Every year the Suffolk County Football Coaches Association Awards Dinner gets bigger and better and remains the premier high school awards function on Long Island.
More importantly, there are always a significant number of Sachem story lines that pop up throughout the evening.
Firstly, an initial point of the evening is to honor the All-County athletes from every team. Sachem had the following All-County players:
- Steven Casali, Sachem East
- Mike Marchello, Sachem East
- Tyler Andreassi, Sachem North
- Malik Pierre, Sachem North
- Steven Mills, Sachem North
Secondly, individual honors are awarded to the best players in the county. Here’s a look at how that went:
- James LaBeau Award (named in honor of a Sachem alum from ’77), top scholar athlete: James Giattino, Bay Shore
- Bob Collotta Award, top linebacker: Steven Casali, Sachem East
- National Football Foundation Award, top receiver: James Higgins, Connetquot
- Tom Cassese Award, top defensive back: Vantrel Nash, William Floyd
- Joe Cipp Jr. Award (named in honor of a Sachem alum), top running back: Steven Casali
- Boomer Esiason Award, top quarterback: A.J. Otranto, William Floyd
- Bob Zellner Award, top lineman: Steven Mills, Sachem North
- Carl A. Hansen Award, top overall player: Steve Casali, Sachem East
- Fred Fusaro Coaches Award (you all know who Fred Fusaro is), top coach: Rick Punzone, Babylon
- Rutgers Trophy, top team: Babylon High School
For the first time ever, the All-Long Island First Team selections were announced live at the dinner. Here are the 10 players from Suffolk County who made the cut (second team is announced next week):
- Tyler Andreassi, Sachem North
- Steven Mills, Sachem North
- Steven Casali, Sachem East
- A.J. Otranto, William Floyd
- James Manginelli, Newfield
- James Carlock, Babylon
- James Higgins, Connetquot
- Marc Coles, William Floyd
- Tyler Anderson, Sayville
- James Haggart, Sayville
Casali has monumental night: Aside from the Hansen, Casali won the Cipp (running back) and Collotta (linebacker), was named Long Island Defensive Player of the Year, Division I MVP and collected his Division I championship co-MVP award. He also learned he was named First Team All-Long Island, and of course, All-County and All-Division. Read more.
Falco honored: Sachem coach Dave Falco was honored as Division I Coach of the Year as voted on by his peers.
Big Four title for Sachem: Sachem North was named a Big Four champion for the 15th time since the current Long Island championship playoff structure originated in 1992. Sachem has won a Big Four title four straight seasons, and won it every year from 1992-2001.
George Fox honored: Former Sachem Touchdown Club President George Fox was honored for his service to the coaches association. He has been a longtime treasurer and handles many behind the scene initiatives.
Botti, LaPraire hand out Rutgers: Every year, Sachem alums Mike Botti and Jack LaPraire award the Rutgers Trophy to the best team in Suffolk. They are members of the Rutgers Club, both having played football at Rutgers University.
Cipp gets new plaque: Joe Cipp, who graduated from Sachem in 1966, was presented with a plaque as the most winningest football coach in Suffolk County history. They gave him the same plaque two years ago when he set the record, but it was lost recently in a house fire.
Vinny Amirrato honored: Sachem alum and Mount Sinai head coach Vinny Amirrato was named Division IV Suffolk County Coach of the Year.
Punzone honored by Fusaro Award: During his acceptance speech of the Fred Fusaro Award, presented by the longtime former Sachem coach to the top coach each year: “Just to be mentioned in the same sentence as Fred Fusaro is one of the greatest accomplishments in my life.”
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro