Five football players from the programs at Sachem East and North will play in the United Healthcare Empire Challenge football all-star game this summer at Hofstra University. It marks the most players from Sachem at one time to play in the annual prestigious game that pits players from Long Island and New York City against one another.
Sachem North’s Tyler Andreassi and Steve Mills, as well as Sachem East’s Steve Casali, Ryan Dippel, and Brian Balsamo will all be suiting up for the Long Island squad.
Sachem North head coach Dave Falco will serve as an assistant coach for Long Island this season, a position he has been honored with in the past as well.
Sachem North will also host four practices for the Long Island team leading up to the contest in June.
The Sachem football program has now had 28 players since the games origin in 1996 participate, including at least one player every season except in 2006 and 2007.
With three players in the game this year, Sachem East matches its all-time total of three players to make the Boomer Game as its affectionately referred to.
Pete Blieberg, Sachem’s Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics, has been the Game Coordinator for the event since its inception. The game is played annually to raise money and awareness for The Boomer Esiason Foundation.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro