Hansen Award Watch

As we approach the halfway mark of the regular season — Week 4 is upon us — four players have posted big numbers in each of the first three weeks — Mike Andreassi of Sachem North, Stacey Bedell of Floyd, Steven Ferreira of Sayville (pictured above) and Steve Skon of Lindehurst. I’d say they are the early front-runners for the Hansen Award. Until his injury last week, Mike Pellegrino of Connetquot was also having a Hansen-like season. But there are plenty of games remaining and plenty of time for others to move up the list. Just check out how the honorable mention list keeps growing and changing!

Remember, even though I am on the committee that selects the Hansen Trophy winner and have one of Newsday’s votes, this list is not intended to influence other voters, and players are presented alphabetically not in order of preference.

Zog’s Top 10

Mike Andreassi, Sachem North. The senior running back/linebacker had 11 carries for 124 yards and two touchdowns plus made 10 tackles, two for losses, in the Flaming Arrows’ 48-8 victory over Brentwood. For the season, Andreassi has 307 yards rushing and five touchdowns.

Stacey Bedell, Floyd. The junior running back, who is being recruited by Stony Brook as well as major D-I schools Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Penn State, ran for 141 yards on 14 carries and caught a touchdown pass in the Colonials’ 35-12 victory over Central Islip. For the season, Bedell has 612 yards rushing and has scored seven touchdowns.

Calvin Bollar, Huntington. The season running back/defensive back made an interception on a 4th-and-3 from the Huntington three-yard line with 20 seconds remaining to preserve the Blue Devils’ 28-21 victory over Kings Park. Bollar caught a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Jeffrey Craig, Islip. The senior quarterback, who is a running-passing threat, ran for 40 yards on just five carries in the Buccaneers’ 27-7 victory over Hauppauge that raised Islip’s record to 3-0.

Steven Ferreira, Sayville. The junior quarterback passed for 223 yards and two touchdowns as the Golden Flashes rallied for a 29-21 victory over Deer Park. For the season, Ferreira has passed for nine touchdowns.

Preshod McCoy, North Babylon. The senior running back had been one of the most prolific running backs on Long Island in the Bulldogs’ first two games, scoring five touchdowns and rushing for 372 yards, but was shut down by Smithtown West in the Bulls’ 12-0 upset victory.

Mike Pellegrino, Connetquot. The senior running back/linebacker was injured last week and carried only 12 times for 28 yards in the Thunderbirds’ 10-8 victory over Patchogue-Medford. He scored seven touchdowns in the first two games.

Charlie Raffa, St. Anthony’s. The senior quarterback, a first-year starter, ran for 86 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 48 yards in the Friars’ 49-13 victory over Farrell. Raffa has scored five rushing touchdowns for the season and done a solid job running the triple-option.

Ryan Rielly, Glenn. The senior quarterback ran for 83 yards and a touchdown and passed for 75 yards in the Knights’ 48-0 victory over Port Jefferson. For the season, Rielly has rushed for 436 yards and passed for 256.

Steve Skon, Lindenhurst. The senior quarterback was 14-for-18 for 246 yards and three touchdowns, including two to his brother Kenny, in the Bulldogs’ 42-13 victory over Sachem East. For the season, Skon has passed for eight touchdowns.

Honorable mention: Darrel Flores, Central Islip; Alan Henderson, Eastport-South Manor; Derelle Hunter, St. John the Baptist; Ryan McCoy, Bayport-Blue Point; Dante McFarlane, Half Hollow Hills West; Michael Richardson, West Babylon; Jesse Scanna, Sachem North.