Text size:

Nassau Conference I preview

September 14, 2008

Baldwin reached the county championship game last year, where it lost to Farmingdale. That, plus a number of key returnees, earned the Bruins the top seed in the coaches' preseason voting, but it could be a revolving door at the No. 1 spot.

A powerful running game, featuring Joe Ednie and three huge offensive linemen, is Baldwin's strength. But everyone is wary of Hempstead with its all-purpose threat in running back Terrell Williams, quarterback William Carmona and Roosevelt transfer James McClenic, another flashy runner.

Massapequa has 6-8 quarterback Rob Von Bargen to run its spread. East Meadow has reached the conference semifinals four of the last five years. Farmingdale celebrates its 75th season of football and coach Buddy Krumenacker says, "We expect to defend the Conference I championship."

No. 6 seed Freeport has one of the best juniors on Long Island in running back/middle linebacker Kevin Allen. -- BOB HERZOG

1. BALDWIN (7-3)

Coach: Steve Carroll (21st season).

Key players: Sr. WR/TB Joe Ednie (5-11, 170); Sr. OL/DL Joe Doyle (6-3, 260); Sr. QB Luke Nolan (5-10, 160); Sr. OL/DL Robert McGrath (6-2, 260); Sr. NG Devin Germain (6-1, 255); Sr. C/LB Andrew Gubelli (5-11, 175).

On the Bruins: Carroll is the first to admit that the top seed his club earned back in the winter vote by coaches might have been a little high, based more on last year's county championship appearance than anything else. Now, he's even more certain it'll be tough to be No. 1. Several players have been lost to injury and Nolan, his talented quarterback, came down with bursitis in his throwing shoulder during summer camp. "He'll start, but it's limited his ability to throw," the coach said. "It's a huge difference." Nolan isn't big, but he can throw when healthy (nine TD passes last season). If the shoulder heals, the Bruins' offense will be diverse. Ednie had 20 receptions last year plus 23 tackles and three interceptions. Ednie and a couple of underclassmen give Baldwin a potent running game. Doyle is a big-time two-way lineman and McGrath and Germain provide a big defensive front.

2. HEMPSTEAD (5-3)

Coach: Antoine Moore (sixth season).

Key players: Sr. RB/LB Terrell Williams (5-9. 190); Sr. QB William Carmona (5-11, 190); Sr. TE/DE Jahi Fields (6-3, 210); Sr. RB/DB James McClenic (5-11, 185); Sr. FB/LB Jesse Brown (6-1, 195); Sr. C/DT Justin Hinton (5-10, 185).

On the Tigers: Thorp Award runnerup Williams scored 18 touchdowns last year, one short of the school record held by his coach. "This year, I'm looking for him to break it," Moore said. If Williams (1,066 yards rushing, 326 yards receiving, 377 return yards and 77 tackles) doesn't get the record it's probably because Hempstead has so many weapons. Carmona threw for 813 yards and eight TDs. McClenic transferred from Roosevelt, where he was that school's leading rusher. Fields is an excellent pass rusher (58 tackles, seven sacks) who has drawn interest from Duke and Connecticut. "I'm real excited," Williams said. "This could be our year." As for breaking his coach's record, Williams smiled and said, "That would be cool."

3. MASSAPEQUA (4-4)

Coach: Pat Nolan (sixth season).

Key players: Sr. QB Rob Von Bargen (6-8, 225); Sr. OL/DL Chris Vitrano (5-10, 240); Sr. RB/DB Dan Ebbecke (5-10, 200); Sr. OL/DL Jim Peterson (6-4, 245); Sr. OL/LB Sean Slattery (5-11, 200); Sr. WR/DB Mike Mauri (5-10, 175).

On the Chiefs: Even though they reached the playoffs last season, Massapequa's defense sagged, allowing 25 points a game. That's because the Chiefs struggled on third down. "It was one of those things," Nolan said. "The players were confused on third down and that's our [the coaches'] fault." A simplified scheme and the return of middle linebacker Slattery, who was injured in Week 2 and did not return, should improve things. The offense will be exceptional, led by 6-8 QB VonBargen (17 TD passes) running back Ebbecke and wide receiver Mauri. Nolan said he used the spread offense about 50 percent of the time last year but expects to use it much more this season.

4. EAST MEADOW (5-4)

Coach: Vinny Mascia (11th season).

Key players: Sr. G/DT Harlan Abeshouse (6-3, 275); Jr. WB/LB Steve Katz (5-10, 190); Sr. QB/FS Bobby Ward (5-10, 175); Sr. G/LB Vito Basso (5-10, 185); Sr. WB/DB Dennis Chen (5-10, 180); Jr. FB/LB Robert Bright (6-1, 205).

On the Jets: Thorp Award winner Alex Rivas is gone from a team that lost to unbeaten county champion Farmingdale, 3-0, last year in the semifinals. But that doesn't stop Mascia from stating that his goal is to win a county championship. It won't be easy in a deep and balanced conference. But East Meadow has strong leaders, including big two-way linemen Abeshouse, Ward, Basso and Katz. The Jets have reached the conference finals in four of the last five years. "Hopefully, it's the same old Jets," Mascia said.