two forced fumbles. Steubing also caught 15 passes for 243 yards at tight end.

WILLIAM STRANO
OL, Bellport
(6-1, 305, Sr.)
Strano was an excellent drive blocker that helped the Clippers average 303 yards per game on the ground. He earned the Zellner Award, given to Suffolk's top lineman. Bellport ran 70 percent of their offense behind Strano.

SHEBLEE WALI
LB, Longwood
(6-1, 220, Sr.)
 Wali created many big plays for the Lions defense. He had 66 solo tackles, including 12 for losses, forced two fumbles and had nine sacks. He was a big-time hitter that had a knack for a well-timed blitz. He also caught 21 catches for 345 yards and six touchdowns.

AARON WEAVER
All-Purpose, Baldwin
(6-3, 200, Sr.)
Weaver turned in two of the most stunning playoff performances and earned the Dragon Award as Nassau's best receiver. He scored three times in a Conference I semifinal win and accounted for 210 total yards and two scores in a losing effort in Long Island Class I final. Weaver had 27 catches for 823 yards and 11 scores. He was a top return man and on defense had 37 tackles and four interceptions.

ANTHONEY ADAMIC
RB, Newfield
(6-0, 230, Sr.)
 Adamic gained 1,088 yards on 182 carries and scored 12 touchdowns to lead the Wolverines to their first playoff appearance in 13 years. He rushed for 1,036 yards and 12 scores as a junior. He also had 28 tackles, including four for a loss on defense.

BLAIR BINES
LB, Floyd
(6-0, 230, Sr.)
 Bines was the punishing force on a defense that went unbeaten as the Colonials earned the Long Island Class I title. He had 128 tackles, including three sacks, a safety, two fumble recoveries and a 53-yard interception return for a touchdown. He was a bruising force at fullback where he manhandled defenders. He'll attend Rutgers next fall.

SEAN BURKE
WR, St. Anthony's
(6-3, 195, Sr.)
Burke led all of Long Island with 15 touchdown receptions. He also returned two kicks for scores, including a 95-yarder against Chaminade, as St. Anthony's earned a fifth straight CHSFL championship. Burke with his leaping ability and deft moves in the open field was the perfect complement to quarterback Chris Eanuzel.

JASON DENT
RB, Bellport
(5-10, 180, Sr.)
 Dent set multiple scoring and rushing records at Bellport. He rushed for 1,561 yards on 188 carries and scored 13 touchdowns and added 13 two-point conversions. He scored ' points, including 40 in a single game. At defensive back he had 88 tackles, including five for a loss and two fumble recoveries.

JOHN-KEVIN DOLCE
LB, St. Anthony's
(6-2, 232, Sr.)
Dolce spearheaded a Friars' defense that earned the school's fifth straight CHSFL Class AAA championship. He finished with 74 tackles, including 39 solos, and eight tackles for a loss. He forced four fumbles and had seven sacks. He'll attend Virginia next fall.

RAY EDMONSON
OL, Rocky Point
(6-2, 255, Sr.)
Edmonson is the first Rocky Point football player to earn All-Long Island status. The two-way lineman led the Eagles to the school's first appearance in the Suffolk Division III championship. His drive blocking and quickness helped Rocky Point average 252 yards rushing per game and finish with an 8-2 record. He also had 62 tackles, four sacks, forced three fumbles and knocked down three passes.

CHRIS EANUZEL
HANSEN AWARD WINNER
QB, St. Anthony's
(6-2, 185, Sr.)
Eanuzel became the first CHSFL player since 1986 to earn the Hansen Award, given to Suffolk's best player. He led the Friars to the CHSFL title in two consecutive seasons, posting a 20-1 record as the starting quarterback. He completed 55 of 110 passes for 1,295 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also rushed for 663 yards on 92 carries and 12 touchdowns as St. Anthony's won its fifth straight CHSFL championship.

JOHN ELLIOTT
OL, East Meadow
(6-5, 295, Jr.)
Elliott regularly bulldozed defenders out of the play and earned the Martone Award as Nassau's best lineman. Elliott recorded 33 pancakes and gave up no sacks for a team that reached the Nassau Conference I semifinals. He also was a finalist for the Thorp Award. Elliott added 11 tackles and a sack in a limited defensive role.

MATT FERBER
RB, Sachem East
(6-1, 215, Sr.)
Ferber rushed for 1,363 yards on 164 carries and 13 touchdowns to earn the Suffolk Division I MVP. He also had 55 solo tackles, 22 assists, including 15 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks as a bruising linebacker. He was the runnerup for the Hansen Award, presented to Suffolk's top player.

ED GOWINS
DB, Bellport
(6-0, 210, Jr.)
 Gowins was a versatile two-way player, who rushed for 643 yards and 10 touchdowns, including the game-winning 74-yard scoring run in the 8-0 win over Garden City for the Long Island Class II title. The defensive back blocked a punt and returned it 40 yards for a score. He had 96 tackles, including nine for losses.

CHRIS HANLON
All-Purpose, Patchogue-Medford
(5-10, 175, Sr.)
Hanlon switched positions all season as a very young Patchogue team tried to reach the playoffs. Hanlon totaled 1,837 all-purpose yards in eight games. He had 1,061 rushing yards and five scores. He was the leader of a tough defense with six interceptions and 47 solo tackles from the safety position. He had 3,503 all-purpose yards in his three-year career.

JULIAN HAYES
DB, Malverne
(6-1, 205, Sr.)
Hayes was a four-year starter who carried Malverne into the Nassau Conference IV playoffs after a long hiatus. Hayes played on a state Class B finalist basketball team. That experienced showed on the field, where he ran for 762 yards at quarterback and amassed 14 touchdowns, including three on special teams. Hayes made 33 tackles at safety.

SEAN LOCURTO
DL, Garden City
(6-3, 200, Sr.)
 Locurto anchored one of Long Island's top defenses andhelped Garden City secure its third straight Nassau Conference II championship. He made 43 tackles and added 32 assists, including 12 stops behind the line and 7 sacks. He finished his career with 12 sacks and 20 tackles for a loss.

JOHN MAASS
DL, Floyd
(5-11, 235, Sr.)
Maass helped Floyd reach the Suffolk Division I final the last three years as the teams starting center. The Colonials were 8-0 in three straight regular seasons. The Floyd captain has been a two-way starter for two years and an integral part of the ground game.

All-Long Island second team

Ryan Boyle, OL, Rocky Point
Xavier Brown, DL, Brentwood
Michael Demetrius, LB, Brentwood
Ryan Glueckert, DB, Plainedge
Kevin Hahn, RB, Hills West
Zach Howell, QB, Huntington
Chris Hurst, DB, Massapequa
Brock Jackolski, RB, Floyd
Marcus Johnson, LB, Elmont
Dan Jones, OL, Riverhead
James Kuhlmeier, DB, Brentwood
Mark Leggiero, FB, Connetquot
Justin Lynch, RB, Garden City
Nick Mancusi, DL, Garden City
Kevin March, K, Centereach
Mike Mayo, RB, Roosevelt
Pete Mezzanotte, DB, West Islip
Terrence Molinari, LB, Manhasset
Nick Motola, OL, Ward Melville
D.J. Ottochian, LB,
Valley Stream South
Anthony Polo, LB, Wantagh
Andrew Quarless, TE, Uniondale
Beal Reese, RB, Floral Park
Mike Robertson, RB, Longwood
Dominic Sair, LB, Huntington
John Spruill, DB, Bellport
Kyle Stewart, OL, Plainview JFK
Brett Vecchio, QB, Cold Spring Harbor


All-Long Island coaches

ROB SHAVER
Nassau Coach of the Year
Plainedge Red Devils (10-1)
 Shaver, 36, didn’t believe there even would be a football season when the district’s budget was voted down for second time last spring. But the community raised the $575,000 needed to fund sports and Shaver did his part to keep the teamfocused. The Red Devils responded with their finest season since 1988, winning the Nassau Conference III title with a 10-7 overtime thriller over Floral

Park, however, their dreamwas cut short by Huntington in a 27-14 loss in the Class III final. Shaver is 44-41-1 in 10 seasons.

JOE CIPP JR.
Suffolk Coach of the Year
Bellport Clippers (11-0)


Cipp Jr., 57, guided the Clippers to three straight playoff shutouts including an 8-0 win over Garden City in the Long Island Class II championship. It was Bellport’s

fifth Long Island title in six appearances and fourth undefeated season. He took extra satisfaction in winning this year, as his sons Joe III (offensive coordinator) and Jeff (defensive coordinator) played significant roles in the march to the crown

and the Newsday Large Schools poll title. Cipp is 175-72-3 over 27 seasons.

Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.

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