2021 HERALD High School Football Preview
LONG BEACH Marines looking to land in playoff spot By TONY BELLISSIMO
ball,” Martin said. “He wants to be involved in every contact play and understands our defensive coverong Beach fell a little short of ages and offensive scheme.” Stark, who missed the second reaching the Nassau Conferhalf of last season due to injury, is ence II playoffs last season, an explosive linebacker who’s gosplitting its six games thanks in ing to be worked into the offense large part to a stingy defense. The Marines allowed a total of six as a running back. “We expect points in their three wins, including Owen to make a ton of tackles and pressure the quarterback like he a pair of shutouts, and lost onepossession games to Valley Stream did last season,” Martin said. “We were just about to mix him into the Central and South Side. “In terms of record, the season offense when he got hurt. He has a chance to be our leading rusher.” didn’t go too great, but I thought Junior Jack Miller is a fullback we definitely played well and achieved a lot,” Long Beach head type who can grind out tough coach Scott Martin said. “We have yards and catch passes. He’s also a linebacker. “We haven’t used a a decent amount of kids coming fullback in about eight years but back and when you’re seeded Jack fits the mold,” Martin said. eighth like we are, you get four Also in line for carries is junior games against higher seeds and four against lower seeds. We have Jeff Conway, who did some damage from the quarterback position to take care of business against the teams below us and try to steal out of the Wildcat formation last season. He scored the only one of the others.” touchdown of the game against The Marines face a stiff chalElmont in Long Beach’s 7-0 viclenge out of the gate at secondtory in Week 3 and scored twice seeded MacArthur and close the the following week to lead a win opening half of the schedule at home against five-time defending over Kennedy. “Jeff is one of our top offensive players,” Martin county champion Garden City. “We’re looking forward to getting said. “He runs hard and brings a back to a normal preseason and a competitive fire.” Conway and fellow juniors full regular season,” Martin said. Hayden Sofield and Jack Shields Senior captains Matt Grosscomprise the options at quarman, Chris Buonocore and Owen terback. Sofield led the team in Stark will be counted on to lead passing attempts with 30, Martin the playoff push. The 6-foot-4, said, and makes smart decisions. 250-pound Grossman is a returning starter at center and defensive Shields, who is 6-foot, 225, was the JV starter. “It’s a good problem tackle who Martin described as a “big, strong vocal leader who does to have,” Martin said. “It’s posa lot of the dirty work.” The coach sible we rotate all three and see added Grossman will play as many who emerges.” In addition to Grossman up snaps on both sides of the ball as front, the Marines have senior possible. tackle Justin Garcia and senior Buonocore is a wide receiver/ guard Jonathan Schurin returning safety with a combination of size with experience. Junior Jack Skarand speed. He’ll lead the secondren could play offensive tackle or ary along with senior Christian move to tight end. Senior Jozeph Tarsia. “Buonocore is a strong Umana and junior Ronald Washtackler who has a nose for the
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ington will start or get significant snaps. Up from JV, Martin is excited about the potential of junior Chip Bueher and sophomore Luke Hartman. Both are capable of making an immediate impact on one of both sides of the ball, he said. On special teams, junior kicker Matt Contreras can be a real threat, Martin said. Chris Buonocore
OWEN STARK
MATT GROSSMAN
Schedule September 10 @ MacArthur 7:00 p.m. 17 @ Herricks 6:00 p.m. 25 Elmont 2:00 p.m. October 2 Garden City 3:00 p.m. 9 @ Roslyn 2:00 p.m. 15 Glen Cove 7:00 p.m. 23 @ V.S. Central 2:00 p.m. 30 Sewanhaka 3:00 p.m. CHRISTIAN TARSIA
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Photos by Eric Dunetz
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