Seaford Vikings

SEAFORD

Vikings aim to maintain winning tradition

By ANDREW COEN

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

TOM KOFAD

James McHugh

KYLE STARK

Schedule

September 4 East Rockaway 2:00 p.m. 10 @ C.S. Harbor 7:00 p.m. 18 West Hempstead 2:00 p.m. 25 @ 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.