2009 All-Long Island Football

Newsday's 2009 all-Long Island football team.

TOM SCHREIBER
St. Anthony's, Quarterback
Senior, 6-foot, 205 pounds

Considered one of the best quarterbacks in the Friars? distinguished history. Running the option, Schreiber led St. Anthony?s to its eighth CHSFL title in nine years. For the season, he rushed for 767 yards and eight TDS and passed for 1,182 yards and eight TDs with a 65 percent completion mark. He?ll play lacrosse at Princeton.

JOHN KINDER
Lawrence, Quarterback
Senior, 6-3, 195 pounds
Kinder was a threat to score running (23 TDs) and passing (8 TDs). He led Lawrence to the Class III Long Island Championship Game where he rushed for four scores. Switched to defense at the start of the playoffs, he returned an interception for a touchdown in the semifinal win over Plainedge. Committed to Syracuse University.

ANTHONY BRUNETTI
Holy Trinity, Running Back
Senior, 5-11, 215 pounds
This powerful four-year starter set a Nassau single-season record with 2,451 yards and also scored 28 TDs in leading the Titans to 10 straight wins before a loss to St. Anthony's in the CHSFL title game. In that contest, Brunetti ran for 248 yards. For his career, Brunetti rushed for 5,418 yards, scored 60 TDs and won the 2009 Thorp Award.

DAVON LAWRENCE
Sachem North, Running Back
Senior, 6-2, 205 pounds
In leading the Flaming Arrows to 10 straight victories before a loss to Floyd in the Suffolk final, Lawrence rushed for 1,887 yards, averaging 10.4 yards per carry. He scored 22 TDs. Lawrence was also a superb defensive back, making 48 solo tackles and assisting on 22. He made one interception, returning it for a touchdown.

KEVIN ALLEN
Freeport, Running Back
Senior, 5-11, 205 pounds
In four postseason games he rushed for 1,097 yards and 17 TDs, switched to quarterback before the Nassau semifinals and threw for 288 yards and four TDs. He accounted for six TDs in the Long Island Championship win over Floyd, a fitting end to a season in which he rushed for 1,141 yards and scored a Nassau record 35 TDs.

MICHAEL EHRHARDT
Chaminade, Wide Receiver
Senior, 6-4, 210 pounds
The big wideout was the focal point in the Flyers' passing attack. He had 64 catches for 852 yards and eight TDs this season, averaging 13.2 yards per catch. He finishes with 106 career receptions for 1,404 yards and 14 TDs for his two-year varsity career.

MIKE GALLO
Seaford, Wide Receiver
Senior, 6-2, 195 pounds
Gave Seaford's offense some much-needed versatility, catching 14 touchdown passes to help the Vikings to an undefeated season and the Class IV Long Island championship. An excellent two-way player, Gallo also returned two interceptions, a kick and a punt for scores. In the playoffs he caught five TDs, including what proved to be the game-winner in the LIC.

CHRIS RICHARDS
Farmingdale, Offensive Lineman
Senior, 6-3, 235 pounds
A Martone Award finalist, at offensive guard, Richards led a dangerous Farmingdale attack that averaged more than 24 points per game. At defensive end, piled up 63 tackles and 10 sacks in nine games and was the leader of a punishing Daler defense, that allowed 12 points per game.

MATT WILSON
Holy Trinity, Offensive Lineman
Senior, 6-3, 275 pounds
He was the only returning lineman for the Titans entering the 2009 season and he had a big senior season. Anthony Brunetti gained most of his 2,451 yards running behind Wilson's right guard spot. An outstanding two-way player, Wilson played nose guard on defense, leading the team in sacks and forced fumbles.

BILLY SWEENEY
Garden City, Offensive Lineman
Senior, 6-2, 212 pounds
Sweeney was an integral part of both lines for the unbeaten Class II Long Island Champion Trojans. A finalist for the Martone Award, Sweeney is a leader on off the field and was equally adept at pass blocking and run blocking. He made 21 solo tackles, 40 assists and eight sacks.

RYAN SLOAN
Bellport, Offensive Lineman
Junior, 6-3, 285 pounds
Long-time coach Joe Cipp called Sloan "The best big man I've ever coached." He's a very athletic two-way player. Sloan was the lead blocker on most running plays. On defense, he was the team's second-leading tackler (84 total, 45 solo), an unusual feat for a defensive lineman. Sloan had six sacks.

SEAN MOLLER
East Islip, Kicker
Senior, 5-8, 175 pounds
Mr. Versatility is Long Island's all-time leading scorer among kickers with 181 career points, including five field goals of 40-plus yards. He had had two game-winning field goals in 2009 plus another that forced OT. Additionally, he caught 30 passes for 533 yards and four TDs. As a defensive back, Moller had five interceptions.

JEVAHN CRUZ
Half Hollow Hills West, All-Purpose
Senior, 5-8, 165 pounds
The co-Hansen Award winner was perhaps the most electrifying player on Long Island in leading the Colts to a 12-0 record and their first L.I. title. From his quarterback position in the spread offense, Cruz ran for 1,531 yards and 24 TDs and threw for 1,789 yards and 24 TDs. He also had eight interceptions and returned punts and kickoffs.

CONNOR HORL
Garden City, Defensive Lineman
Senior, 6-foot, 230 pounds
Before the season a rival coach described Horl as "a man among boys." Horl, the Martone Award winner as Nassau' best lineman, looked the part all season, dominating all comers while leading Garden City to an undefeated season and nine shutouts. Made 31 tackles, 11 behind the line of scrimmage, and 45 assists.

ROB WELSH
St. Anthony's, Defensive lineman
Senior, 6-3, 265 pounds
Coach Rich Reichert said Welsh, "made at least one game-changing play in every game." In the CHSFL title game vs. Holy Trinity, Welsh "blew up" a reverse in helping the Friars return to the throne. He had a solid year at defensive end, even though Syracuse has told him they plan to use him at center.

KEVIN HAUTER
Floyd, Defensive Lineman
Senior, 6-3, 220 pounds
The most dominating player on a defensive unit that was Floyd's strength all season, Hauter had 98 total tackles, including 16 sacks. He blocked a punt against Lindenhurst and returned a fumble for a touchdown against Connetquot. He accepted a scholarship to play the defensive line at Stony Brook University.

MALCOLM CATER
Riverhead, Linebacker
Senior, 6-3, 225 pounds
The co-Hansen Award winner was a hard-hitting linebacker who made 103 tackles, including 16 for losses, which helped him earn the Collotta Award given to Suffolk's best linebacker. In a 28-9 victory over West Islip, as a replacement running back, Cater rushed for 246 yards and four TDs. He will attend Syracuse on a football scholarship.

STEPHEN JAHELKA
Garden City, Linebacker
Junior, 6-foot, 195 pounds
All-County as a sophomore, Jehelka fared even better as a junior. The Piner Award finalist picked up 42 tackles and 33 assists and was the leader of Garden City's defense, which allowed only 28 points and pitched nine shutouts. At fullback he rushed for 666 yards and 13 TDs and was a talented lead blocker.

JACK MOOREHEAD
Glenn, Linebacker
Senior, 6-foot, 215 pounds
Coach Dave Shanahan said Moorehead, "hits like a truck." The three-year starting linebacker led the Knights to 10 straight wins before a loss to Amityville in the Suffolk title game. He made 82 solo tackles, assisted on 23 others, forced a fumble, recovered two and also rushed for 150 yards and six TDs.

EVAN KAPPATOS
Syosset, Linebacker
Sophomore, 6-foot, 230 pounds
A physical student of the game, Kappatos won the Piner Award, becoming the first sophomore in either county to be named top linebacker. He was a force whether standing up or with a hand down on the line, racking up 103 tackles. The talented run stopper on defense was a great run blocker on offense.

PRESHOD McCOY
North Babylon, Defensive Back
Junior, 5-10, 185 pounds
McCoy followed the football all season. As a speedy defensive back with great range, McCoy made six interceptions and averaged nearly four tackles per game. Offensively, he was a slippery, spinning force, gaining 1,535 yards and scoring 21 TDs. In an agonizing 9-6 loss to Garden City, McCoy ran for 118 yards and a touchdown.

MIKE PELLEGRINO
Connetquot, Defensive Back
Junior, 5-9, 165 pounds
Another supremely versatile player, Pellegrino made 50 tackles, two interceptions a sack and two forced fumbles. He played linebacker as well as defensive back. Pellegrino became a fulltime running back after an injury to Joe Zuco and responded with 1,122 yards and 13 TDs. He also caught 16 passes for another 202 yards.

JOHN McGIBBON
Lawrence, Defensive Back
Senior, 6-2, 205 pounds
The Bulldogs were in good hands whenever McGibbon touched the ball. He had seven interceptions, 71 tackles, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a sack. McGibbon had a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and was the team's leading receiver with 53 catches for 806 yards and 10 TDs.

GREG D'ARIENZO
Carey, Defensive Back
Senior, 6-2, 185 pounds
The versatile threat picked up 27 TDs while lining up at running back, quarterback, receiver, defensive back and kick returner. He saved his best for last, scoring three TDs against Garden City, the first three the Trojans had allowed all year, in a 21-19 semifinal loss to the eventual Long Island Champions.

TOM FLATLEY
Garden City, Nassau Coach of the Year
In his 25th season at the helm, Flatley, long-known as a defensive master-mind, presided over one of the best defensive teams in Long Island history. Garden City allowed only 28 points in 12 games, putting up nine shutouts and winning the Class II Long Island Championship along the way.

KYLE MADDEN
Half Hollow Hills West, Suffolk Coach of the Year
It was a season of firsts for the Colts in Madden's 10th season. Hills West had its first undefeated season (12-0), its first LIC appearance and, most fulfilling, its first title after a 42-32 victory over Lawrence in a Class III classic. Madden's best coaching move? Switching JeVahn Cruz from running back to quarterback after the 2008 season.