2021 HERALD High School Football Preview
LAWRENCE Golden Tornadoes set at skill positions By TONY BELLISSIMO
the other side of scrimmage. Senior Dennis Cabrera is a possessiontype who can make grabs in traffic, while senior Kanye Robinson eplenishing the entire offensive line is the biggest (6-foot-3) is a strong route-runner challenge facing head coach who’ll bolster the group after not Jason Supple as ninth-seeded Law- playing last spring. In the backfield, Supple is high rence will attempt to inch up the standings and get into the Nassau on the potential of junior Jackson Mondesir, who was the Golden Conference IV playoffs after a Tornadoes’ top performer on the rough 1-5 finish last spring. defensive side of the ball last “We didn’t graduate a large season. Mondesir had a rushing senior group, but five of the guys touchdown in their lone win, 19made up our starting offensive 14 over Malverne in Week 3. “He’s line,” Supple said. “We’re going a big kid (6-2, 220 pounds) who to have to piece things together pretty quickly. We have a bunch of can do some real damage running the ball with some coaching,” skill players back, but what hapSupple said. “We’ll get him more pens up front is a total question than five carries a game. It’ll be his mark.” third year on defense.” The Golden Tornadoes do Sophomore Zaire Garraway have stability and a bright future has the ability to develop into the at quarterback, receiver and in lightning to go with Mondesir’s the backfield. Pressed into action thunder. “The quickness and last season despite no experitalent are there, and he’s working ence under center, Kody Kirchner on strength,” Supple said of developed each week as the Garraway, who’ll play somewhere starting signal-caller and led the team in rushing by a wide margin. in the back seven on defense as well. Now a junior, he’s improved his Senior Leon Canales is the arm strength to go with his ground only lineman who played a varsity skills. “Kody is one of the most athletic, smartest and reliable kids snap in the offensive trenches last season. “He saw limited time on we’ve got,” Supple said. “He’s no offense but he’s a grinder who longer brand new to the position relies on good technique and and getting better every day.” Junior wideout Jared Alexander footwork,” Supple said of Canales, a returning starting linebacker. is a dynamic playmaker who’ll be utilized again in the passing game Senior Andres Valle, who scored a defensive touchdown against and jet sweeps. His combination Malverne on a fumble recovery, is of size and speed allow for plenty of yards after a touch, Supple said. likely to become a two-way starter He’ll also play defense for the first and move into a guard spot. The time and contribute as a linebacker same goes for Kevin Martinez, who’ll work on the D-line with or strong safety. “He made a lot Mondesir and Valle, and is a of big plays as a sophomore and candidate to take over at center. we’re excited about what he can Supple believes the first two do,” Supple said. Another junior games, on the road against No. receiver, Jahking King, made tremendous strides last season and 12 Oyster Bay and No. 13 Friends Academy, are crucial to its playoff is another yards-after-the-catch component. King will see action as hopes with matchups against each of the top two seeds (North a defensive end or linebacker on
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Shore and Seaford) down the road. “The first two couldn’t be more important,” he said. “We’re ranked above both of those teams and if we want to finish eighth or higher, those are must-win games.”
Jackson Mondesir
ANDRES VALLE
JAHKING KING
Schedule
4 11 18 25 1 9 16 23 30 JARED ALEXANDER
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
September Bye @ Oyster Bay 2:00 p.m. @ Friends Aca. 2:00 p.m. Seaford 2:00 p.m. October @ Island Trees 6:30 p.m. Malverne 3:00 p.m. @ North Shore 2:00 p.m. Locust Valley 4:30 p.m. Carle Place 2:00 p.m. Photos by Donovan Berthoud
September 9, 2021 — 23
