2021 HERALD High School Football ball Preview
MEPHAM Pirates seek to benefit from growing pains By TONY BELLISSIMO
season when he became our tailback.” Novello is likely to be the season after winning featured rusher but can also conseven games and reaching tribute as a slot receiver as well as the Nassau Conference II take some snaps as a quarterback semifinals at Hofstra, Mepham was in the Wildcat formation as he did unable to carry over its momenin the finale against Sewanhaka. tum and lost its last four games He’ll head the linebacker unit on following an opening victory over defense, handle punts and potentially kicking duties also. neighboring Calhoun. Inexperience up front and some Like Novello, Ryan Thier also key injuries derailed the Pirates, had an impactful sophomore camwho remain on the younger side paign. Both are physical players but hope to benefit from the on both sides of the ball, Cracco spring’s growing pains as well as a noted. Thier can shed tacklers and full preseason camp. “We were so has deceptive speed out of the young last season and it was a dif- backfield and brings a quick first ficult transition because Covid took step as a pass-rushing defensive end. “Ryan has played running away from important preparation,” head coach Anthony Cracco back a long time and has great football instincts like Dominick,” said. “We’re still a young team Cracco said. compared to what we’re used to, For the first time in three seabut a lot of kids are back after getting varsity reps and experienc- sons, the Pirates will have a new starting quarterback. Senior Nick ing the speed of the game. We’re Honerkamp got the nod against confident we can do a bunch of good things and compete.” Sewanhaka and much-needed experience under his belt. “Nick has Cracco described seventha lot of ability and fits our offense seeded Mepham’s schedule as “interesting.” Over the first half, it well,” Cracco said. “His legs give faces opponents ranked third, 14th us another dimension.” Junior (last), 13th and second, beginning Peter Mayo is a varsity returnee with Carey on the road. The Pirates with a tremendous work ethic, Cracco said, and he’ll compete for will prepare with a four-way snaps. scrimmage with Massapequa, Mepham isn’t expecting to Wantagh and Kellenberg. “We get throw as much as recent seasons. challenged right off the bat,” he said. “It’s become a fun rivalry. We However, juniors Dylan Dunn and opened at Carey in 2019 and had Michael Cucinella, along with seniors Dean Holtzman, Gabriel Terra a nice day. Last season we played and Aidan Amato, and sophomore at our place and they beat us Ryan Harrington, comprise a solid pretty good.” Dominick Novello, now a junior, group of targets. Dunn and Cuhad one of Mepham’s touchdowns cinella can fly and be differencemakers in the offense and special in last season’s 48-27 defeat to Carey and returns as an All-County teams, Cracco said. Holtzman, a two-way starter. “He’s an absolute leader in the secondary, could see an increased role in the offense. stud with an unbelievable work Senior Brendan Moran, a deethic,” Cracco said. “He’s made an impact from the day he walked fensive end, and junior Chris Norris, a talented defensive lineman, into practice as a freshman. Our could contribute as tight ends or offensive dynamic changed last
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fullbacks in certain packages. Unlike in March when the Pirates were tasked with rebuilding their offensive and defensive fronts, there are many more answers than questions in the trenches. Seniors Brian Goldstein, Miguel Rivera Anthony Messina, Logan LoGiudici, James Griffin, Connor Ward and Dom Casella, and junior Kevin Perry comprise a deep group of linemen. Goldstein, Rivera, Messina and Perry were all starters last season.
RYAN THIER
Dominick Novello
NICK HONERKAMP
Schedule September 11 @ Carey 2:00 p.m. 18 @ Roslyn 2:00 p.m. 25 Glen Cove 2:00 p.m. October 2 MacArthur 2:00 p.m. 9 @ Baldwin 2:00 p.m. 16 Garden City 2:00 p.m. 23 @ New Hyde Park 2:00 p.m. 30 Calhoun 2:00 p.m. MIGUEL RIVERA
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Photos by Jeff Wilson
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