NYC, LI linemen heavy hitters
Long Island defensive lineman Ryan Sloan (62) breaks through the line for the sack on NYC quarterback Jordan Paul (11) in the first half. (June 21, 2011) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Tuesday night's Empire Challenge featured more than a dozen premium-size offensive and defensive linemen, which undoubtedly had several college scouts drooling during the recruitment periods.
The size of New York City's linemen, including Fort Hamilton's Ivan Foy (6-5, 295), Vince Hardy from Boys & Girls (6-2, 385), Lincoln's Rotchill Medor (6-5, 375) and Campus Magnet's Wayne Williams (6-6, 350) and Marcus Smith (6-8, 380) was especially impressive.
Long Island had several Division I-size linemen, too, including 6-3, 315-pound Ryan Sloan, 6-7, 295-pound Karim Mohamed of Lawrence, Islip's Andrew Oberg (6-7, 260), East Meadow's Brandon Noblett (6-2, 280) and Holy Trinity's Wray Fucci (6-7, 260).
Sloan said there wasn't much talk of the city's massive linemen during Long Island's practice sessions. "We don't care much about that," said the Syracuse-bound defensive tackle. "Size doesn't mean anything."
Sloan, who made a sack, was correct in his assessment as Long Island held its own. Long Island running backs combined for 120 yards on 24 carries compared with the city's rushing attack (31 for 124).
"You just have to beat them with speed," Sloan said.
LI college-bound seniors
Some of the Long Island players will soon become even more familiar because several of them will be playing college football on the Island in September.
Bellport's Mike Burton (C.W. Post), Oceanside's Tyler Heuer (C.W Post), Lawrence's Mohamed (Stony Brook), Valley Stream Central's Victor Ochi (Stony Brook), Dimitry Russ (Stony Brook) of Deer Park and Bellport's Justin Winter (Nassau CC) will all continue their football careers on Long Island.
The city also will have many representatives playing on Long Island: Curtis' Tynell Brown (C.W. Post), Poly Prep's James Barry (Stony Brook), Holy Cross' Kedar Hunter (Stony Brook), Sheepshead Bay's Jose Marc-Sears (Nassau CC), Rene Modeste (Stony Brook), Flushing's Haris Mrkulic (C.W. Post), Thomas Jefferson's Mark Thomas (Nassau CC), Christ the King's Joe Thompson (C.W. Post), Lincoln's Andrew Vital (C.W. Post) and Tottenville's Shaban Shatku (Nassau CC).
Reversal of fortune
Last year, Long Island had just 56 yards passing in a 15-10 loss. LI's offense surpassed that in the first quarter as Oceanside's Tyler Heuer (48 yards) and Lindenhurst's Stephen Skon (9) combined for 57 yards passing.
