2000
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW / SUFFOLK DIVISION II
Newsday
September 9, 2000 By Gregg Sarra
1. BELLPORT (8-2)
Coach: Joe Cipp Jr. (22nd year).
Key Players: Senior HB/LB Desmond Dent (6-1, 195), senior RB/LB Jason
Fernandez (6-0, 210), senior TE/LB Kurt Bazarewski (6-2, 215), senior FB/DE
Nick Wright (5-11, 205).
Top Newcomers: Junior OT/DE Kyle Moodt (6-5, 230), junior C/LB Nick Webster
(6-3, 220), senior WR/DB Jason Rivera (5-11, 180), senior RB/DB Artie Haughey
(5-11, 180).
Comment: "All the way in Y2K" is the Clippers' motto for this season. The
program still stings from being squashed by North Babylon in last year's
Division II final, 39-14. They've heartily debated North Babylon's being
annointed as the team of the decade after the Bulldogs won an unprecedented
fourth Long Island title last year. This is the final year of the decade-put up
or shutup-is what Cipp Jr. is saying.
2. NORTH BABYLON (8-2-1)
Coach: Terry Manning (10th year).
Key Players: Senior HB/LB Bob Alpi (5-9, 180), senior G/DE Marcus Morton
(6-1, 220), senior G/DE Jon Krawchuk (6-1, 230), senior Marc Ferraro SE/CB
(6-1, 190), senior QB/SS Sean Fehn (6-0, 175), Demetrius Starling RB/CB (5-8,
170).
Top Newcomers: Sophomore QB/FS Frank Wolfe (6-2, 190), junior OT/DL Chris
Douse (6-0, 230), junior John Hines OT/DT (6-4, 240), junior RB/SS Justin
Hubbard (6-0, 185).
Comment: North Babylon has won four Long Island championships in the past
four years. The Bulldogs graduated three All-Long Island players, including
Hansen Award winner Omar Palmer, linebacker Jonelle Jones and safety Marvin
Toney, but remain poised for another title shot with an experienced offensive
line and the return of Alpi. The sudden death of very popular 1998 All-Long
Island linebacker Eddie Bellitieri rocked the program days before practice
started, but Manning is doing all he can to keep his group focused on football.
The Dogs will be ready.
3. WEST ISLIP (5-3-1)
Coach: Jim Dooley (third year).
Key Players: Senior OG Cale Smith (6-1, 225), senior QB Mike Vecchione
(6-2, 190), senior OT Mike Petito (6-1, 260), senior C Steve Nutter (6-0, 230),
senior RB/DB Tom Latronica (5-10, 165).
Top Newcomers: Junior RB Eric Botz (6-0, 205), junior FB/LB Darren Cappetta
(6-0, 215).
Comment: West Islip will employ the option attack on offense and use ball
control to win games-very similar to the Lions style of the past decade. With
one of the better and more experienced defenses returning, expect West Islip to
be in the hunt for the divisional title. Dooley feels his sound special teams
will also key the Lions' success. Last year, they were eliminated in the
playoffs on a spectacular end-zone catch in a loss to Bellport.
4. WEST BABYLON (7-2) {Correction: Dan Doherty is a senior tight end on
the West Babylon High School football team. His name was misspelled in Sunday's
High School Football Preview. (pg. A02 NS 9/12/00)}
Coach: Ron Langella (fourth year).
Key Players: Senior QB Kyle Smith (6-5, 205), senior HB Frank Leccesse
(5-10, 195), senior G/NG Robert Conquista (5-11, 205), senior TE Danny Dorethy
(6-0 210).
Top Newcomers: Sophomore WR Vinny Zito (5-8, 175), sophomore LB Anthony
Salvati (5-10, 195), junior LB Nelson Tavares (6-feet, 185).
Comment: West Babylon comes off another playoff season with the hopes that
the Eagles can return with a high-powered offense behind three-year starter
Smith. Langella said the Eagles progress all lies within a young and growing
offensive line. Leccesse gained 1,002 yards and scored 11 touchdowns to
complement the passing of Smith, who had 809 yards through the air and 12
scores. "We have an interesting mix of seasoned players and leaders," Langella
said. "But our schedule is very tough and every week it's a brawl. Depth is
going to be a key factor for all the teams in this division."
5. EAST ISLIP (6-2)
Coach: Sal Ciampi (25th year).
Key Players: Senior HB Jerry Figliulo (5-7, 160), senior OT/DT Greg Apoian
(5-10, 243), senior SS Eric Livoti (5-11, 180).
Comment: East Islip finished with a 6-2 record and missed the playoffs last
year. The Redmen had Long Island's toughest defense, allowing only 43 points
through eight games. The defense will be strong again, but scoring points may
be a problem. The Redmen graduated all but diminutive halfback Figliulo from
its backfield.
6. BAY SHORE (4-4)
Coach: Tim Cox (13th year).
Key Players: Senior QB Rich Yanatos (5-11, 190), senior HB Orlando Garced
(5-11, 185), senior SE Pat Kunnmann (5-9, 165), senior OT/DT K.C. Armstrong
(6-2, 295), senior HB/CB Ty Pearson (5-10, 180), junior OT/DT Joe Sitaram OT/DT
(6-3, 275).
Top Newcomers: Sophomore QB/FS C.J. Leary (5-11, 170), sophomore OT/DT Matt
Phillips (6-6, 330), junior FB John Rosabella (5-10, 180), junior LB Rob Rosa
(5-11, 195).
Comment: Bay Shore just missed a playoff spot last year and brings back a
bevy of talent in the backfield, including Yanatos, who passed for 803 yards
and nine touchdowns. Kunnmann, his favorite receiver, had 25 receptions.
7. RIVERHEAD (4-4)
Coach: Leif Shay (third year).
Key Players: Senior TE/LB Tobias Brown (6-2, 235), junior QB/DB Kenny
Schmidt (5-9, 170), senior DT/G Darrell Brown (6-0, 265), senior WR/FS Shawn
Foreman (6-2, 185).
Top Newcomers: Senior RB Curtis Williams (5-9, 165), junior C Heath Hanwick
(6-2, 245), junior FS Will Corbin (5-8, 170).
Comment: Riverhead will open up the offense behind Schmidt, who threw for
12 touchdowns last year. Brown is a blue chip tight end prospect that Shay will
depend on to help develop a young offensive line. Brown will also anchor the
defense at middle linebacker.
8. COPIAGUE (3-5)
Coach: Steve Rebholz (third year).
Key Players: Senior FB/CB Craig Truckenbrodt (6-0, 210), senior DB Rody
Williams (6-0, 200), senior C/NT Kevin Smith (5-10, 220).
Top Newcomers: Junior DB Randy Brown (5-10, 180).
Comment: The loss of All-Long Island halfback Shawn Hatcher will force the
Copiague offense to find ways to score. Hatcher scored more than 75 percent of
the Eagles' points last year. This could turn into a rebuilding year for the
Eagles.
9. NORTHPORT (3-5)
Coach: Kip Lukralle (15th year).
Key Players: Junior QB/CB Kyle Dowd (5-10, 180), senior OT/DT Vinnie Rizzo
(5-11, 195), senior TE/LB John Dickerson (6-0, 185).
Top Newcomers: Senior WR James Barth (6-0, 180).
Comment: The Tigers move down into the grueling Division II, but Dowd has a
year of experience at quarterback and could be the key to their success at
this level. Lukralle points to an inexperienced line and a lack of depth for
the low seed. Northport could surprise some teams.
10. HALF HOLLOW HILLS EAST (2-6)
Coach: Greg Toop (13th year).
Key Players: Senior TE/LB Rich Li (6-1, 190).
Comment: The Thunderbirds have a very young and inexperienced team that can
use the low seed to build for next year. A win or two is not impossible, but
16 underclassmen will have starting responsibilities and that could be rough.
11. CENTEREACH (0-8)
Coach: Mike Kazaks (third year).
Key Players: Senior FB Larry Laverty (6-1, 230), senior guard John
Martinelli (6-0, 150), senior halfback Jeremy Delgado (5-10, 175), senior
linebacker Shaun Kazaks (5-7, 180), senior linebacker Chris March (5-10, 210).
Top Newcomers: Sophomore OT/DT Chris Durkin (6-3, 240), sophomore DB Steve
Gelber (5-9, 175), junior wideout Phil Vairo (6-1, 200).
Comment: After a winless 1999 campaign, Kazaks brings back an experienced
squad with a large offensive line led by physical John Martinelli. The Cougars
have 20 returning seniors that have all participated in an intensive strength
conditioning program during the summer.
12. NEWFIELD (1-7)
Coach: Jim Daly (second year).
Key Players: Senior FB Ryan Happaney (5-11, 205), senior RB Ryan Robey
(5-11, 190), senior LB Phil Insalaco (6-1, 190), senior LB Joe Signorelli (6-2,
290).
Top Newcomers: Sophomore FB/NG Mike McIntee (5-8, 210), sophomore LB /RB
Joe Strohmeyer (6-2, 190), sophomore LB John Asaro (5-10, 195).
Comment: Newfield started five freshman and played a grueling schedule last
year and won one game. Daly expects the team to fare much better with an
easier schedule and a more experienced group returning.
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