Linebackers with an edge prowl LI

They are a combination of speed and power. They are accomplished pass rushers. They can close on a runner from sideline to sideline. They don't miss tackles. They don't give up.

Meet Long Island's toughest linebackers: Sachem North's Jesse Scanna, Newfield's Ron Denig, Carey's John Daddino, Garden City's Stephen Jahelka, Syosset's Evan Kappatos and St. Anthony's Tyler McLees. Sure, there are others that might be included in the conversation, but these guys can flat out bring it.

Opposing coaches develop blocking schemes to slow down these dynamite players. And it's no wonder that four of them play for undefeated teams.

"When colleges recruit linebackers they look for the player who can get off the blocks and make plays," said Sachem North coach Dave Falco, who was an assistant coach and recruiter at Cortland State for six years. "They want tough guys that can beat double teams and shed blockers before making the big hit. All of these guys can do that."

In a win over Floyd last week, Scanna (6 feet, 205) zeroed in on the ball carrier and exploded into his chest to make the big hit. There was no gain on the play. Sachem North's senior linebacker and emotional leader extended his right hand and helped the fallen halfback up.

The scenario has been played over and over through the first six games of the season. It's a microcosm of Sachem North's march toward the Suffolk Division I championship. You just can't run the ball on the Flaming Arrows.

And the same could be said for the football teams at Newfield, Carey, Garden City and St. Anthony's where the defense doesn't rest. It is a year of outstanding linebackers, a position where only tough guys need apply.

"There's nothing better than a clean hit," said Scanna, who's played four years of varsity ball and holds Sachem's all-time record for career tackles with 298. "I enjoy the hitting, the physical aspect of the game."

Newfield is enjoying its best season in school history, helped immensely by the Wolverines' aggressive linebacking corps. This one is led by Denig (6 feet, 190), a tenacious junior middle linebacker, another throwback type of player, who relishes the big hit.

"We hit people so hard they know they feel it," said Denig, the outspoken defensive captain, who's led Newfield to a 6-0 record. "It's a physical game and you have to bring it every play."

Daddino, Carey's senior middle linebacker, returned from shoulder surgery, well muscled, and looking to lead the Seahawks to their first appearance in the Long Island championships.

Daddino (6-1, 215), who has also been lauded as a major league pitching prospect, has led the way as Carey has beaten Garden City, the defending LI Class II champion, and previously undefeated Wantagh this season.

"He's a beast in the middle and makes them a much tougher team," said Wantagh coach Keith Sachs. "He's very physical and runs well, exactly what you want in a linebacker."

Daddino, like Scanna and Denig, is the kind of player that jumps right off the field at you. They have excellent lateral speed, recognize offensive sets, and explode into their tackles. And on tape, they're even more scary, because you're focusing on them.

"Watching Denig on film is like watching a car wreck repeatedly," said Newfield coach Joe Piccininni. "He's just so physical. And he doesn't know how to gear down. His motor just goes."

St. Anthony's middle linebacker and captain Tyler McLees, (6-2, 222), is making a name for himself for the Friars.

"He's a throwback kind of player," said St. Anthony's coach Rich Reichert. "He's great against the inside run and a very physical kid who worked on his speed and is a big weight room guy."

Reichert likens the bigger McLees to Scanna. "They just absorb so much contact," he said. "They're big time hitters."

McLees leads the Friars with 72 tackles and relies on quickness and raw power to make plays. He never stays blocked and uses his hands to shed blockers and wait for the runner for the violent meeting.

"I want to deliver such a shot, such a blow that the fullback thinks again before he tries to block me," said Scanna. "And I'm surrounded by my teammates that feel the same way."

The tandem of Scanna and linebacker Michael Andreassi has helped the Sachem defense hold opponents to less than 80 yards rushing per game. Likewise, Denig and linebacker Julian Santiago are central to a defense that has allowed only 94 yards per game rushing.

Garden City is the least scored upon defense in Nassau and largely in part to the play of middle linebacker Stephen Jahelka (6 feet, 205), an All-Long Island selection in 2009. Jahelka, an accomplished lacrosse player, is not just a hitter. He can run well so slot receivers are no problem for him. He leads a defense that yields only six points per game.

Syosset junior Evan Kappatos earned the Piner Award last year as Nassau's top linebacker. He's drawn the interest of many Division I colleges. The 6-1, 240-pounder makes it difficult for Nassau Conference I teams to run inside on the Braves. He's a major presence on the field.

So are a few other tough guys that share the position.