2021 HERALD High School Football Preview
SEWANHAKA Hard-working Indians looking to surprise By TONY BELLISSIMO
being handed over to junior Dominick Balletta, who served as the backup quarterback and got a ewanhaka is coming off its taste of varsity football. He threw a most successful season on touchdown pass in the regularthe gridiron in more than season loss to Garden City and can 25 years. be a dual threat. “He’s an excellent The Indians participated in the athlete who plays travel baseball Nassau semifinals for the first time but also loves football,” Kasimatis since 1994 after winning 4 of 5 said. “He has a calm demeanor regular-season games, beating and can be a running and throwNew Hyde Park, Calhoun, Kennedy ing threat. He just needs to build and Mepham) in Conference II. up experience.” They were the No. 7 preseason Both sides of the line are where seed. The only opponent to handle Kasimatis expects depth to show. them was five-time defending Senior Paul Caputo is back in county champion Garden City, uniform and being counted on to which pulled away for a 35-14 start at center and the defensive playoff victory after leading by just front as well as provide leadership. seven points midway through the Additional senior two-way linesecond quarter. men Efrain Cortes and Cliff Saint “It’s the best season we’ve Fleurant played in last season’s had since I’m here and we did it opener before opting out. Cortes finishing with 25 kids between the brings aggressiveness and quality varsity and JV,” Sewanhaka head footwork, Kasimatis noted, and coach George Kasimatis said. “We Saint Fleurant is big, strong and played hard and played well and quick and could play a skill posibattled through adversity. Our JV tion if asked. didn’t have enough bodies and Senior Jonathan Edouard folded after three games. One of emerged last season at offensive our recent graduates, Frantz Comp- tackle and has the ideal length ere, said he’ll remember the playoff and quick feet, the coach said. game the most and said how Junior Muizz Zulfiqar made a proud he was that we competed smooth transition from the JV to against Garden City.” varsity and will push for a starting Kasimatis is a little concerned gig up front. There’s also junior with numbers heading into the Jalen Brown and sophomore opener against Calhoun although Cristopher Cruz in the mix. If he expects some projected starters Kasimatis can find a solid group, who sat out last season for perhe said junior Markese Gadson sonal reasons to return. Offseason will move from the line to tight workouts averaged about 40 kids end where his overall skill set is compared to the usual 60. a better fit. “Markese moves well “We should be able to rotate and has a nose for the ball, and he guys at a bunch of positions,” also blocks well,” Kasimatis said. Kasimatis said. “I thought we held “Ideally he’s our tight end catchour own in 7 on 7s this summer ing some passes and giving us an with the other four teams [Carey, extra body as a blocker.” Elmont, Floral Park and New Hyde Carter Fredericks-Dort, a junior, Park] in the district. We’re facing has a chance to be the featured a very competitive schedule even running back and can contribute at safety or linebacker on the flip though we’re seeded 12.” side. “He’s played football his The keys to the offense are
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whole life,” Kasimatis said. “He’s got big shoes to fill, but he’s talented.” Some receiver/ defensive back candidates to start on both sides include seniors Tyler Harts and Caireek Belnavis, and junior Mike Stainano. The latter is also an option to get some carries out of the backfield. Dominick Balletta
MARKESE GADSON
CARTER FREDERICKS-DORT
Schedule 11 18 25 2 8 16 23 30 KAMARI DENHART
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
September Calhoun 2:00 p.m. @ Elmont 2:00 p.m. V.S. Central 2:00 p.m. October @ Baldwin 2:00 p.m. @ Glen Cove 7:00 p.m. Roslyn 2:00 p.m. Herricks 2:00 p.m. @ Long Beach 2:00 p.m. Photos by Brian Ballweg
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
