Lynbrook Owls

LYNBROOK

Owls sideline features new but familiar face new but familiar face

By TONY BELLISSIMO

New Lynbrook head coach David Yaker brings more than 25 years of high school football coaching experience to the Owls’ sideline and inherited a senior-laden roster and familiar staff from Stephen LoCicero, who spent 16 seasons at the helm and led the team to Nassau and Long Island titles in 2010. “It’s been beyond my wildest expectations,” said Yaker, a 1992 Lynbrook graduate and member of the county championship team as a senior. “It’s something that I’ve dreamed about,” he added. “I’ve coached with and learned from a lot of incredible people and I’m looking to build on the success coach LoCicero had here. It’s a great program and community.” Yaker’s debut comes at home Sept. 10 against Glen Cove in the Conference III opener. The Owls are seeded No. 11 in the 12-team conference and will also face Manhasset, Carey, Hewlett, Floral Park, Valley Stream North, Division and Roosevelt. Yaker spent 20 seasons on the Hewlett staff, so the Sept. 30 matchup there will be interesting, he said. “The schedule is some tough sledding, but I certainly like the way our kids competed in 7 on 7s over the summer and dedicated themselves to workouts,” Yaker explained. “We had at least 30 varsity guys at every weight room session. I didn’t take over until June 8, but we hit the ground running. “I can’t really spend too much time worrying about who we’re playing,” he added. “I don’t know who we are yet.” The Owls went 5-3 last season but fi nished just short of qualifying for the playoffs. “We challenged the kids during the summer by going 7 on 7 with Oceanside, South Side and Holy Cross, and we’re challenging them again with a tough scrimmage at Cold Spring Harbor,” Yaker said. “We have a really good senior class that’s been leading the way.” There’s a good chance Lynbrook will have a Division I athlete at the controls of the offense, if not a very big part of it. Senior Michael Fagen was a slot receiver/running back last season but could become the quarterback. He’s headed to the University of Richmond to play lacrosse. “The bottom line is the ball has to be in Michael’s hands,” Yaker said. “He’s too talented and tough of a kid. He has unbelievable vision and speed, and his leadership has been great all summer. He can do it all, so we’re not going to write anything in stone about where he’ll be.” Fagen is also a starter in the secondary, punts and returns punts and kicks. Senior Chris Lucchese started a handful of games at quarterback last season before an injury put him on the shelf. He has a strong arm and was impressive in camp, Yaker said. Lucchese throwing passes to Fagen and a slew of other skilled receivers isn’t off the table. Seniors Jaylin Walker and Ryan Shapiro rate at the top of the receiver and secondary depth charts. Both can by dynamic playmakers, Yaker said. Shapiro was a standout in 7 on 7s, he noted. Juniors Ramon Calderon and Amah Agwu are tall targets. Senior Max Dantona and Mike Hendrickson are also part of a deep group. Seniors Chris Benson and Daniel Barrosso are projected to form a tandem at running back. Anchoring the line are returning starters Jake Lunati at tackle and Michael O’Hagan at center. Seniors Ralph Caputo and Thomas Byrne are close to securing starting gigs as well. Senior Tyler Denker is a returning starting linebacker and a key to a defensive unit with some pieces to fi ll. Junior Craig Lescczak is up from JV and making noise in camp.

going 7 on 7 with Oceanside, South Side and Holy Cross, and we’re challenging them again with a tough scrimmage at Cold Spring Harbor,” Yaker said. “We have a really good senior class that’s been There’s a good chance Lynbrook will have a Division I athlete at the controls of the offense, if not a very big part of it. Senior Michael Fagen was a slot receiver/running back last season but could become the quarterback. He’s headed to the University of Richmond to play lacrosse. “The bottom line is the ball has to be in Michael’s hands,” Yaker said. “He’s too talented and tough of a kid. He has unbelievable vision and speed, and his leadership has been great all summer. He can do it all, so we’re not going to write anything in stone about where he’ll be.” Fagen is also a starter in the secondary, punts and returns punts and kicks. Senior Chris Lucchese started a handful of games at quarterback last season before an injury put him on the shelf. He has a strong arm and was impressive in camp, Yaker said. Lucchese throwing passes to Fagen and a slew of other skilled receivers isn’t Seniors Jaylin Walker and Ryan Shapiro rate at the top of the receiver and secondary depth charts. Both can by dynamic playmakers, Yaker said. Shapiro was a standout in 7 on 7s, he noted. Juniors Ramon Calderon and Amah Agwu are tall targets. Byrne are close to securing starting gigs as well. Senior Tyler Denker is a returning starting linebacker and a key to a defensive unit with some pieces to fi ll. Junior Craig Lescczak is up from JV and making noise in camp.

MICHAEL FAGEN

Jaylin Walker

MICHAEL O’HAGAN

Schedule

September 10 Glen Cove 2:00 p.m. 17 @ Manhasset 2:00 p.m. 24 Carey 2:00 p.m. 30 @ Hewlett 6:00 p.m. October 8 @ Floral Park 2:00 p.m. 15 V.S. North 2:00 p.m. 22 Division 2:00 p.m. 29 @ Roosevelt 2:00 p.m.

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR 2022 HERALD High School Foot ball Preview

Fri. Sept. 9 WEST HEMPSTEAD SEAFORD 6:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 9 Port Washington FREEPORT 6:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 9 HEMPSTEAD OCEANSIDE 6:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 9 V.S. SOUTH Carle Place 6:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 9 V.S. CENTRAL Farmingdale 6:30 p.m. Fri. Sept. 9 EAST MEADOW Plainview 6:30 p.m. Fri. Sept. 9 CALHOUN MACARTHUR 7:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 9 HEWLETT WANTAGH 7:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 10 BALDWIN Massapequa 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 10 Manhasset CAREY 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 10 EAST ROCKAWAY CLARKE 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 10 MEPHAM ELMONT 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 10 KENNEDY Roslyn 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 10 MALVERNE LAWRENCE 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 10 LONG BEACH Garden City 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 10 Glen Cove LYNBROOK 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 10 Herricks SEWANHAKA 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 10 New Hyde Park SOUTH SIDE 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 10 Syosset UNIONDALE 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 10 Roosevelt V.S. NORTH 2:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 16 ELMONT KENNEDY 4:15 p.m. Fri. Sept. 16 Roosevelt HEWLETT 6:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 16 Carle Place EAST ROCKAWAY 6:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 16 Farmingdale OCEANSIDE 6:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 16 Garden City SOUTH SIDE 6:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 UNIONDALE BALDWIN 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 Herricks CALHOUN 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 Plainedge CAREY 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 C.S. Harbor CLARKE 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 FREEPORT EAST MEADOW 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 Plainview HEMPSTEAD 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 LAWRENCE Locust Valley 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 SEWANHAKA LONG BEACH 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 LYNBROOK Manhasset 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 MACARTHUR MEPHAM 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 MALVERNE North Shore 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 SEAFORD V.S. SOUTH 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 V.S. CENTRAL Hicksville 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 V.S. NORTH Division 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 WANTAGH Bethpage 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 17 WEST HEMPSTEAD Oyster Bay 2:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 23 EAST MEADOW Westbury 5:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 23 Massapequa FREEPORT 6:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 23 North Shore SEAFORD 6:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 23 V.S. CENTRAL HEMPSTEAD 6:30 p.m. Fri. Sept. 23 HEWLETT Bethpage 6:30 p.m. Fri. Sept. 23 V.S. NORTH Glen Cove 7:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24 BALDWIN Syosset 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24 CALHOUN MEPHAM 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24 CAREY LYNBROOK 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24 CLARKE Carle Place 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24 EAST ROCKAWAY Island Trees 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24 New Hyde Park ELMONT 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24 SEWANHAKA KENNEDY 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24 LAWRENCE WEST HEMPSTEAD 2:00 p.m.

Sat. Sept. 24 LONG BEACH MACARTHUR 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24 Locust Valley MALVERNE 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24 OCEANSIDE Plainview 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24 SOUTH SIDE Roslyn 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24 UNIONDALE Port Washington 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24 V.S. SOUTH Oyster Bay 2:00 p.m. Sat. Sept. 24 Division WANTAGH 2:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 30 LYNBROOK HEWLETT 6:00 p.m. Fri. Sept. 30 WANTAGH V.S. NORTH 6:30 p.m. Fri. Sept. 30 C.S. Harbor WEST HEMPSTEAD 6:30 p.m. Fri. Sept. 30 CAREY Division 7:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 Plainview BALDWIN 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 Roslyn CALHOUN 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 MALVERNE CLARKE 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 Hicksville EAST MEADOW 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 ELMONT Garden City 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 FREEPORT HEMPSTEAD 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 KENNEDY Herricks 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 Oyster Bay LAWRENCE 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 SOUTH SIDE LONG BEACH 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 MACARTHUR SEWANHAKA 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 MEPHAM New Hyde Park 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 Syosset OCEANSIDE 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 Westbury UNIONDALE 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 Massapequa V.S. CENTRAL 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 Mineola V.S. SOUTH 3:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 1 SEAFORD EAST ROCKAWAY 6:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 7 V.S. CENTRAL Westbury 6:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 7 MACARTHUR SOUTH SIDE 6:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 7 FREEPORT Farmingdale 6:30 p.m. Fri. Oct. 7 KENNEDY LONG BEACH 7:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 7 V.S. SOUTH MALVERNE 7:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 7 SEAFORD C.S. Harbor 7:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 7 WANTAGH CAREY 7:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 8 Port Washington BALDWIN 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 8 CALHOUN SEWANHAKA 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 8 CLARKE North Shore 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 8 EAST MEADOW Syosset 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 8 EAST ROCKAWAY Mineola 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 8 Roslyn ELMONT 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 8 HEMPSTEAD Hicksville 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 8 HEWLETT V.S. NORTH 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 8 Carle Place LAWRENCE 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 8 LYNBROOK Floral Park 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 8 MEPHAM Garden City 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 8 OCEANSIDE Massapequa 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 8 Plainview UNIONDALE 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 8 WEST HEMPSTEAD Locust Valley 2:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 14 Plainedge HEWLETT 6:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 14 HEMPSTEAD Farmingdale 6:30 p.m. Fri. Oct. 14 Locust Valley V.S. SOUTH 6:30 p.m. Fri. Oct. 14 ELMONT MACARTHUR 7:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 14 CLARKE Mineola 7:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 14 EAST ROCKAWAY C.S, Harbor 7:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 BALDWIN EAST MEADOW 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 Garden City CALHOUN 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 Roosevelt CAREY 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 Syosset FREEPORT 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 New Hyde Park KENNEDY 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 LAWRENCE Island Trees 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 LONG BEACH MEPHAM 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 V.S. NORTH LYNBROOK 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 MALVERNE SEAFORD 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 OCEANSIDE Hicksville 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 SEWANHAKA Roslyn 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 Herricks SOUTH SIDE 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 UNIONDALE V.S. CENTRAL 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 Floral Park WANTAGH 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 15 North Shore WEST HEMPSTEAD 2:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 21 V.S. CENTRAL OCEANSIDE 6:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 21 Garden City MACARTHUR 7:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 21 WEST HEMPSTEAD MALVERNE 7:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 21 V.S. NORTH Manhasset 7:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 21 Oyster Bay EAST ROCKAWAY 7:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 FREEPORT BALDWIN 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 KENNEDY CALHOUN 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 CAREY Bethpage 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 Island Trees CLARKE 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 UNIONDALE EAST MEADOW 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 ELMONT Herricks 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 Westbury HEMPSTEAD 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 LAWRENCE V.S. SOUTH 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 LONG BEACH Roslyn 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 Division LYNBROOK 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 SOUTH SIDE MEPHAM 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 SEAFORD Locust Valley 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 SEWANHAKA New Hyde Park 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 Plainedge WANTAGH 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 22 Glen Cove HEWLETT 3:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 28 OCEANSIDE FREEPORT 6:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 28 CLARKE SEAFORD 6:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 28 EAST MEADOW Port Washington 6:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 28 North Shore EAST ROCKAWAY 6:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 28 HEWLETT Division 7:00 p.m. Fri. Oct. 28 C.S, Harbor MALVERNE 7:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 29 BALDWIN Westbury 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 29 CALHOUN LONG BEACH 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 29 CAREY Floral Park 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 29 SOUTH SIDE ELMONT 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 29 Massapequa HEMPSTEAD 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 29 MACARTHUR KENNEDY 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 29 Mineola LAWRENCE 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 29 LYNBROOK Roosevelt 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 29 MEPHAM SEWANHAKA 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 29 Hicksville UNIONDALE 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 29 V.S. SOUTH WEST HEMPSTEAD 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 29 Plainview V.S. CENTRAL 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 29 V.S. NORTH Bethpage 2:00 p.m. Sat. Oct. 29 WANTAGH Glen Cove 2:00 p.m. NOTE: Home teams on right. Local teams listed in BOLD/CAPS

2022

NASSAU COUNTY FOOTBALL RANKINGS

CONFERENCE I

1. Massapequa Chiefs 2. Farmingdale Dalers 3. Freeport Red Devils 4. Oceanside Sailors 5. Syosset Braves 6. Hempstead Tigers 7. Port Washington Vikings 8. V.S. Central Eagles 9. Baldwin Bruins 10. Hicksville Comets 11. East Meadow Jets 12. Plainview Hawks 13. Uniondale Knights 12. Westbury Green Dragons

CONFERENCE II

1. Garden City Trojans 2. Mepham Pirates 3. South Side Cyclones 4. MacArthur Generals 5. Elmont Spartans 6. Long Beach Marines 7. New Hyde Park Gladiators 8. Calhoun Colts 9. Herricks Highlanders 10. Sewanhaka Indians 11. Roslyn Bulldogs 12. Kennedy Cougars

CONFERENCE III

1. Plainedge Red Devils 2. Bethpage Golden Eagles 3. Carey Seahawks 4. Wantagh Warriors 5. Floral Park Knights 6. Division Dragons 7. Manhasset Indians 8. Hewlett Bulldogs 9. Roosevelt Rough Riders 10. V.S. North Spartans 11. Lynbrook Owls 12. Glen Cove Big Red

CONFERENCE IV

1. North Shore Vikings 2. Cold Spring Harbor Seahawks 3. Seaford Vikings 4. Clarke Rams 5. Malverne Mules 6. East Rockaway Rocks 7. West Hempstead Rams 8. Island Trees Bulldogs 9. Locust Valley Falcons 10. Mineola Mustangs 11. V.S. South Falcons 12. Carle Place Frogs 13. Lawrence Golden Tornadoes 14. Oyster Bay Baymen

Michael Fagen will lead Lynbrook, the No. 11 seed in Conference III.