2021 HERALD High School Football Preview
V.S. CENTRAL Eagles relying on defense, ground attack By TONY BELLISSIMO
consisting of senior Jason Dalis and junior Joshua Rogers. Dalis is a third-year varsity player who started every game at linebacker as fter Valley Stream Central a junior and got an occasional carry fumbled away its chance in a pass-first offense. “We didn’t to be a semifinal playoff run too much, but Jason is a strong team for a second straight season, kid who excels in the weight room dropping its must-win finale to Elmont, the Eagles are out to prove and also has speed,” Rubino said. Rogers missed last season with they can run with the big dogs in Nassau Conference II despite some a foot injury but is explosive and physical, the coach noted. He was a unexpected summer departures. “We’re rocking and rolling with standout at the JV level in 2019 and also plays linebacker. “Josh tore it up the kids we’ve got,” head coach on JV when he was a freshman and Michael Rubino said. “We’re going to look a lot like the 2019 team that is really going to help us,” Rubino added. made it to the semifinals. We’ll be The offensive front is anchored big up front, we’ll look to play tough by senior center Hamza Choudry, a defense and slam the ball with our thee-year starter who’s one of the running game.” schools premier wrestlers as well. The Eagles, who went 3-2 in a “He’s a tough kid with a wrestling condensed season this past spring, mentality and brings it every game,” still have close to 20 returning varsity players and a young quarterback Rubino said. “He communicates with lots of potential. They’re seeded well and makes accurate snaps in the shotgun.” fourth in the 14-team conference The Eagles also return both and open the campaign at home starting tackles with junior against Elmont. An unforgiving Showayne Lumsden (6-foot-3, 250 schedule also includes matchups against four-time defending county pounds) on the left side and junior Jerome Nembhard (6-0, 200) on champion Garden City and perennial title contenders MacArthur and the right. Both are key pieces of the defensive line as well. “Showayne Carey. “We seriously have our work cut has great feet and he’s still growout,” Rubino said. “The guys realize ing,” Rubino said. “And Jerome is a hard-nosed kid who just loves how important the offseason work is if we want to be successful. We’re football.” Another returning two-way scrimmaging Syosset from Conference I to help us prepare for Elmont starter and a talented three-sport athlete, junior Mohammad Daffalla and everyone else.” tops the depth chart at receiver Rubino said they’ll take it slow with freshman signal-caller Omarre and is a reliable cornerback. Junior Anthony Castro brings some varsity Gantt, who was the JV starter last season and has a solid grasp of the experience to the receiver group and secondary as well. position. “He has a long way to A handful of seniors could play go but he’s a smart kid and an exprominent roles on one or both tremely hard worker,” Rubino said. sides of the ball. Ingel Jones has the “He’s a dual threat who can run ability to serve as a shutdown corand throw, but we’re not throwing the kitchen sink at him right away.” nerback when opponents air it out. Charles Pierre-Louis is the team’s Gantt has the benefit on a top tight end and also a defensive sizable and experienced offensive end opposite Nembhard, while front and a talented backfield
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Antonio Padilla is a linebacker who could land a starting nod on offense as well.
Joshua Rogers
MOHAMMAD DAFFALLA
JEROME NEMBHARD
Schedule 11 18 25 2 9 16 23 30 ANTONIO PADILLA
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
September Elmont 2:00 p.m. MacArthur 2:00 p.m. @ Sewanhaka 7:00 p.m. October New Hyde Park 3:00 p.m. @ Garden City 2:00 p.m. @ Herricks 2:00 p.m. Long Beach 2:00 p.m. @ Carey 2:00 p.m. Photos by Donovan Berthoud
September 9, 2021 — 49
