Football: Syosset 2011 Preview

Hunger. No better word describes the feeling on the practice field as the Syosset Braves football team prepares for another season.

After tasting playoff success for the second consecutive season in 2010, Syosset is determined to finally take the final step towards an elusive Nassau County Class A Championship in 2011. They aren’t shy about their goals either.

“As with any team, it’s to win,” senior said. “And when we say win, we mean ‘go all the way.’ We’re hoping to win a county championship, but that should be the goal of every team.”

Last Season: 4-4, lost in

Head Coach: Paul Rorke (18th season)

Key Players:

• Evan Kappatos, senior, linebacker 

• Chris Park, senior, wide receiver

• Joe Morris, junior, running back

• John Aronson, junior, center/defensive tackle

• Dylan Shangold, senior, quarterback

Team Breakdown: The fact that the Braves will open the season with Shangold as their starting quarterback is a testament to the raw athleticism of the senior. Two summers ago, he stepped onto the junior varsity team, having never played football before. Weeks later, the newly minted gunslinger was taking the majority of the snaps for the JV Braves.

Although Shangold is still new to the game, Rorke has confidence that he is the right choice to lead the offense.

“He worked really hard in the offseason and he's having a really good camp,” Rorke said.     

Defensively, the Braves have a major advantage at the linebacker position. Kappatos, the two-time defending for best linebacker in the county, is back for his senior season and is looking better than ever.

This summer, Kappatos attended football camps at the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton, improving his already impressive skill set.

“He’s raised the bar considerably from where he was last year purely by his own discipline and work ethic,” Rorke said.

“Having been so successful young, winning the Piner award as a tenth and eleventh grader, what’s really important to him is sharing that success with the team," Rorke added. "He knows that the main way to do that is to win a county championship.”

Expectations: Although Shangold’s strong arm gives the Braves the ability to throw the ball downfield, Rorke has no misconceptions about what it takes to win in Conference I.

“With the type of conference it is, I don’t know that you can be successful if you can’t run the ball,” Rorke said.

For that, the Braves will rely on Morris. Last season, he showed a bulldozing desire to carry the offense on his back.

As always, Freeport and Farmingdale will be tough to beat. They have dominated the conference for the majority of Rorke’s tenure at Syosset.

“That’s just the tradition because they do a good job,” Rorke said of the powerhouses. “But the guys are hungry for the challenge and they welcome it.” 

Key Games:

• Sept. 10: Syosset @ Plainview JFK, 1:30pm

• Sept 17: Syosset @ Freeport, 1:30pm

• Oct. 1: Syosset @ Farmingdale, 6:30pm

• Oct. 29: East Meadow @ Syosset, 1:30pm