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Floyd dominates; young Bellport needs to improve
defense
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BY JIM FURLONG
The William Floyd Colonials
looked powerful. The Bellport Clippers need to improve their defense.
The two varsity football teams continued their preseason preparation on September
1 with three scrimmages at the Floyd stadium in Mastic Beach. They also competed
against East Islip High and Shoreham-Wading River.
"Floyd is big, strong, well-coached . . . They have a lot of weapons on offense," Bellport co-head coach Jeff Cipp said. "We are young. This (scrimmage) is a learning experience. This is the first time a lot of these guys played against an opponent."
The Colonials, the two-time Long Island Class 1 champion with a 22-game winning streak, dominated. Their first-team offense, starting at the 40-yard line, scored four touchdowns against each team. Their first-team defenders allowed only one TD to each rival.
"We put forth everything we had," said Floyd senior lineman Calvin Forbes. "We were sick of hearing that Bellport has the best team on the island and that they could compete with us. We wanted to prove we are the best."
Floyd coach Paul Longo used about 45 players.
"We worked hard
on both sides of the ball and we executed most of the plays," senior
fullback-linebacker Ray Marcano said. "The first scrimmage, against Bellport,
we scored quite a few times. . . . On defense, everybody did their assignments
and came to play."
Senior quarterback Joey Sidaras lived up to his growing reputation as one
of Long Island's premier prep players. He threw strong, accurate passes and
showed agility and quickness running the ball.
"Our quarterback knew what zone to throw it at the right time," Marcano said. "He read the defense."
Longo, getting his squad ready for its Sept. 15 regular-season opener at home against Patchogue-Medford, also watched the Colonials dominate their first scrimmage on August 29. The Floyd first-teamers overpowered Babylon seven TDs to none.
"I was very happy with some of our younger players (last Saturday)," Longo said. "They took a step in the right direction. They are improving and learning the system." Longo praised juniors Vaughn Magee, Marcus
Muelthaler and Wayne Magee and sophomores Kevin Lacey and Nick Astore.
Floyd hosts its last preseason scrimmage Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. against West Babylon.
While the Colonials have
many talented, experienced starters, the Clippers have 19 new starters, including
the entire defense. Bellport graduated 21 seniors, who contributed to a combined
21-1 record the past two seasons.
Cipp said the current Clippers "need to play more physical defense."
"Every play (the
Floyd offense) made, there was somebody on our defense, one, two or three
players, not doing their responsibility," said Cipp, after he reviewed
the scrimmage film. "That is all part of young defenders not doing what
they are supposed to be doing. Hopefully, they will learn from the mistakes."
Bellport senior defensive lineman Matt DeGasperi did "a pretty good job,"
said the coach. "Our offensive line did a decent job."
Both senior tailback-cornerback Matt Fitz and Cipp said their defenders need
to improve for Sept. 8 scrimmage at Copiague.
"Our tackling was not good at all (last Saturday)," said Cipp. "We
hit people at the line of scrimmage and not wrapping up. We have to do more
to swarm to the ball."
Fitz hopes the Clippers
will step up for their Sept. 15 regular-season opener at Kings Park.
"We want to do the best we can, give 100 percent and go as far as we
can," Fitz said.
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