2021 HERALD High School Football ball Preview
KENNEDY Cougars excited to roam to new conference By BRIAN KACHARABA
to McGuire. Katz saved his best performance for last in the spring, when he completed 14-of-23 passes for 192 yards and three ins have been few and touchdowns in a 28-18 loss to far between for the Calhoun in the season finale. Kennedy football team “He is one of the smartest in recent seasons, but a move to a football players that I’ve been new conference and a seemingly around,” he said. “He bought into favorable schedule could put the the [summer] weight program and program back on the road to has gotten stronger and faster.” respectability. McGuire is “excited” to see The Cougars struggled through a winless season last spring - scor- sophomore newcomer Ray Torcia ing just 37 points in the six games in the backfield this season. A foot- after going 1-7 in 2019. Kennedy ball junkie, Torcia is a strong runner with a keen field awareness who is will now be competing in Conference III this fall and, despite being shaping up to be a future captain with his leadership skills and ranked last in the group, head positive attitude. Senior Thomas coach John McGuire is embracing Osborne should also see time as a the challenge. change-of-pace power back. “Last year, the conference was The wide receiving corps will be just a banger,” he said. “But not much has really changed going to more inexperienced than last season, but it has a lot of potential. Conference III unfortunately. You Adam Schmitt is a smooth route have some of the best coaches who have ever coached in Nassau runner who can grab a pass with his height and strength and fellow County. Do we have our work cut senior Matt Cohen can haul in out for us? Absolutely. But I’m the ball wherever it’s thrown, an excited for the kids because they don’t have the notion of looking at attribute that earned him the nickname “Good Catch” during the schedule and saying, “Oh, we his JV days. Six-foot-four junior always lose to them.’” Leo Gerunda is a hybrid wide The eight-game schedule receiver/tight end who can also includes games against teams that also failed to win a game last contribute on offense. The offensive and defensive season (Lynbrook, Mineola) and three others that were either at or lines will also be sporting new below .500. Included in that group looks this season. Senior Brad Lieberman is moving from center is Hewlett (2-4), whom Kennedy will face in the opener on Sept. 10. to tackle, but remains the leader But despite all that, McGuire is not of the group that will also include the “Crunch-N-Munch” guard taking any foe lightly. “It’s tricky,” he said. “We open tandem of sophomore Brandon up with Hewlett. Their record might Goldstein and junior Josh Amiel not have showed, but they were in and junior center Tyler Casesi. The same group will flip over to the most of those games and ahead defensive line side along with end in a lot of those games. They’re a Osborne. really well-coached team.” The linebacking corps is taking Senior Ethan Katz is projected shape, but Vaccaro and Girunda to be the starting quarterback against Hewlett, but “rising junior” could see time there with Nick Larsen. Brad Rowe returns after Joe Vaccaro could also see some an injury-marred junior season time at the position, according
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22 — September 9, 2021
and will split time between outside linebacker and safety. The secondary could be one of the Cougars’ strengths this season. Speedy Peter Kourkoumelis will man one cornerback spot and will form a tandem with rising senior Thomas Sweeney. Torcia will be one of the safeties.
Ethan Katz
JOE VACCARO
BRAD LIEBERMAN
Schedule
10 18 25 1 9 16 23 30 BRANDON GOLDSTEIN
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
September @ Hewlett 6:00 p.m. Division 2:00 p.m. V.S. South 2:00 p.m. October @ Mineola 7:00 p.m. V.S. North 2:00 p.m. @ Lynbrook 7:00 p.m. @ Manhasset 2:00 p.m. Roosevelt 2:00 p.m. Photos by Jeff Wilson
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