Suffolk II team-by-team preview
Smithtown East quarterback John Daniggelis looks on during football practice on Tuesday, August 19, 2014. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
1. RIVERHEAD BLUE WAVES
2013 Record: 10-2
Coach: Leif Shay, 16th year
KEY PLAYERS
Ryun Moore
RB/LB, 5-10/185, Jr.
Ethan Greenidge
OL/DL, 6-6/325, Sr.
Raheem Brown
RB/LB, 5-10/195, Sr.
Eddie Wills
OL/DL, 6-2/225, Sr.
RJ Foster
WR/DB, 5-11/185, Sr.
ABOUT THE BLUE WAVES
Moore stepped up huge in the Long Island championship and is one of the top play makers in Suffolk on both sides of the ball.
2. EAST ISLIP REDMEN
2013 Record: 8-3
Coach: Sal Ciampi, 14th season
KEY PLAYERS
Sean Sconone
OL/DL, 5-10/250
John Wilson
OL/DL, 5-10/240, SR.
Anthony Nunez
TE/DL, 6-2/240, Sr.
Kyle Nunez
OL/DL, 6-2/280, So.
Jack Hannigan
QB/SS, 5-8/175, Jr.
ABOUT THE REDMEN
Looking to reach County final for seventh time in nine seasons. Hannigan has another year of experience with dynamic Hugens Tranquille, who had 30 catches for 510 yards and five touchdowns.
3. SMITHTOWN EAST BULLS
2013 Record: 5-4
Coach: Pete Melore, 4th year
KEY PLAYERS
John Daniggelis
QB, 6-1/185, Sr.
Brian Willetts
WR/LB, 6-3/195, Sr.
Jesse Whiting
WR/DB, 5-11/170, Sr.
John Murray
OL/DL, 6-1/230, Sr.
Cole Vittoria
OL/DL, 5-9/215, Sr.
ABOUT THE BULLS
Third year starter Daniggelis threw for 15 touchdowns and ran for eight more in 2013. Cole Valinotti is an underrated pass catcher at tight end and complements Willetts and Whiting on the outside.
4. NEWFIELD WOLVERINES
2013 Record: 6-4
Coach: Joe Piccininni, 10th year
KEY PLAYERS
Joe Saladino
OL/DL, 5-11/260, Jr.
Elijah Riley
WR/DB, 6-0/185, Jr.
Dylan Ferrari
OL/DL, 6-1/240, Jr.
Denzel Williams
RB/DB, 5-10/170, Jr.
Patty Crean
OL/DL, 6-0/265, Sr.
ABOUT THE WOLVERINES
Saladino is a returning all-County player and anchors a line that will lead Newfield's strong ground attack that will be a key to Newfield's physical mentality.
5. HALF HOLLOW HILLS WEST COLTS
2013 Record: 5-4
Coach: Kyle Madden, 14th year
KEY PLAYERS
Joseph Cipoletti
TE/LB, 5-9/200, Sr.
Anthony Lucarelli
QB/DB, 6-2/175, Jr.
Lucas DiGiorgi
RB/DB, 5-9/200, Jr.
Matthew Fattibene
OL/DL, 6-0/215, Sr.
Cody Clarson
WR/DB, 5-9/170, Sr.
ABOUT THE COLTS
Cipoletti was a terror at the middle linebacker spot with 72 tackles, four fumble recoveries and three interceptions. Lucarelli (1,300 pass yards and 15 touchdowns) and DiGiorgi (600 rushing yards) will lead offense.
6. NORTH BABYLON BULLDOGS
2013 Record: 4-5
Coach: Terry Manning, 24th year
KEY PLAYERS
Talib Ahmad
OL/DL, 5-11/230, Sr.
Michael Hart
QB/DB, 6-2/195, Sr.
Jajhuan Winters
RB/DB, 5-9/180, Jr.
Brandon Sobotker
RB/DB, 6-0/180, So.
Jared Ziegler
RB/DB, 5-11/175, So.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
Made the playoffs in Division II last season and will look to pound the ball on the ground behind a line led by Ahmad with a strong stable of underclassmen running backs.
7. WEST ISLIP LIONS
2013 Record: 5-4
Coach: Steve Mileti, 6th year
KEY PLAYERS
Max McNicholas
RB/QB, 5-10/200, Sr.
Alex Barbera
WR/SS, 5-8/160, Sr.
Billy Hellem
WR, 6-5/210, Sr.
JJ Downey
WR/SS, 5-8/170, Sr.
Mike Lombardi
TE/LB, 5-9/210, Jr.
ABOUT THE LIONS
McNicholas takes over at quarterback in his third year of varsity. Matt Cairo and John Devlin are a dominant pair on the interior of both lines.
8. BELLPORT CLIPPERS
2013 Record: 5-5
Coach: Joe Cipp III, 4th year
KEY PLAYERS
Conor Haverty
RB/LB, 5-11/230, Sr.
Andrew Trent
WR/DB, 6-2/175, Sr.
Nick Fountis
QB/DB, 6-0/195, Sr.
Jabari M'bhaso
RB/DB, 5-10/185, Sr.
Will Priemer
OL/DL, 6-1/230, Sr.
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS
Replaced the entire offensive line but have returning quarterback Fountis (1,352 yards passing) and M'bhaso (826 yards rushing) to lead the offense.
9. SMITHTOWN WEST BULLS
2013 Record: 7-2
Coach: Peter Cerullo, 10th year
KEY PLAYERS
Garrett Brunsvold
RB, 6-1, Sr.
Sam Chaudhary
OL/DL, 6-2/265, Sr.
Austin Bariadi
OL/DL, 6-2/260, Sr.
Dan Caroussos
OB/FS, 5-10/175, Jr.
Michael Alfano
WR/C, 5-10/170, Jr.
ABOUT THE BULLS
Replaced key offensive weapons but will count on Brunsvold to pace offense on the ground behind line led by Chaudhary and Bariadi.
10. DEER PARK FALCONS
2013 Record: 4-5
Coach: Ron Langella, 9th year
KEY PLAYERS
Jasawn Thompson
RB, 6-2/220, Sr.
Kyle Lessick
LB, 5-11, 205, Sr.
Danny Jacob
DB, 5-8/170, Sr.
Andrew Ciejka
LB, 5-11/205, Sr.
Jonathan Bisono
DL, 6-0/230, Sr.
ABOUT THE FALCONS
The offense will revolve around powerful running back Thompson as he guns for another 2,000 yard season. Lessick doubles as outstanding kicker.
11. WEST BABYLON EAGLES
2013 Record: 1-7
Coach: Nick Martone, 2nd year
KEY PLAYERS
Nick Gilley
WR/DB, 5-9/170, Sr.
Elijah Wiegand
OL/DL, 6-3/240, Sr.
Devon Smith-Martin
RB/DB, 5-10/180, Sr.
Jonathan Flores
RB/DB, 5-9/180, Jr.
Davante Penn
QB, 6-4/185, Jr.
ABOUT THE EAGLES
Gilley will be counted on for leadership and to make big plays as he is one of only five Division II returning All-County players.
12. COPIAGUE EAGLES
2013 Record: 1-7
Coach: Ken Rittenhouse, 6th year
KEY PLAYERS
Ed Romero
OL/DL, 6-1/240, Jr.
Turner Kelly
OL/DL, 6-1/240, Sr.
Malik Harrison
WR/DB, 5-9/170, Sr.
Peter McKenzie
QB/DB, 6-2/180, Jr.
Michael Hararah
OL/DL, 5-7/210, Sr.
ABOUT THE EAGLES
Have depth along the offensive line in Romero, Kelly and Hararah but remain inexperienced at the skill positions.
13. CENTEREACH COUGARS
2013 Record: 1-7
Coach: Adam Barrett, 1st year
KEY PLAYERS
Mike Durkin
WR/OLB, 6-2/185, Sr.
Deiter Bartollotta
RB/LB, 5-9/165, Sr.
Brian Berdecia
WR/DB, 5-8/155, Sr.
Michael Volpe
OL/DL, 6-0/190, Jr.
Evan Heyder
OL/DL, 5-11/190, Jr.
ABOUT THE COUGARS
Expect Durkin and Bartollotta to lead a spread offense that hopes to feature a relatively balanced rushing and passing attack.
14. HALF HOLLOW HILLS EAST THUNDERBIRDS
2013 Record: 0-8
Coach: Mike Maratto, 1st year
KEY PLAYERS
Blaise Spinelli
RB/LB, 6-0/225, Sr.
Kodi Ojukwu
OL/DL, 6-3/225, Sr.
Derek Merckling
QB/OLB, 6-3/210, Sr.
Malik Williams-Wells
RB/DB, 5-8/190, Sr.
Dylan O'Shea
OL/DL, 6-2/220, Sr.
ABOUT THE THUNDERBIRDS
Spinelli is a key to setting the tone on both sides of the ball as a bruising running back and at linebacker.
