Nassau II team-by-team football preview
Running back Trevor Yeboah-Kodie and QB Colin Hart return to lead Garden City's powerful offense. Credit: James Escher
1. GARDEN CITY TROJANS
2017 record: 12-0
Coach: Dave Ettinger, 3rd year
KEY PLAYERS
Trevor Yeboah-Kodie RB/DB, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Colin Hart, QB/DB, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Justin Coppola RB/DB 5-6, 165, Sr.; Danny Boccafola TE/DE, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Steven Moscatiello DL, 5-10, 175, Sr.
ABOUT THE TROJANS
Reigning Long Island champions allowed 5.8 points per game and scored at least 30 points 10 times.
2. CAREY SEAHAWKS
2017 record: 5-5
Coach: Mike Stanley, 12th year
KEY PLAYERS
Nicholas Giacalone WR/DB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Devin Hartz RB/LB, 5-8, 170, Sr.; Vincenzo Milione OL/DL, 6-3, 295, Sr.; Riley Demeo, WR/DB, 5-9, 155, Sr., Patrick McGrath, QB/WR, 6-1, 180, Sr..
ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS
Rich Mejia and Andre Blanc join Milione on a deep defensive line for the 2017 semifinalists.
3. CALHOUN COLTS
2017 record: 6-4
Coach: Brian Moeller, 5th year
KEY PLAYERS
Ariel DeJesus FB/LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Tommy Casimano RB/CB, 6-0, 160, Sr.; Jack Annibale C/DT, 6-5, 300, Sr.; Matt Marziliano WR/S, 6-0, 160, Sr.; Nick Turrini QB/S, 6-0, 165, Sr.
ABOUT THE COLTS
Speed will be key for a team aiming to return to the county semifinals.
4. MEPHAM PIRATES
2017 record: 8-3
Coach: Anthony Cracco, 11th year
KEY PLAYERS
John Aliberti OL/DL, 6-4, 280, Sr.; Anthony Paolino WR/DB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Anthony Novello WR/DB, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Marco Baez OL/DL, 6-2, 245, Sr.; Nick Cucinella WR/DB, 5011, 165, Sr.
ABOUT THE PIRATES
Aliberti leads the way up front, while Paolino and Novello are playmakers for last season’s county runners-up.
5. MACARTHUR GENERALS
2017 record: 5-4
Coach: Bobby Fehrenbach, 20th year
KEY PLAYERS
Tom Kelleher RB/LB, 6-2, 190, Jr.; Sean Tierney OL/DL, 6-2, 250, Jr.; Dan Calderon WR/LB, 5-10, 180, Jr.; Justin Goodwin RB/DL, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Kevin O’Shea OL/DL, 6-4, 20, Sr.
ABOUT THE GENERALS
Kelleher, who made 91 tackles, leads a young team.
6. ELMONT SPARTANS
2017 record: 5-4
Coach: Jay Hegi, 17th year
Emmanuel Flemming OL/DL, 5-11, 245, Sr.; Jaiyetoro Gordon-Young WR/S, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Klay DeHaney OL/DL, 6-0, 235, Sr.; James Pierre WR/CB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Mikhail Reid OL/LB, 6-2, 220, Sr.
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
Flemming anchors the line on both sides of the ball.
7. BELLMORE JFK COUGARS
2017 Record: 4-5
Coach: Johnny McGuire, 1st year
KEY PLAYERS
Marco Travaglione LB/TE, 6-2, 220, Sr.; Matt Jones QB, 6-3, 185, Sr.; Jordan Pitti RB/DE, 5-11, 195, Sr.; Zach Schuit WR/DB, 5-11, 200, Sr.; Zach Rosenfeld WR/DB, 5-10, 190, Sr.
ABOUT THE COUGARS
Experienced team will look for a third straight playoff berth with a balanced offense and athletic defensive front.
8. VALLEY STREAM CENTRAL EAGLES
2017 record: 2-6
Coach: Michael Rubino, 3rd year
KEY PLAYERS
Armani O’Brady, QB/LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Robert Nunez, WR/LB, 5-11, 215, Jr.; Ramario Jackson, OT/DT, 6-0, 225, Jr.; Carlos Morales, OT/DT, 6-3, 275, Sr.; Wakeem Jackson, WR/DB, 5-8, 165, So.
ABOUT THE EAGLES
O’Brady is a playmaker who leads a young but talented group.
9. HERRICKS/ROSLYN
2017 record: 2-6
Coach: Mike Yoo, 10th year
KEY PLAYERS
William McCreery QB, 6-2, 175, Sr; Ian Gopie OG/DT, 5-9, 200, Sr.; Cole LaRock RB/LB, 5-7, 175, Jr.; Andrew Cho RB/SS, 5-10, 175; Sr.; Pat McTiernan OL/DE, 6-2, 185, Sr.
ABOUT HERRICKS/ROSLYN
McCreery leads a spread offense that will look to push the tempo, while LaRock and Cho split the carries.
10. NEW HYDE PARK Gladiators
2017 record: 3-5
Coach: Colin Maier, 3rdyear
KEY PLAYERS
Josh Destin RB/DB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Gamal Elgohary OL/DL, 6-1, 240, Sr.; Biaro Flores OL/DL, 5-10, 290, Sr.; Robert Dunn OL/DL, 6-1, 225, Jr.; Kevin Langan WR/DB, 6-1, 165, Sr.
ABOUT THE GLADIATORS
Destin ran for 1,090 and eight touchdowns while averaging 9 yards per carry.
11. SEWANHAKA INDIANS
2017 record: 3-5
Coach: George Kasimatis, 10th year
KEY PLAYERS
Brandon Valerio OL/DL, 6-1, 265, Sr.; Shawn Cothias TE/DL, 6-3, 215, Sr.; Joseph Carollo-Bayona TE/LB, 6-2, 205, Sr.; Nicholas Baletta QB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Christian Mullings WR/DB, 5-8, 155, Jr.
ABOUT THE INDIANS
Increased consistency in the running game will be a focus.
12. MANHASSET INDIANS
2017 record: 5-3
Coach: Jay Iaquinta, 1st year
KEY PLAYERS
Steven Vlahakis OL/DL, 6-2, 230, Sr.; Ross Tortora LB, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Derek Mulholland DE, 6-5, 210, Sr.; Owen Connor OL/DL, 6-2, 225, Sr.; Jack Sullivan LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.
ABOUT THE INDIANS
New triple option offense will run behind three-year starter Vlahakis, Connor and Will Allen.
NASSAU II PLAYERS TO WATCH
JOHN ALIBERTI, Mepham, OL/DL, Sr.
Recorded 15 tackles and a sack while anchoring both sides of the line.
TOM CASIMANO, Calhoun, RB/CB, Sr.
Ran for 877 yards and eight touchdowns, while averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
JUSTIN COPPOLA, Garden City, QB/DB, Sr.
Gained 529 yards and scored eight touchdowns on just 55 carries (9.6 yards per rush).
ARIEL DEJESUS, Calhoun FB/LB, Sr.
Made 106 tackles, including 21 for a loss and seven sacks, forced six fumbles and had three interceptions.
NICK GIACALONE, Carey, WR/DB, Sr.
Caught 54 passes for 876 yards and eight touchdowns.
COLIN HART, Garden City, QB/DB, Sr.
Threw for 762 yards and 10 touchdowns and added 477 yards and three scores on the ground.
VINCENZO MILIONE, Carey, OL/DL, Sr.
6-3, 295 pound lineman is a physical presence on the interior.
MARCO TRAVAGLIONE, Bellmore JFK, LB/TE, Sr.
Made 78 tackles to go along with a pair of fumble recoveries and interception.
TREVOR YEBOAH-KODIE, Garden City, RB/DB, Sr.
Rushed for 1,288 yards and 26 touchdowns and also caught four touchdowns.
STEVEN VLAHAKIS, Manhasset, OL/DL, Sr.
6-2, 230-pound lineman is a three-year starter on the Indians line.
