2021 HERALD High School Football Preview
UNIONDALE Persistent Knights have tools to thrive By ANDREW COEN
with the return of all five starting offensive linemen including 6-3, 290-pound senior Deomiee niondale head coach Philip Scales-Melvin, who he said has AllCounty potential. The experienced Coppola used this past season’s spring pandemic- offensive line also includes seniors Matt Jackson, Dan Saravia and shortened spring schedule as a Jardel Thomas along with junior building block for what he hopes Jordyn Davis. proves to be a breakthrough fall “We have a really, really solid campaign. line and a quarterback who can The Knights battled through a 1-4 season played amid challeng- run the ball and throw the ball,” Coppola said. “We are very good ing conditions with the players at a disadvantage compared to other upfront.” Behind a strong line Coppola teams due to Uniondale being the will look to establish an explosive only high school on Long Island ground attack lead by featured operating as fully remote, which running back Rkelly Trajean, who limited training opportunities. Coppola said despite the adversity was moved into the backfield after faced from not being in school, his playing wide receiver last year. Coppola said he will determine team persevered throughout the season, which ended with a 22-14 during preseason practices what other players may contribute to win against Hicksville. the running game. “Our kids haven’t been to Junior wide receiver Teruno Hyschool in 18 months and I am so man, who shined on junior varsity proud of what these kids have last year, will play a pivotal role accomplished,” Coppola said. in the Knight’s passing offense, “They haven’t been around for a year and a half and these kids are which Coppola hopes to mix up working their butts off wanting to with the run in order to keep opposing defenses on their heels. compete with these other schools O’keiff Tyrell will be another target who have been in school for the of Smalls, who moves to receiver past year and I couldn’t be more after playing running back in the proud of them.” spring. Starting quarterback Joshua Defensively, Uniondale will be Smalls returns after making strides keyed largely by senior middle in the spring and Coppola sees linebacker Darien Fray. Scalespotential for the athletic junior to Melvin, Jackson and Davis will take an even bigger leap this fall. He was limited to three games as a lead the charge upfront on the sophomore after suffering an early defensive line. Uniondale enters the season season knee injury, but has worked seeded ninth in Conference I, but hard in the offseason to improve Coppola said his team should be both physically and his command in strong contention for one of the of the playbook. “He has a great concept of the eight available playoff spots since there is a lot of parity outside offense and runs everything in the top two teams, Oceanside practice,” said Coppola of Smalls, and defending county champion who will run plenty of run-pass Massapequa. option plays. “He is going to be a After opening against top-seedbig player.” Coppola is excited about the ex- ed Oceanside, Uniondale visits perience upfront protecting Smalls longtime local rival Hempstead on
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Sept. 18 for a 2 p.m. kickoff and Westbury for a Friday evening game beginning at 5 p.m. on Sept. 24. The Knights will also host Syosset on Oct. 2 and Freeport Oct. 16, with both games commencing at 2 p.m. The regular season concludes with Homecoming Oct. 30 against neighborhood rival East Meadow, also for a 2 p.m. start time. “Other than Oceanside I think we can compete with anyone on our schedule,” Coppola said. “If we stay healthy we can surprise some people.”
DEOMIEE SCALES-MELVIN
Joshua Smalls
MATT JACKSON
Schedule September 11 Oceanside 2:00 p.m. 18 @ Hempstead 2:00 p.m. 24 @ Westbury 5:00 p.m. October 2 Syosset 2:00 p.m. 9 @ Hicksville 2:00 p.m. 16 Freeport 2:00 p.m. 23 @ Plainview 2:00 p.m. 30 East Meadow 2:00 p.m. RKELLY TRAJEAN
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Photos by Sue Grieco
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