2021 HERALD High School Football Preview
SEAFORD Vikings aim to maintain winning tradition By ANDREW COEN
three touchdowns in a 32-6 victory versus Wantagh to close the regular season. Thomas Kofod also adds experior the first time in more than two decades Seaford football ence to the backfield after some will have a new face leading explosive performances last year that included rushing for 78 yards the program. on just five carries in a 28-14 win Rob Perpall retired in the offat Clarke on April 10. season after guiding the program While Corcoran wants to to eight county titles and two Long continue Seaford’s recent history of Island crowns in his 21 seasons run game success, he also is hoproaming the sidelines. Mike Corcoran, who was on the coach- ing to open up the passing game with returning senior quarterback ing staff for Seaford’s run of four Kyle Stark, who tossed some clutch straight county titles from 2007 touchdown passes in the spring. to 2010 as defensive coordinator, One of his main targets will be now takes over after eight years senior tight end Jack Murphy, a away and will try to continue the three-year varsity starter. winning tradition established by “We’d like to add a little more his predecessor. passing to the offense but we will “It’s nice to be back,” said try and push the run as much as Corcoran, who returns to Seaford we can,” Corcoran said. after serving as head coach at Seaford graduated the bulk of Roslyn from 2013 to 2016 along last year’s offensive line, which with assistant coaching gigs at was an integral part of driving Bethpage and East Meadow. “It’s the Vikings’ ground game suca really good program and I’m happy to be the one to get to take cess. Seniors Jake Kellner and AJ Arguello bring veteran leadership it over.” to the unit as returning starters Corcoran, a longtime Seaford and Corcoran will use preseason teacher and former boys varsity lacrosse coach, inherits a team that practices to determine who to fill the other spots. went 5-0 in a shortened regular Kellner, Arguello and Murphy season held in the spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic before fall- are also key facets on the other ing to Wantagh in the Conference side of the football as returning starters on the defensive line. The IV semifinals. Joining Corcoran this fall as of- Vikings also bring back Kofod and McHugh at linebacker along with fensive coordinator is Long Island high school football coaching vet- AJ Barone at free safety. Seaford is seeded second in eran Lou Buschi, who he worked with at Roslyn. Bushi’s offense will Conference IV behind only last year’s runner-up North Shore with be led largely by senior running back James McHugh, who earned Clarke right behind them at third. All-County honors as a junior with Defending champion Wantagh has moved back to Conference III more than 900 yards rushing in after just one season in Seaford’s just six games. “He will definitely be one of our league due to increased enrollment. keys on offense,” said Corcoran After kicking off the season of McHugh, who rushed for 163 yards in just 16 carries in Seaford’s Labor Day weekend against East Rockaway, Seaford travels to season-opening 28-0 win against Cold Spring Harbor for a Friday Lawrence and 165 yards with
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night game on Sept. 10. The Vikings visit North Shore on Oct. 2 before hosting Clarke Oct. 9 and then will have a late-season bye the following weekend. The regular season concludes on Oct. 23 at home against Malverne and at Island Trees on Oct. 29. “It should be a lot of tough games and a tough conference,” Corcoran said. “It should be interesting.”
TOM KOFAD
James McHugh
KYLE STARK
Schedule
September East Rockaway 2:00 p.m. @ C.S. Harbor 7:00 p.m. West Hempstead 2:00 p.m. @ Lawrence 2:00 p.m. October 2 @ North Shore 2:00 p.m. 9 Clarke 2:00 p.m. 16 Bye 23 Malverne 2:00 p.m. 29 @ Island Trees 6:30 p.m. 4 10 18 25
JACK MURPHY
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Photos by Ron Manfredi
September 9, 2021 — 41
