Nassau Conference IV preview
Seaford High School quarterback #15 Chris Trotta drops back for a pass in the first quarter. (Oct. 22, 2010) Credit: James Escher
When you win 43 straight conference games and four consecutive county titles, anything less than perfection is considered a step in the wrong direction.
So week after week, Seaford will be the hunted of Conference IV.
Senior quarterback Chris Trotta will hand off to "The Two Joes," Andersen and Richards, who must fill the void left by last year's starter, Justin Buckley.
Roosevelt lost two games to Seaford by a combined four points last season, including a three-point loss in the county final. Erin Parker, who rushed for 857 yards and 12 TDs in a backup role last season, should explode past the 1,000-yard mark. Rough Riders coach Joe Vito wants "better distribution on offense, which should equate to added carries for Manny Jones (FB/LB).
Locust Valley and East Rockaway could contend for "Big Four" berths, but all eyes will be on Roosevelt, which will look to wrest Seaford's stranglehold on the top spot.
Because of a lack of participants, Friends Academy will not field a varsity team.
1. SEAFORD (11-1)
COACH: Rob Perpall (14th season)
KEY PLAYERS: Chris Trotta, QB, (6-0, 190), Sr.; Joe Richards, FB/LB, (6-0, 195), Sr.; Brian Gilbert WR/DB, (6-0, 190), Sr.; PJ Ruttura OT/DT, (6-2, 290), Sr.; Joe Andersen, RB/DB (5-10, 180), Sr; James O'Hagan OT/DT (6-2, 275), So.
ABOUT THE VIKINGS: The four-time defending Nassau champs will look to wear down opposing defenses with its Power-I offense and a stout running attack behind lead blockers O'Hagan and Ruttura. Trotta should step forward as one of the conference's elite quarterbacks.
2. ROOSEVELT (9-2)
COACH: Joe Vito (18th season)
KEY PLAYERS: Erin Parker RB/DB, (5-7, 175), Sr.; Manny Jones FB/LB, (6-1, 190), Sr.; QB/LB Robert Sweeney, (6-1, 180), Sr.; Neftali Henderson OL/DL, (6-2, 225), Jr.; Marquell Saunders WR/DB, (5-11, 165), Jr.; Teddy Santana SB/DB, (5-8, 155), Jr.
ABOUT THE ROUGH RIDERS: Expect the combination of Parker and Jones (1,143 total rushing yards in 2010) to pace the offense, with Sweeney having the dynamic Saunders catching passes. Two-way dynamo Santana returns from injury.
3. LOCUST VALLEY (3-5)
COACH: Matt McFarland (1st season)
KEY PLAYERS: Joe Jacobi QB/DB, (6-0, 170), Sr.; Chris Appell RB/DB, (5-10, 160), Sr.; Alex Rawa WR/DB, (6-4, 205), Sr.; Kevin Rieger OL/DL, (6-2, 210), Jr.; Marlon Maldonado OL/DL, (6-3, 220), Jr.; Louis Falciano OL/DL, (6-2, 240), Jr.
ABOUT THE FALCONS: Jacobi's arm (950 passing yards, 13 TDs in 2010) will keep opposing defenses from stacking the box. After missing last year, Rawa should use his All-County basketball skills to snatch passes from opposing DBs.
4. EAST ROCKAWAY (7-3)
COACH: Russell Pajer (17th season)
KEY PLAYERS: Sean Bohan QB/DB (6-1, 185), Sr.; Mikey Lores OL/DL (5-9, 175), Sr.; Joey Lores OL/DL (5-10, 215), Sr.; Thomas Dolan TE/FS (5-10, 160), Sr.; Nick Ulip RB/LB, (5-9, 170), Sr.; Anthony Tesoriero RB/LB, (5-9, 185), Sr.
ABOUT THE ROCKS: Bohan will run the team's double wing offense and Tesoriero will look to improve upon last season's 593 rushing yards and 11 TDs. Dolan and Ulip should approach 100 tackles apiece.
5. WEST HEMPSTEAD (4-4)
COACH: Dominic Carre (2nd season)
KEY PLAYERS: Tayvon Hall RB/DB, (5-7, 150), Jr.; Justin Boatwright RB/LB, (5-11, 180), Sr.; Bruno DeVito QB, (5-11, 160), Sr.; Danny Sheeler WR/S, (5-11, 175), Sr.; Danny Njkou OL/DL, (6-0, 230), Jr.; Christian Jean-Louis OL/DL, (5-7, 260), So.
ABOUT THE RAMS: The Rams are a team on the rise, going .500 last year after winless seasons in '08 and '09. Hall and Boatwright are one of the conference's top 1-2 backfield combos, which could be enough to push the Rams to their first postseason berth since 2003.
6. ISLAND TREES (4-4)
COACH: Michael Bonsignore (4th season)
KEY PLAYERS: Kyle Nigro QB/DB, (6-0, 175), Sr.; Tyler Byrne TE/DE, (5-11, 190), Sr.; Chris Pascalli RB/LB, (6-2, 180), Sr.; Mike Jeannetti RB/DB, (5-9, 180), Sr.; Kevin Strauss OL/DL, (6-2, 195), Jr.; CJ Novak RB/LB, (5-10, 160), Sr.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS: This is a senior-laden team that Bonsignore called his "most focused group of players" in four seasons. Jeannetti is a legitimate pass-catching threat, and as a kicker went 25-for-27 on PATs in 2010.
7. MINEOLA (5-4)
COACH: Dan Guido (25th season)
KEY PLAYERS: Steve Napolitano RB/LB, (5-11, 175), Sr.; Rob Clarkin QB/DB, (5-9, 155), Sr.; Nico Pantelides WR/LB, (6-3, 200), Sr.; Brian Gaffney RB/DB, (5-9, 155), Jr.; Bruno Ferreira OG/DT, (6-4, 265), Sr.; Joe Massaro LB/RB, (5-11, 180), Sr.
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS: The Mustangs' success will depend on the maturation of Napolitano, who averaged more than 9 yards per carry in 2010. Gaffney will spell him on the ground, while Clarkin has Pantelides as a sure-handed target.
8. CLARKE (4-5)
COACH: John Boyle (25th season)
KEY PLAYERS: Mike Martiello QB/LB, (6-0, 190), Sr.; Jevon Clarke DB/WR, (5-10, 150), Sr.; Mike Quintela RB/LB, (5-9, 175), Sr.; Chris Puchalski RB/DB, (5-8, 155), Sr.; Austin Peraza OL/DL, (5-8, 180), Sr.; Nick DiCamillo WR/DE, (6-1, 190), Sr.
ABOUT THE RAMS: Martiello has shown that he can run an offense, but he will need help from his supporting cast for the Rams to return to the postseason. Quintela and Puchalski are expected to be the primary ballcarriers for Clarke.
9. COLD SPRING HARBOR (5-4)
COACH: Dennis Bonn (8th season)
KEY PLAYERS: Kevin Porzelt RB/LB, (6-0, 190), Sr.; Dylan Cole OT/DT, (6-1, 265), Sr.; Connor Hill TE/CB, (6-0, 170), Sr.; Brendan Croasdale FB/LB, (5-10, 170), Sr.
ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS: At times last season, the Seahawks struggled to score points, which once again puts the onus on third-year starter Porzelt to carry the load. Cole and Croasdale will anchor the 4-4 defense, which had spells of dominance last year.
10. VALLEY STREAM NORTH (1-7)
COACH: Tom Schiavo (14th season)
KEY PLAYERS: Kendel Levy OL/LB, (5-10, 250), Sr.; Jesse Oppenheimer WR/DB, (5-5, 130), Sr.; Anthony Martelli QB/DB, (5-11, 170), Jr.; Evan Henry RB/DB, (5-9, 200), Sr.; John Rauert OL/DL, (5-11, 180), Sr.; Islam Fermas OL/DL, (6-3, 240), Sr.
ABOUT THE SPARTANS: The Spartans showed improvement over the last two weeks of the 2010 season, and with Martelli (1,300 passing yards) returning under center, they should be a vastly improved team.
11. MALVERNE (2-6)
COACH: Kito Lockwood (3rd season)
KEY PLAYERS: Jordan Richard FB/LB, (5-10, 175), Sr.; Kern Mascall RB/LB, (6-0, 190), Sr.; Alton Kelly TE/DE, (6-4, 220), Sr.; Dwayne LaCroix OL/LB, (5-10, 205), SR.
ABOUT THE MULES: The Mules are preaching defense, while Richard and Mascall will be asked to eat up clock on the ground. Kelly could turn into a pass-rushing force.
12. NORTH SHORE (5-5)
COACH: Dan Agovino (10th season)
KEY PLAYERS: Alex Neal RB/LB, (5-10, 175), Sr.; Mike DiVincenzo QB, (6-1, 180), Sr.; Ken Daley RB/LB, (5-9, 275), Jr.; Kevin Kerr OL/DL, (6-3, 245), Sr.; Drew Swenson OL/DL, (6-2, 185), Sr.; Matt Capobianco OL/DL, (6-1, 230), Sr.
ABOUT THE VIKINGS: All but two of their starters graduated from last year's "Big Four" team that lost to Seaford. Daley will be the primary tailback, although Agovino is planning to use a "backfield by committee" in what might be a transitional season.
13. OYSTER BAY (1-7)
COACH: Joe Knoll (1st season)
KEY PLAYERS: Jonathan Escobar WR/DB, (5-11, 160), Sr.; Phil Mihlstin RB/LB, (5-10, 165), Sr.; Robert Morgan RB/DB, (5-11, 160), Sr.; Steven O'Neill QB/DB, (6-0, 165), Sr.; Dylan Rankin OL/DL, (6-0, 200), Sr.; Matt Romeo TE/LB, (5-11, 175), Sr.
ABOUT THE BAYMEN: Lacking in size and offensive firepower, this is a veteran group that must rely on second-year starting QB O'Neill. Knoll takes over the coaching reins and hopes his spread offense will equate to more points.
