2021 HERALD High School Football Preview
FREEPORT Red Devils will benefit from growing pains By TONY BELLISSIMO
said he’s still experimenting with senior tackle Angel Arroyo, who is athletic enough to contribute at oming off a rebuilding a skill position. Also a defensive season that saw it go 1-4 end, Arroyo brings a high level of on the heels of back-to-back toughness and can put pressure undefeated Long Island champion- on quarterbacks. Senior Kobe ship runs, Freeport is banking on Valdez Jaquez made big strides growing pains and a strong offsea- during the short offseason, Cellan son to get back into contention. noted, and entered camp in great “The good news is we’ve got a shape and primed to be a leader lot of kids returning,” head coach on both sides of the ball as a Russ Cellan said. “We had a great center and linebacker. Senior Luca summer and the opportunity for Gentile is a returning starting playing time is wide open in many guard and defensive lineman, and cases. We’re not what we were in senior Justin Hopkins is slated to 2018 and 2019, but the kids are move into a key role at tackle and working extremely hard and who defensive end. At least one spot in knows how good we can be by the the trenches is up for grabs. end of the year.” The running game could rely on Seeded fifth in the 12-team the legs of junior Martese DavenConference I, the Red Devils face port, who was used strictly on desome unfamiliar opponents out of fense last season as a cornerback the gate with No. 12 Westbury in and “thrown into the fire,” Cellan the opener and No. 11 Hicksville said. “He filled a need on defense a week later. Cellan said the vast but didn’t get a good look on majority of playing time could be offense,” he explained. “But, he’s determined by its three-way scrim- getting one now and looks like mage with Plainedge and Baldwin. he has what it takes to be our Over the final six games, Freeport top back. He’s very powerful and faces each of the conference’s top physical.” Also in the mix for some four seeded teams — Syosset, carries is senior Donte Lloyd. Massapequa, Farmingdale and The plan is to move senior Oceanside. Andre Wilkes around on offense Then-freshman D’Angelo Gorto keep defenses from tracking don led Freeport’s offense in the him. He’s a receiver/tight end type spring as its starting quarterback who moves well and can make and showed plenty of flashes difficult catches. On defense, he’s of brilliance while learning the a hard-working and physical outvarsity ropes. He had four rushing side linebacker with a nose for the touchdowns, including a pair to ball. Junior Evan Neas has a lot lead a 20-8 victory over Baldwin. of potential at tight end/receiver. “He’s not the biggest kid, but Senior Tahliel Simpson is a returnhe’s certainly strong and brings a ing two-way starter at receiver tremendous work ethic,” Cellan and in the secondary who’ll be said. “He’s a wrestler and I love counted on for leadership. Juniors that mentality. He can throw the Jaheem Clement (wideout) and ball and he can really run it. He’s Nazair Jean-Lubin (cornerback) are a year better and his confidence is up from JV, and freshman Jayden growing.” Gordon is another talented young The offensive front returns three target. starters and one reserve ready If the Red Devils are involved to assume a bigger role. Cellan in tight games, Cellan likes the
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idea of senior kicker and new punter Dillon DeBourg getting a chance to be the difference. “He’s one of the better kickers in the county,” Cellan said. Martese Davenport
ANDRE WILKES
KOBE VALDEZ JAQUEZ
Schedule
September 10 @ Westbury 5:00 p.m. 17 Hicksville 6:00 p.m. 25 @ Syosset 2:00 p.m. October 2 Hempstead 3:00 p.m. 8 Massapequa 6:00 p.m. 16 @ Uniondale 2:00 p.m. 22 @ Farmingdale 6:30 p.m. 29 Oceanside 6:00 p.m. ANGEL ARROYO
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Photos by Eric Dunetz
September 9, 2021 — 15
