2021 HERALD High School Football Preview
M MacARTHUR Senior-led Generals part of title hunt By ANDREW COEN
ending injury in the third game. MacArthur lost the bulk of its entire offensive line from the spring, but does return senior startne of the larger senior ers James Clarkson and Anthony classes in MacArthur hisTufano. Senior tight ends Vincent tory will look to march the Fundaro and Mario Logozzo will Generals to a county championalso contribute to the line along ship after falling inches short last with serving as receiving weapons. season. The General offense was Longtime head coach Bobby explosive for most of the season Fehrenbach returns 32 players who were juniors during the spring averaging 34 points a game in the regular season before defeating 2021 season that ended with a South Side 28-7 in the Conference 14-7 loss to Garden City in the Conference II finals after Generals II semifinals on MacArthur’s home field in Levittown. The offensive were stopped twice inside the one-yard line in the fourth quarter. fireworks did not carry over however into the championship While many of the faces of that game when a strong Garden City runner-up finish return, Fehrendefense held MacArthur to just bach said he doesn’t expect the heartbreak of that defeat to linger one touchdown while halting two drives near the goal line in the into the new campaign. second and fourth quarter. “I don’t use that buildup Defensively, MacArthur returns because it’s a different team,” said senior outside linebacker Finn Fehrenbach, a former standout Duffy, who led the team in tackles football player in the 1990s who has coached his alma mater to two as a junior. Senior defensive ends Connor Cullen and Ryan Larkin county titles in 2002 and 2015. along with junior defensive tackle “Some of the parts are the same, it’s a different team and a different Sal Orlando will also provide experience upfront, year.” Junior Joey Forchelli shined After graduating star running as a starting cornerback as a back Ryan Isom, Fehrenbach will sophomore and will help lead the look for senior James Napoli to anchor the backfield. Napoli, who defensive backfield along with missed some of last season due to Papach at free safety. “We’re very deep and there are Covid-19 contact tracing precautions, rushed for 109 yards on just a lot of different kids that could really help us out,” Fehrenbach 12 carries in MacArthur’s 35-14 said. “They are a talented bunch.” win against Carey to close the The Generals are seeded second regular season. out of 14 teams in Conference II Senior wide receiver Matt with five-time defending county Papach should provide a spark to champion Garden City on top. the offense as the Generals’ lone Carey (third), Valley Stream Central returning All-County player. He (fourth), New Hyde Park (fifth) and hauled in a 20-yard touchdown Elmont (sixth) open the season pass during the 28-7 playoff win just behind MacArthur in the against South Side in late April. rankings. The Nassau playoffs will Ryan Muller and Jack Butler, return to a traditional eight-team both seniors, will be in the mix field this season after the springfor the starting quarterback spot. Muller started most of last season shortened spring campaign was limited to four. after Butler suffered a season-
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MacArthur will tackle a rigorous schedule starting with a Friday night game Sept. 10 versus Long Beach at 7 p.m. The schedule also highlighted Friday night home games versus Carey on Oct. 8 and Elmont on Oct. 15 along with a road tilt at Garden City on Oct. 23 for a rematch of last year’s county finals. The Generals’ regular season concludes on Oct. 30 at New Hyde Park for a 2 p.m. kickoff.
James Napoli
MATTHEW PAPACH
ANTHONY TUFANO
Schedule 10 18 25 2 8 15 23 30 FINN DUFFY
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
September Long Beach 7:00 p.m. @ V.S. Central 2:00 p.m. Herricks 2:00 p.m. October @ Mepham 2:00 p.m. Carey 7:00 p.m. Elmont 7:00 p.m. @ Garden City 2:00 p.m. @ N.H. Park 2:00 p.m. Photos by Ron Manfredi
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
