Kennedy Cougars

KENNEDY

Cougars search for elusive win

By BRIAN KACHARABA

Kennedy is changing up a couple of things in hopes of snapping its long losing streak. The Cougars are back in Conference II after struggling in III last year and adjusting their offense that fi fth-year head coach John McGuire hopes will utilize the strengths of his main weapons. Kennedy went 0-8 last season and has dropped 14 in a row since beating Calhoun in the 2019 season fi nale. The Cougars lost the fi rst seven games that year to make the slump look even worse at 1-21. Kennedy almost snapped the skid during its homecoming game last Sept. 25, but confusion amongst the offi cials about how much time was left on the clock resulted in Valley Stream South kicking the game-winning fi eld goal at the gun for a 16-15 loss. The Cougars scored just 19 more points over their last fi ve games to fi nish with 34, the program’s lowest since it amassed just 16 in 2000. McGuire is hoping his team’s fortunes change just like it did for a school on the North Shore. “We’re looking to get on the board and, hopefully, follow what Glen Cove did and turn it around,” he said of the Big Red, which dropped 20 straight before winning four of fi ve to end 2021. “[They] turned around their season to the most improved team type of deal.” Senior Joe Vaccaro will embark on his fi rst full season as the starting quarterback after making several appearances during the middle portion of last year’s schedule. This year, McGuire is changing his offense from a spread formation to a fl ex bone tripleoption in order to take advantage of Vaccaro’s speed. “We’re hoping he takes that next step and provides some consistency,” McGuire said. “He’s really taken to the offense. He really likes it. I think it hones on his skills a little better.” Power running back Ray Torcia returns after an injury-plagued sophomore season and attended some offseason camps to help him become a dual threat in the backfi eld. Junior fullback Devin Pryor will provide the blocking and is also expected to get some carries with a year of varsity experience under his belt. Six-foot-4 senior Leo Gerunda is back as the team’s No.1 receiver and will also see time at tight end, with lanky Nick Pizzirusso possibly starting on the other side. Pizzirusso is a smart route runner with good hands and recorded one of Kennedy’s four offensive touchdowns last season when he hauled in an 8-yard pass against Manhasset on Oct. 22. Three of the spots on the offensive line are solidifi ed with the “Crunch and Munch” tandem of junior Brandon Goldstein and senior Josh Amiel, both of whom, according to McGuire, lost weight and gained strength and athleticism, and senior center Tyler Casesi. “Goldstein, I can’t talk about him enough,” McGuire said. “He was an All-Conference player for us as a tenth grader. If he’s not AllCounty this year, I’ll be shocked. I think he’ll have a breakout year this year.” The three will again man the defensive line as well, with Gerunda moving from linebacker to the line this season in the 4-2-5 scheme. That will leave the linebacking corps a little “green”, with senior Matt Chou gaining some experience at inside linebacker last fall and possibly the return of Nick Larsen. Speedy Peter Kourkoumelis is back at cornerback and McGuire is optimistic that junior Brennan Cleary can be on the opposite side. Torcia will regain one of the safety spots. That elusive win could come early when the Cougars host winless Roslyn/Friends in the Sept. 10 opener before visiting 1-7 Sewanhaka two weeks later.

backer last fall and possibly the return of Nick Larsen. Peter Kourkoumelis is back at cornerback and McGuire is optimistic that junior Brennan Cleary can be on the opposite side. Torcia will regain one of That elusive win could come early when the Cougars host winless Roslyn/Friends in the Sept. 10 opener before visiting 1-7 Sewanhaka two weeks later.

JOE VACCARO

Brandon Goldstein

JOSH AMIEL

Schedule

September 10 @ Roslyn 2:00 p.m. 16 Elmont 4:15 p.m. 24 Sewanhaka 2:00 p.m. October 1 @ Herricks 3:00 p.m. 7 @ Long Beach 7:00 p.m. 15 New Hyde Park 2:00 p.m. 22 @ Calhoun 2:00 p.m. 29 MacArthur 2:00 p.m.