Suffolk coaches hand out top awards
Jack Coan wins the Boomer Esiason Quarterback Award at the Suffolk All-County Gridiron Dinner at the Hyatt Hotel Dec. 1, 2014. Credit: Andrew Theodorakis
The Suffolk County Football Coaches Association handed out its yearly awards at a banquet at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge Monday night. Among the honors were the 12th Man Award, the Esiason Quarterback Award, the Cassese Defensive Back Award and the NFF Receiver Award.
Esiason Quarterback Award-- Jack Coan, Sayville.
Coan's 2014 season was historic. The 6-3, 170-pound sophomore quarterback shattered Long Island records with 3,431 passing yards and 40 touchdown passes.
"The numbers are obviously staggering, and they're even more staggering because he's in 10th grade," coach Rob Hoss said.
But Coan doesn't put too much stock in individual statistics.
"He's a tremendously humble kid and there's no doubt the stats are incredible, but they're really not important to him," Hoss said. "All that matters to him is winning with his teammates."
Though he was just a sophomore commanding a huddle full of upperclassmen, Coan led by example.
"During the summer, he'd be calling up kids who were upperclassmen, asking them to meet him down at the field," Hoss said. "So you can forget about age. He was absolutely the leader of our offense."
Cassese Defensive Back Award-- Sean McKean, Connetquot.
On Oct. 17, Patchogue-Medford had essentially only one side of the field to work with on offense.
That's because McKean, who had 12 tackles and an interception in Connetquot's 45-19 win, stopped anything that came his way.
"He gave us the ability on defense to almost close down one side of the field," coach Mike Hansen said. "When we put him on one of the hashes, we knew that not only would he play the pass over there but they couldn't really run outside over there, either."
The 6-3, 200-pound senior strong safety had 94 tackles, including eight for a loss, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and three pass deflections this season.
"He looks like he's playing at a different speed than the other kids a lot of times," Hansen said. "He doesn't miss tackles."
NFF Receiver Award -- Andrew Trent, Bellport.
Bellport's identity on offense wasn't pass-first this season. Coach Joe Cipp III said his team "ran the ball at least two or three times as much as we threw it."
No matter. Trent still grabbed 38 passes for 735 yards. The reception total is a school record, according to Cipp.
"For him to have broken the school record, considering our offensive game plan, is impressive," Cipp said.
Trent, a senior, averaged 81.7 yards per game and had eight touchdown catches.
"I think his biggest asset is his vertical jump ability and his hands," Cipp said. "He's a tremendous talent."
12th Man Award -- Shoreham-Wading River district and community.
Shoreham-Wading River athletic director Mark Passamonte accepted the award on behalf of the district and community.
