Nassau Conference I football capsules
Ryan Fountain of Massapequa looks back on his way to a touchdown during the Class I Long Island Championship against Whitman at Hofstra on Nov. 26, 2021. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
1. Massapequa (11-1)
Coach: Kevin Shippos, 12th year
Five key players: Ryan Fountain, WR/DB, Sr.; Eddie D’Avanzo, OL/DL, Sr.; Dylan Wakely, OL/DL, Sr.; Jason Kovaluskie, OL/DL, Jr.; Brendan Meaney, OL/DL, Sr.
Massapequa: The defending Long Island Class I champions feature one of the strongest offensive lines on Long Island. Massapequa will rely on its lines to set the tone on offense and defense in its quest to repeat for county and Long Island crowns. Fountain had 623 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns and 231 rushing yards with two scores last season and is set to be the key offensive playmaker this season.
2. Farmingdale (7-3)
Coach: Buddy Krumenacker, 30th year
Five key players: Tomaso Ramos, RB/DB, Sr.; Trevor Gayron, RB/LB, Sr.; Matt Robinson, OL/DL,Sr.; Ricky Folwark, OL/DL, Sr.; Jovanni Gully, WR/DB, Sr.
The Dalers: Led by the strong running back duo of Ramos and Gayron. Ramos rushed for 155 yards on 19 attempts in a 35-12 victory over Freeport last season. Robinson and Folwark, both 6-0 and 200 pounds, will set the tone at the line of scrimmage for a team looking to improve off a semifinal appearance last season.
3. Freeport (4-5)
Coach: Russ Cellan, 37th year
Five key players: D’Angelo Gordon, QB/DB, Jr.; Jonathan Meza, OL/DL, Jr.; Martese Davenport, RB/DB, Sr.; Nazair Jean-Lubin, WR/DB, Sr.; Yvan Neas, WR/LB, Sr.
The Red Devils: Gordon appears set to prove he’s one of the top talents on Long Island. The 5-10, 175-pounder threw for eight touchdowns, rushed for eight scores and had 30 tackles as a sophomore. Freeport’s experienced skill position players hope to return the Red Devils to their championship ways.
4. Oceanside (9-2)
Coach: Rob Blount, 14th year
Five key players: Logan Lyson, TE/WR/LB, Jr.; Miles McGann, TE/WR/LB, Sr.; Nicky Cairo, WR/RB/DB, Sr.; Cole Parker, RB, Sr.; Peter Staltare, OL/DL, Sr.
The Sailors: Oceanside fell in the Nassau Class I final last season and graduated a talented senior class, including quarterback Charlie McKee, who is playing at Stony Brook and set the Long Island record for career passing yards. The Sailors return talented skill players, led by Lyson, who is receiving college interest after having 21 receptions for 330 yards and seven touchdowns with 64 tackles as a sophomore.
5. Syosset (7-3)
Coach: Paul Rorke, 29th year
Five key players: Nick Padula, WR/DB, Sr.; Will Henry, OL/DL, Sr.; Sean Dillon, OL/DL, Jr.; Jake Cohen, RB/LB, Jr.; Nick DiBacco, OL/DL, Sr.
Syosset: This year’s team graduated key playmakers after reaching the Nassau Conference I semifinals last season. Padula and Cohen will have a larger role in the offensive production and Syosset will lean on some experience and size on both sides of the line in Henry, Dillon, DiBacco and Santiago Plaza.
6. Hempstead (4-5)
Coach: Matthew Ali, first season
Five key players: Jakkai Stith, QB/LB, Sr.; Dwayne Meadors, RB/LB, Jr.; Shamar Pink, OL/DL, Sr.; Jamir Andrews, ATH, Sr.; Taj-NyJai McLeod, OL/DL, Sr.
The Tigers: Hempstead is looking to make a deep postseason run behind the combination of Stith and Meadors. Both had highlight games last season and with another year of experience, they are expected to be two of the top playmakers in the conference.
7. Port Washington (3-6)
Coach: Kevin Cloghessy, fifth year
Five key players: John McCarthy, QB/DB, Sr.; Luke Meyer, RB/LB, Sr.; Owen Lefkowitz, OL/DL, Sr.; Bryson Bodner, OL/LB, Jr.; Troy Stephenson, WR/DB, Sr.
The Vikings: McCarthy leads the team under center again this season. He completed 7 of 10 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns in a 40-15 victory over Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK/Jericho last season. The Vikings feature four offensive linemen with significant varsity experience and hat’s expected to be a strong point of the team.
8. Valley Stream Central (4-5)
Coach: Thomas Schiavo, first year
Five key players: Joshua Rogers, RB/LB, Sr.; Jerome Nembhard, OL/DL, Sr.; Showayne Lumsden, OL/DL, Sr.; Mohammad Daffalla, RB/WR/DB, Sr.; Isaiah Arthur, RB/WR/LB, Sr.
The Eagles: Rogers leads the Eagles from Conference II to Conference I this season. Rogers rushed for 118 yards on 18 carries in a 41-21 victory over Herricks last season. Nembhard and Lumsden both stand over 6-0 to cement the offensive and defensive lines.
9. Baldwin (4-4)
Coach: Frank Chimienti, second year
Five key players: Anthony Byron, RB/DB, Sr.; Kwasi Bonsu, RB/DL, Sr.; Vaughdrea Johnson, QB/DB, Soph.; Rodney Mills, OL/DL, Jr.; Jayson Rivera, OL/LB, Sr.
The Bruins: They return eight plays on both sides of the ball, led by Byron, who rushed for 700 yards and nine touchdowns, and recorded 33 tackles last season. Bonsu presents a physical presence at the line of scrimmage with 17.5 tackles for a loss, including five sacks.
10. Hicksville (4-4)
Coach: Ron Modik, second year
Five key players: Dan Ulloa, TE/LB, Sr.; Jarel Turner, RB/DB, Sr.; Anthony Valentino, OL/DL, Jr.; Leo Valdez, RB/DB, Sr.; Jayden Jagmohan, OL/DL, Jr.
The Comets: Hicksville matched its total wins from the previous three seasons with four wins last season. The Comets look to continue their upward trajectory behind strong offensive and defensive lines. Ulloa led the defense with 68 tackles, including 11 for a loss, last season. Turner and Valdez return as offensive playmakers.
11. East Meadow (4-5)
Coach: Vinny Mascia, 20th year
Five key players: Brian Terino, RB/LB, Sr.; Joe Arbitello, OL/DL, Jr.; Matt Rodriguez, RB/LB, Jr.; Brandon Kebreau, RB/S, Sr.; Brandon Tauber, QB, Sr.
The Jets: Led by Terino, who had 335 yards and five touchdowns on 41 carries and added 38 tackles with two sacks last season, and Rodriguez, who had 318 yards and five touchdowns on 51 carries last season. Mascia returns as the head coach after taking five years off to watch his son play in college.
12. Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK/Jericho (2-6)
Coach: Brian Gurney, first year
Five key players: Cody Whalen, WR/DB, Sr.; Cooper Dorf, RB, Sr.; Bryant Hau, TE/DL, Sr.; Gavin Weisberg, OL/DL, Soph.; Xavier Lemus, OL/DL, Sr.
The Hawks: Led by a pair of playmakers in Whalen and Dorf, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK/Jericho looks to compete for a playoff spot this fall.
13. Uniondale (1-7)
Coach: Philip Coppola, seventh year
Five key players: Jordyn Davis, OL/DL, Sr.; Luis Lizama, OL/LB, Jr.; Jonathan Marshall, RB/LB, Sr.; Christian Jamison, OL/DL, Sr.; Zion McMillian, RB/LB, Sr.
The Knights: Uniondale will rely on its experienced offensive line, featuring David, Lizama and Jamison. Davis led the team in tackles last fall.
14. Westbury (0-8)
Coach: Savalis Charles, 12th year
Five key players: Thomas Fletcher, RB/LB, Jr.; Kenson Gervais, RB/LB, Sr.; Robert Lucas, OL/DL, Sr.; Jason Velasquez, OL/DL, Sr.; Ali Bolling, WR/DB, Sr.
The Green Dragons: Fletcher and Gervais will set the tone in the backfield and at linebacker, with Lucas and Velasquez anchoring the line on both sides.
