Reichert Sees Son Play
August 30, 2008
While the talk of the Island might have been the anticipated clash between St. Anthony’s and Floyd, Friars coach Rich Reichert had another game on his mind. You can’t blame him. His son, Rich Reichert, a junior linebacker at American International College, was in town to face Division II rival C.W. Post. So Reichert understandably left before the end of the four-way scrimmage to see his son play. And the friars, with an army of assistants, didn’t miss a beat. By the way, AIC beat Post.
Friars Rule Scrimmage
August 30, 2008
Defensive coordinator George McLaren breaks down the plan of attack.
BY JASON MOLINET
You would hardly know a dream matchup was unfolding at the Lincoln Ave. Sports Complex in Mastic. The steady rain and early-Saturday start time probably scared off many people who would have liked to see a few of the premier Long Island high school football programs scrimmage.
Not just any powerhouses. We’re talking Floyd, winner of the last three Long Island Class I titles, and seven-time CHSFL champ St. Anthony’s. Throw in perennial Division II power Bellport and you’ve got quite a bit of tradition on the same football field. An inexperienced Wyandanch squad rounded out the four-way scrimmage.
Floyd backers will tell you that stars Brock Jackolski (running back) and Joe Sidaras (quarterback) are each reshirtring at Hofstra. OK, the Friars were without the league offensive and defensive players of the year in James Brady (Georgetown) and Scott Vallone (Rutgers). Both programs were trying to turn the page.
But in a battle of first-team strength, it was clear the Friars will move into 2008 in reload mode. New quarterback Tom Schreiber, a gifted junior who is already a star midfielder in lacrosse, moved the offense. And senior running back Atiq Lucas accounted for both touchdowns against Floyd, hauling in an 8-yard scoring pass and breaking a 20-yard touchdown run.
The defense forced two turnovers. Senior cornerback Matt Metalios, a ball-hawker a year ago, showed no let up with an impressive pick on a fade pattern. Then senior linebacker Storm Harris recovered a fumble.
So much for a showdown.
A mismatch with Wyandanch awaited next. Lucas broke a 30-yard scoring run, which spelled the end of the first team offense.
The final scrimmage pitted the Bellport Clippers against the Friars. Bellport showed off some athleticism, but not enough to stop St. Anthony’s. Lucas accounted for two more scores, a 12-yard reception and 12-yard run, as the first-team offense capped a near-perfect day.
Lucas, who is getting looks from Division I-AA and I-A programs, might be the best player on Long Island. And after a 5-touchdown showing in the rain Saturday, there’s little denying he is a special player.
On defense, Harris got plenty of love from teammates. He tore his left MCL last preseason and never made it on the field. Now he is the middle linebacker in the Friars’ defense and he played with passion in the scrimmage. One of the plays of the day saw Harris drop a Bellport back for a loss, drawing chants from the Friars’ sideline.
The Friars added two fumble recoveries against Bellport.
Complete domination? Well, yeah. But it was only a scrimmage. At least that’s what St. Anthony’s detractors will seize upon.
The reality is that the Friars showed up and took on all comers. Now it gets serious. The next time the Friars face an opponent, it will be on a Saturday in Philadelphia — nationally-ranked St. Joseph’s Prep.
Floyd, Bellport To Scrimmage Friars
August 27, 2008
Are you ready for some football? There’s been a lot of debate — to put it mildly — about which Long Island football program is No. 1. Most of it in recent seasons has pitted Suffolk public school powers Bellport and Floyd against St. Anthony’s. People have talked up these teams meeting in non-league games or some postseason showcase. State guidelines, however, have made it impossible. So this Saturday at 9 a.m. the teams will do the next best thing — scrimmage. That’s right, St. Anthony’s will travel to Mastic to face off against Floyd and Bellport in a four-way scrimmage that includes Wyandanch. It’s hardly the showcase to see who is the best. But for a Long Island football fan, this is about as much fun as you’ll have until the playoffs arrive in November.
Home Opener Rescheduled
August 26, 2008
Hope you don’t make plans too far in advance, Friars fans. The varsity football game featuring Philadelphia power Delbarton in South Huntington has been rescheduled — by one day. That’s the home opener for St. Anthony’s. Instead of Friday night lights, the Friars will host Delbarton on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m., according to athletic director Don Buckley.
All-State Players
August 25, 2008
NYSSWA ALL-STATE PLAYERS
YEAR PLAYER POS
1972 Nick Buonamicis OT
1973 Dave Carroll* OG
1974 Dave Carroll OT
1980 Kevin Wieczorek E
1980 Mike Popko LB
1983 Tony Barbarite* E
1985 Sean McGlynn K/S
1986 Tom Gilmartin RB
1987 Adam Wright LB
1993 Mike Russnok OL
1993 Tony Williams RB
1994 Tony Williams RB
1995 Lou Calvo* OL
1995 Nick Hartofolis* QB
1996 Matt Knapp OL
1996 Chris Hartofolis LB
1998 Joe Minucci OL
1999 Frank Lazio* RB
1999 Sean Perrotta* LB
2000 Frank Lazio* RB
2001 Chris Auletta OL
2002 Alex Fletcher OL
2002 Alex Conlon QB
2002 Matt Hahn RB
2003 Alex Fletcher C
2003 Matt Hahn RB
2004 Steve Fulfree OL
2005 Sean Burke E
2005 Chris Eanuzel* QB
2006 Tom Hagan OL
2006 Brian Pomper* E
2006 Scott Vallone* DL
2007 Scott Vallone DL
2007 Austen Fletcher* C
* Denotes second teamer
Year By Year
August 25, 2008
ST. ANTHONY’S FOOTBALL
YEAR REC RESULT
1967 4-4
1968 6-2 Division runner-up.
1969 3-3-2
1970 4-4
1971 4-4
1972 7-1-1 Division champs.
1973 5-3-1 Division co-champs.
1974 4-5
1975 4-4-1
1976 2-7
1977 3-6
1978 5-4 None.
1979 7-3 CHSFL playoff finalist.
1980 6-3 None.
1981 6-3 None.
1982 4-4 None.
1983 5-4 CHSFL playoff finalist.
1984 4-4 CHSFL playoff semis.
1985 6-4 CHSFL playoff semis.
1986 6-3 None.
1987 7-2 CHSFL playoff semis.
1988 4-4-1 CHSFL playoff quarters.
1989 4-5-1 CHSFL playoff finalists.
1990 5-3-1 CHSFL playoff semis.
1991 4-5 CHSFL playoff quarters.
1992 3-6 CHSFL playoff quarters.
1993 10-1 CHSFL playoff champ.
1994 10-1 CHSFL playoff champ.
1995 11-0 CHSFL playoff champ.
1996 9-2 CHSFL playoff finalist.
1997 6-4 CHSFL playoff finalist.
1998 7-3 CHSFL playoff semis.
1999 9-2 CHSFL playoff finalist.
2000 10-1 CHSFL playoff finalist.
2001 10-1 CHSFL playoff champ.
2002 11-0 CHSFL playoff champ.
2003 10-1 CHSFL playoff champ.
2004 10-1 CHSFL playoff champ.
2005 10-1 CHSFL playoff champ.
2006 11-0 CHSFL playoff champ.
2007 10-1 CHSFL playoff champ.
NOTE: CHSFL playoffs began in 1978.
Coaches
August 25, 2008
ST. ANTHONY’S COACHES
COACH YEARS W L T PCT
Jack Foge 1967-1970 17 13 2 .563
Phil Williams 1971-1975 24 17 3 .580
Carl Johnson 1976-1979 17 20 0 .459
Tony Antonucci 1980-1981 12 6 0 .667
Greg Toop 1982-1986 25 19 0 .568
Rich Reichert 1987-2007 171 44 3 .795
Totals: 1967-2007 266 119 8 .691
2008 CHSFL Preview
August 25, 2008
Paul Alessandri is one of many rising seniors expected to step up.
BY JASON MOLINET
There are several changes in store for the CHSFL this fall. But in the chase for the top spot, one thing remains the same: St. Anthony’s is No. 1. In a vote of fellow coaches, the Friars open the 2008 season as the top seed.
The seven-time champs have played in the title game every year since 1998, when the Friars went 7-3 and fell in the semifinals. In fact, they’ve played in 14 of the last 15 title games. But for coach Rich Reichert to conjure up another championship run, he’ll need to replace all four senior captains from a year ago, including league offensive player of the year James Brady at quarterback (now at Georgetown) and defensive player of the year Scott Vallone at defensive tackle (Rutgers).
Those are just some of the changes in store. Here are more to chew on:
+ It’s a football fan’s dream. An early Labor Day means an early start to the season. For the first time, CHSFL teams can play up to nine regular season games. That’s two non-league contests and seven league games.
+ Mount St. Michael, a two-time finalist, is seeded seventh. That’s right – seventh!
+ The top seven quarterbacks in Class AAA from a year ago are gone. That includes player of the year Brady, Mount’s Jayson Holt (Southern Connecticut) and Iona’s Ryan O’Neil (Lafayette).
+ There are 21 teams in the CHSFL. Nazareth, a City school without a home field, dropped out.
+ The most competitive division, Class AAA, has expanded from eight to 12 teams. The top eight finishers will advance to the AAA playoffs while the bottom four move on in the Class AA playoffs. This allows for errors in seeding.
Xaverian simply couldn’t finish games a year ago en route to an 0-9 season and loss to top-seeded St. Anthony’s in the quarterfinals. Maybe the Clippers would have fared batter in the Class AA playoffs. If a similar situation arises this fall, that team will have new life come playoff time.
Now for the familiar:
+ St. Francis Prep coach Vinnie O’Connor, 78, opens his 55th season with 313 wins, second in state history and tops in the CHSFL. No other CHSFL coach past or present has even 200 wins.
+ Five New York State Sportswriters Award-winners return: Iona Prep senior wideout Chris Alfano, Stepinac junior safety Maurice Easterling and senior linebacker Ryan Hunt, and St. Joe by the Sea senior lineman Thomas Oehm.
+ Did we mention St. Anthony’s is the seven-time defending champs?
2008 CHSFL SEEDS
(returning All-CHSFL players in parentheses)
1. St. Anthony’s
2. Chaminade (Sr. LB Bobby Lucas, 5-10, 180)
3. Farrell
4. St. Joe by the Sea
5. Holy Trinity (Sr. WR Tyrek Barney, 5-7, 160; Jr. RB Anthony Brunetti, 5-11, 210; Jr. LB Aaron McRae, 5-11, 185; Sr. C Ryan Murphy, 6-1, 220)
6. Iona Prep (Sr. WR Chris Alfano, 5-7, 140)
7. Mount St. Michael (Jr. DL Gary Acquah, 6-1, 230; Sr. DL Caraun Reid, 6-3, 245)
8. Xaverian (Sr. DB Donald Binckes, 5-10, 165; Sr. WR Gerald Mistretta, 6-0, 200; Sr. LB Ethan Ostermeyer, 6-0, 190)
9. Stepinac (Jr. FS Maurice Easterling, 5-8, 160; Sr. LB Ryan Hunt, 5-11, 180; Sr. LB Blake Rzemieniewsdki, 5-10, 180)
10. Holy Cross (Sr. SS Terrance Coon, 6-1, 180; Sr. LB Reggie Franklin, 5-11, 225; Sr. LB Travis Quarless, 6-2, 210; Sr. WR Tariq Tangue, 5-9, 175; Jr. RB Barrington Wallace, 5-11, 210)
11. Fordham Prep (Sr. OL Jon Annuziatta, 6-2, 250; Sr. WR Connor Brown, 6-2, 175; Sr. SS Chris Moffa, 5-8, 175)
12. St. Francis Prep (Sr. RB Tristan Akong, 5-11, 180; Sr. LB Chris O’Connor, 5-11, 185; Sr. RB Bob Dougherty, 5-10, 185)
13. St. John the Baptist (Sr. OL Guy Lindner, 6-3, 315)
14. St. Peter’s
15. Kellenberg
16. Xavier
17. Christ the King
18. Bishop Ford (Sr. DL Winston Hill, 6-3, 360)
19. Cardinal Hayes (Sr. OL Fernando Diaz, 6-2, 265)
20. Cardinal Spellman
21. Moore Catholic
Russo Moves On To Northwestern
August 18, 2008
Jessica Russo was a girls lacrosse star for the Friars.
BY MIKE GANCI
For Jessica Russo, the dream of playing lacrosse on the USA Team began when she was a little girl, watching her brother Scott who played for Virginia. Ever since she was in second grade, Russo’s been carrying a lacrosse stick as if it were an extension of her body. As the years went by, she got better, and for the past four years, she has been the cornerstone for St. Anthony’s lacrosse. Now, she is moving on to Northwestern.
At the St. Anthony’s award dinner, both Russo and Scott Vallone (who played football for St. Anthony’s) were given the Dellicave Award, which is given to athletes who exhibit the best grades, community service, and of course, production for their prospective teams.
“It’s an excellent honor,” said Russo. “I can’t believe I am done with St. Anthony’s. This school has really helped me grow as both an athlete and a person.”
Russo hasn’t just been limited to lacrosse in her tenure at St. Anthony’s. She spent time playing basketball as a freshman, (point guard) and Soccer as both a freshman and sophomore (defense/midfield/attack). For soccer, she was awarded the team’s defensive MVP for 2007.
“My favorite sport has always been lacrosse,” said Russo. “Following my brother around while he played for Virginia made me realize how much I love the game.” Russo has developed a pretty impressive resume of her own.
Russo’s accolades for lacrosse are off the charts. She was on the New York State Empire team for lacrosse for three years, and even served as the team’s captain in 2007. She also was an All Long Island player for three years, and was even bestowed as an All American in 2007. As a multiple-time CHSAA player of the year, Russo proved that she was ready for the next level.
Also, Russo almost made the Under 19 USA team, but was cut in the last round.
“The coach told me that I was the last one cut. That still didn’t make me feel any better, but at least I know that I was capable of playing with the best.”
Russo is moving on to a situation in which her accolades at St. Anthony’s mean absolutely nothing. Although she was recruited to play lacrosse at Northwestern, (as well as Duke, Georgetown and many other colleges) she is going to need to start from scratch and prove herself once again.
“Northwestern has one the National Championship the past four seasons,” said Russo. “I am going to have to work very hard to get playing time, and I am going to do whatever I have to.”
Russo seemed fired up about moving on to the next level, but she knows it is not going to be easy.
“I know there are going to be good times ahead, but I am going to have to be determined. I want to eventually be able to start, and then one day, maybe I will fulfill my dream to play for the USA team.”
For Jessica Russo, it seems like the sky is the limit.
Football Camp Opens
August 18, 2008
Big things are expected of senior running back Atiq Lucas this fall.
BY JASON MOLINET
Football practice opened on Monday, and with it the expectations that come with winning seven straight CHSFL Class AAA titles. St. Anthony’s must replace each of its four captains from last season’s 10-1 team. Quarterback James Brady is off at Georgetown; center Austen Fletcher and safety J.B. Andreassi are at Dartmouth; and defensive tackle Scott Vallone battles for a playing time at Big East power Rutgers.
While the offense must break in a new quarterback, a stable of backs, led by senior Atiq Lucas and Nick Mercurio, should provide plenty of stability and give any game plan some pop. They are the givens.
What needs to be answered between now and opening night Sept. 6 in Philadelphia is who will fill the voids at receiver and safety, and who will step up and provide leadership on both sides of the ball? Coach Rich Reichert and Co. has his work cut out.
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