Here’s The Kicker

Nicholas Ferrara faces his hometown team this Friday.


BY JASON MOLINET

How did Nicholas Ferrara end up as one of the premier high school kickers anywhere? By raising his hand.

Ferrara has played football and soccer since he was 4. At some point his Hicksville youth league football coach asked a straightforward question.

‘“Who wants to be a kicker?’’’ Ferrara recalled. “No one raised their hand. Then he asked, ‘Who plays soccer?’ I raised my hand. And it went from there.’’

Ferrara has grown into the role nicely. The 6-1, 200-pound senior is a Rivals.com two star prospect and would probably be getting even more attention had he not ended the recruiting process just when it was heating up in June. Ferrara orally committed to Maryland, where he’ll be expected to compete for the placekicker job and eventually punt as well.

Ferrara started the summer making the rounds from one kicker camp to another: Tennessee, South Carolina, Penn State and Rutgers. Once he chose the Terrapins, Ferrara cancelled trips to Cal, Syracuse and Michigan, where an offer was reportedly waiting if he only travelled to Ann Arbor. But Ferrara, who made unofficial visits to the College Park, Md. Campus in the spring, was sold.

“They had my major and everything I needed,’’ said Ferrara, who plans to major business marketing. “I love the school.’’

Life was good – for about a week.

Then Ferrara rolled his right ankle while running July 5. He fractured his ankle. Yet the injury didn’t require surgery, just intensive physical therapy. Ferrara wasn’t even medically cleared for the season opener against St. Joseph Prep in Philadelphia. It was just as well. The game was played in a downpour, the remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna.

St. Anthony’s lost 7-6 on a missed extra point.

“I mean it was frustrating enough being a senior on the team. We’re role models,’’ Ferrara said. “But it’s woulda, coulda, shoulda. Jesse Signa did everything he could. It was a hurricane — literally. I don’t know if I could do more.’’

Ferrara did plenty in Saturday’s blowout win over New Jersey power Delbarton. He was 7-for-7 on extra points and nailed a 37-yard field goal. He also punted and helped the Friars was the field position battle with his trademark powerhouse kickoffs. At the South Carolina camp, Ferrara averaged 82 yards on kickoffs.

His greatest personal challenge comes this Friday. Ferrara grew up in Hicksville; still lives minutes from Holy Trinity. Now he’ll get a chance to beat the Titans. Raise your hand if you appreciate the irony.

Defensive tackle Scott Vallone signs with Rutgers, finally!

By JASON MOLINET

POSTED 2-6-08

Minutes later, Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano was on the phone with Vallone. “Congratulations,” Schiano reportedly told his star defensive recruit. “It’s been a long time coming. Now get ready to work.”

The 6-3, 270-pound St. Anthony’s defensive tackle orally committed to the Big East school over the summer, putting a halt to the recruiting process before it ever really revved into gear. Rutgers was the first school seriously interested in Vallone, of Central Islip, and he developed a bond with the coaching staff that in the end made his choice easy.

“It’s about the relationship he built with coach Schiano and the staff,” said Vallone’s dad, Gregg. “They are like family now.”

While Schiano received Vallone’s letter of intent bright and early, Vallone couldn’t celebrate the event until later in the day. St. Anthony’s held a signing day ceremony in the school library for both Vallone and four girls soccer standouts, also headed to Division I schools.

The usually spacious library suddenly overflowed with friends, family, coaches, school administrators and media. And let’s not forget the catered spread of pizza and pasta.

Vallone’s girlfriend, Kristine Best, is no stranger to choreographed moments. She is the point guard on the girls basketball team. She signed with Marist in the fall. But even she seemed overwhelmed by the moment.

“I’m just happy for him,” said Best, holding a Rutgers hat in hand.

Quarterback James Brady, one of three football players headed to Division I-AA schools, stopped in to mug with his teammate. Brady, the CHSFL offensive player of the year, is headed to Georgetown.

The girls soccer players enjoyed their moment in the media glare as well. Defender Brianna Garcia, the Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA MVP, signed with Penn State. Another defender, Lauren Lucas, is headed to Cincinnati. Goalkeeper Arianna Efstathiou will attend American. Defender Maggie O’Callaghan committed to Sacred Heart.

As athletic director Don Buckley fitting said as he introduced each student-athlete, it’s the rarest of days to see so many talented and accomplished teens in one place. No doubt this was a signing day unlike any other on Long Island.