Lynbrook QB Magloire to play free safety
Lynbrook quarterback Paul Magloire, left, attempts to evade the tackle of Sayville's Anthony Cavaliere in the fourth quarter of the Class III Long Island Championship at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium. (Nov. 26, 2010) Credit: James Escher
Paul Magloire compiled 21 touchdowns and 10 two-point conversions as he quarterbacked Lynbrook to the Long Island Class III title. So, of course, his main role in Tuesday's Empire Challenge is . . . pass defense?
Despite not playing defense this past season, Magloire, a second-team All-Long Island QB, will play free safety.
"You get to hit other people, so that's exciting," Magloire said, adding that he played in the Owls' defensive backfield as a junior. "You don't get the ball as much, you've got to try to go get the ball."
Tyler Heuer of Oceanside, whose 34 touchdown passes were a Nassau record, and Lindenhurst's Stephen Skon, the winner of the last two Boomer Awards (given to Suffolk's top QB), are L.I.'s two signal-callers. Is Magloire jealous? You bet.
"One hundred percent jealous," Magloire said. "I wanted to play quarterback so bad in this game, and I knew I had what it takes. But it's an all-star game. You can't always get what you want."
One aspect of defense Magloire said he'll enjoy is not having to make the decisions. "All you've got to do is go for the ball or go for the person," he said. "I'm an athlete. I've played most positions in pickup football, so it won't be hard to play safety."
Boomer neutral. The Boomer Award's namesake, Boomer Esiason, who is the founder of the Empire Challenge, was at Hofstra Friday. Though he was with the L.I. team for most of his stay, the East Islip graduate maintained his neutral position.
Said the former Jet: "I have absolutely no rooting interest in the game. I always say I live on Long Island and I work in New York City, so I have ties to both places."
