2021 HERALD High School Football Preview
CLARKE Clarke begins new era with a familiar face By ANDREW COEN
no returns to lead Clarke’s spread Wing T offense after a stellar junior season in which he finished as evin O’Hagan has assumed runner-up for Conference IV Player the role as Clarke’s new of the Year honors. He serves as a head coach after serving dual threat with his running and as an offensive coordinator the passing abilities. past three seasons. He previously Possible targets for Giardino was the Rams’ junior varsity head out of the backfield or receiver coach for 10 years following and include running back Jack Forte has also led the Clarke Middle and wide receiver Sean Welsh. The School football program early in versatile Anthony Sforza and Justin his coaching career. Rindner will be slotted either in the “It’s very special to be taking backfield or split out at receiver. over after having gone through O’Hagan said the tight end posievery level along the way,” said tion is up for grabs entering the O’Hagan, who replaced Tim season. O’Malley after he opted to join the A major key, according to coaching staff at West Hempstead. O’Hagan, will be the success of his “It’s nice to make it to the top offensive line anchored by Liam of the program after climbing all Farrell, who earned All-Conference those ladders all those years.” accolades last season. Senior O’Hagan has hit the ground center Mike Delaney also returns running in his first year as head as does Tyler Benowitz, who is coach with offseason training four expected to switch from tight end days a week during the summer. to guard or tackle this fall. SophoHe said a big message during more Anthony Velez also earned those preseason workouts was a some varsity experience at times readiness for taking on a number as a freshman and senior Will of positions. Fulay, who missed last season, are “If you are in great shape and also poised to make strides this you are strong and fast you can season as starters. play multiple positions in the high Defensively, O’Hagan is hoping school level,” O’Hagan said. “In for a big season from senior a small school with Conference John Bower, who will likely start IV versatility is gold because you at either nose tackle or middle don’t have a roster of 50 kids and linebacker and junior cornerback injuries can sometimes become a Tom Roche. The 3-5 defense problem.” will also feature Giardino (free Clarke finished 4-2 in the spring safety), Forte (linebacker), Sforza and just missed out on qualifying (linebacker), Farrell (defensive end) for the four-team playoff field. The and Delaney (defensive end or Rams enter the new campaign linebacker), Welsh (linebacker or seeded third in Conference IV strong safety), Rindner (defensive back.) and in strong position to make a championship push as the Clarke, which opened the new postseason reverts back to an season earlier than normal on eight-team field. The Rams will get Labor Day weekend against toptested immediately out of the gate seeded North Shore after press by top-seeded North Shore, which time, will travel to second-seeded Seaford on Oct. 9. The Rams close lost in last season’s title game to the regular season versus Cold Wantagh. Senior quarterback Nick Giardi- Spring Harbor and Locust Valley
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following a late-season bye week on Oct. 16 that O’Hagan hopes proves positive in gearing his team up for a possible deep playoff run that could culminate in the school’s first county title since 1997. “Assuming we can stay healthy I think we have a lot of really good pieces to compete for the title,” O’Hagan said.
Nicholas Giardino
LIAM FARRELL
MIKE DELANEY
Schedule
September North Shore 2:00 p.m. @ Carle Place 2:00 p.m. Malverne 2:00 p.m. @ West Hempstead 6:30 p.m. October 2 East Rockaway 3:00 p.m. 9 @ Seaford 2:00 p.m. 16 Bye 2:00 p.m. 22 @ C.S. Harbor 7:00 p.m. 30 Locust Valley 4:30 p.m. 4 11 18 24
ANTHONY SFORZA
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Photos by Brian Ballweg
September 9, 2021 — 9
