2021 HERALD High School Football Preview
OCEANSIDE Sailors aim for title after falling short By TONY BELLISSIMO
game, resulting in 488 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. He’ll once again be a dual threat, Blount said, with the majority ith a roster full of threeof other carries likely going to and four-year varlast season’s top pass catcher in sity players and coming Nassau, senior Michael Mecca. within a possession of winning a county championship in the spring, The All-County wideout/safety had 44 receptions for 462 yards and Oceanside is the team to beat in 6 touchdowns. “We don’t have a Nassau Conference I. “Our guys are hungry and mo- true tailback right now and Mecca is a big-play guy so he’s going to tivated,” head coach Rob Blount get the ball a lot,” Blount said. said. “They know what it takes to Senior Ronnie Kraemer is another go deep in the playoffs. Many of them have been to the finals twice All-County receiver/safety who and the semifinals three times. We had 29 grabs for 367 yards and 3 all want to get over the hump and touchdowns to go with a couple of interceptions on defense. Seniors win it all.” Dan McCormick and Nick Ebel are The Sailors, who last captured also part of the receiver corps and a county crown in 2017, enjoyed serve as starting cornerbacks. a perfect 6-0 regular season and Blount said the Sailors will use defeated Syosset in the semifinals two tight-end sets often with before losing a heartbreaker to senior Matt Roesler (6-foot-6, 240 Massapequa in a thrilling backpounds) and junior Logan Lyson and-forth title game. “It was a (6-3, 230) creating matchup adtough ending and everyone felt vantages. An Ankle injury limited bad for the seniors, but the silver Roesler, also a disruptive defensive lining is we lost with a bunch of end, to two games last season. Lyjuniors and sophomores who are son, who plays linebacker, earned back,” Blount said. All-County honors. “It’s a luxury Top-seeded Oceanside returns five All-County selections, including to have two great tight ends,” Blount said. “Both are big-time record-setting senior quarterback difference makers on both sides of Charlie McKee. The winner of the ball.” the Thorp Award, presented to Three starters return to the ofNassau’s most outstanding player, fensive line, and the two vacated McKee is within striking distance spots appear to be filled heading of becoming the county’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns and into the opener at Uniondale. Senior All-County lineman/linepassing yards. He has 66 career backer Joe Broderick is moving scoring strikes and 6,746 career yards. Both records are held by Joe to left tackle to protect McKee’s Capobianco, who had 100 passing blind side and is a throwback player who enjoys the physicaltouchdowns and 8,013 yards for ity of the sport. Senior Anthony Lawrence. “Charlie is the best allaround player I’ve coached here,” Corvino returns as the starting center following a solid season, Blount said of the Stony Brook and junior Michael Furst is back at commit. “He holds every school passing record there is but always right tackle. Senior Alvin Lugo and junior Peter Staltare are expected puts the team first.” to take over as starting guards as McKee bulked up following well as rotate on the defensive his sophomore campaign and front. added a running element to his
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The linebacker group could set the tone on defense, Blount noted, with Lyson and Broderick on the inside, and seniors Jack Hickam and Xavier Miller on the outside. Blount said he “likes the balance” of the schedule, which includes home games against defending county champion Massapequa, the No. 2 seed, and Farmingdale, the No. 4, within the first four weeks. Michael Mecca
RONNIE KREAMER
JOE BRODERICK
Schedule 11 17 25 2 8 16 22 29 LOGAN LYSON
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
September @ Uniondale 2:00 p.m. Farmingdale 6:00 p.m. @ Hempstead 2:00 p.m. October Massapequa 3:00 p.m. Port Washington 6:00 p.m. @ Syosset 2:00 p.m. East Meadow 6:00 p.m. @ Freeport 6:00 p.m. Photos by Jeff Wilson
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