Last Year's Record: 6-4 (Lost to Farmingdale in Nassau County semifinal.)
Head Coach: Paul Rorke (17th season)
Preseason Ranking: Second in Conference I
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Top Players: Jr. Evan Kappatos (OT-ILB), Sr. Jake Lebowitz (OL-DL), Sr. Tom Koziatek (OL-DL), Sr. Alex Contino (QB), Sr. Nick Bilianis (ILB-RB)
Position Breakdown: Rorke is counting on the interior to lead the way after several graduations at skill positions. He thinks the team is going to very good on the line, especially on the defensive front. Kappatos will be a key on the offensive line while also starring at inside linebacker. He turned heads by winning the Piner Award for Nassau County's best LB as a sophomore. Rorke is hesitant to talk about players on the perimeter because so many are unproven, but he is happy that Contino has junior Chris Park returning at WR.
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Expectations: Being one game away from a county championship opportunity left the Braves with bad tastes in their mouths and a newfound focus. The coach was very encouraged by how the returnees responded with their attendance and intensity in the offseason weightlifting program. Rorke wouldn't name any key matchups because he says in an eight-game regular season, circling anybody on the calendar just isn't prudent.
News & Notes: Despite the focus on interior line play, the Braves aren't a "three yards and a pile of dust" kind of squad. Rorke said the team passed around 40 percent of the time last season, and he doesn't expect that to change. Syosset completed a couple of long passes for touchdowns during the team's Aug. 28 home scrimmage with Carey...Syosset's Labor Day season opener at home against Uniondale will start at 11 a.m. and serve as a fundraiser for the Wounded Warriors Project.
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