Red Devils' football will host Sharks on Saturday night

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BY JIM FURLONG

Center Moriches High and Eastport South Manor will compete in football for the first time on September 8. The first-year Red Devils will host the Sharks at 7:30 p.m.

"We will treat it like a game-type scrimmage," ESM coach Don Nelson said.

Center Moriches coach Steve Failla said both teams have the same purpose a week before their regular-season openers: "To teach and to get better."
Both varsity teams participated in multi-team scrimmages on Sept. 1.

The Red Devils challenged three teams at the Riverhead High field, including Sachem North and Rocky Point.

"I am proud of our guys," Failla said. "They can say they lined up against some of the county's best, top-tier teams, and we walked away with respect. We made mistakes, but we didn't back down. We played aggressive and the mistakes we made are correctable."

CM coaches used 22 players. One highlight was a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Joe Ratti to Jeff Kanas.

Six different runners -- Alex Snead, Alan Schenck, Kyle Manico, Trentin Burchett, Anthony Lavazoli and Dylan Hughes -- carried the ball. Mike Scott and Tom McGarry looked strong on the offensive line. Snead, at free safety, middle linebacker Ryan Davis and Scott, at nose guard, paced the defensive effort.
"The emphasis this week (in practices) will be to be more fundamentally sound on defense," Failla said. "The aggressiveness is our strength."

Eastport South Manor, using about 30 players, scrimmaged against Syosset, Central Islip and Southampton.

"We scored two touchdowns against Central Islip," Nelson said. "I was impressed with the way we blocked up front and moved the ball against the bigger schools. We didn't throw the ball well. We are still working on our passing game."

Charlie Kesnig, a senior, will start at QB against Center Moriches. Nelson said T.J. Sundberg is a junior quarterback doing "a nice job and can run the option."

Two tailbacks -- senior Brendan Hayes and sophomore Siah Coffey -- impressed the coach with their running ability. Hayes and senior Joe D'Esposito were both effective linebackers.

 

 

 

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