Spread attack should shine at Empire
Varsity football standouts #44 Derelle Hunter (St. John the Baptist High School), left, and #50 Dimitry Russ (Deer Park High School) pose for a portrait underneath the bleachers of Shuart Stadium, located on the campus of Hofstra University. Hunter, Russ and their Long Island teammates will take on the best of New York City in the United Healthcare Empire Challenge. (June 21, 2011) Credit: James Escher
Repeated bolts of lightning and claps of thunder were seen and heard at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium on Friday, forcing cancellation of the United Healthcare Empire Challenge's first practice in full pads. There should be plenty of both elements in Tuesday night's 16th charity all-star football game at Hofstra matching the Long Island and New York City All-Stars. The event raises money and awareness to fight cystic fibrosis and support youth football in the New York metropolitan area.
"Our running backs are dynamite," Long Island offensive coordinator Rob Hoss of Sayville said of a unit that features Derelle Hunter (St. John the Baptist), Travis Lock (Lynbrook), Travis Houpe (Bellport) and Kevin Wahl (Farmingdale). "Hunter has unbelievable lateral movement and Lock has ridiculous breakaway speed in the open field."
In fact, if the weather cooperates -- last year, rain slowed down both offenses in the City's 15-10 victory -- Long Island's spread attack should be pretty explosive all-around, with quarterbacks Tyler Heuer (Oceanside) and Steve Skon (Lindenhurst) handing off to that quartet or throwing to receivers such as Gene Garay (Oceanside) and Seiddrik Ervin (Lawrence).
Because Friday's practice was canceled and Heuer and Skon have missed some practice time, Hoss said, "There's no frontrunner" for the starting spot and that both quarterbacks will play.
Hoss, who employs the spread at Sayville -- as does L.I. head coach Russ Cellan of Freeport -- said Heuer "might have the upper hand because he knows the offense and commands it better because he ran it at Oceanside. He understands the zone-read coverage." Heuer is an accurate passer and perhaps a better runner out of the spread than Skon, who has the stronger arm.
"If we want to move it down the field with runs and passes, Tyler might be the guy," Hoss said. "If we want to sling it, Steve has all the tools and makes all the throws."
Just as Heuer has his favorite target, Garay, for the Empire Challenge, New York City quarterback Terrel Hunt has his Christ the King teammate, Brandon Reddish. Both blue-chip prospects are Syracuse-bound, as is 290-pound NYC defensive tackle Ivan Foy.
Even though the teams do not exchange videotapes, the L.I. coaches are well aware of Foy's reputation. He might get matched up against 300-pound offensive tackle Ryan Sloan of Bellport, who also is headed to Syracuse.
Defensively, L.I. features ends Victor Ochi (Valley Stream Central) and Dimitry Russ (Deer Park), who will have to pressure Hunt from the edge (the rules of the game prohibit blitzing).
"Our defense runs very well to the ball. We've got quickness and speed," said L.I. defensive coordinator Buddy Krumenacker of Farmingdale.
They hit, too. A little thunder and lightning of their own.
