Players and coaches from Sachem football took home more hardware this season at the Suffolk County Football Coaches Association dinner held at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge, N.Y. on Monday evening.
Senior Malik Pierre won the Cipp Award as the top running back in Suffolk County. The award is named after Sachem alum and former longtime Bellport coach Joe Cipp Jr. Pierre, who had 21 touchdowns and 1,502 rushing yards this season, was also named First Team All-Long Island and was a finalist for the Hansen Award as the top player in Suffolk County.
Michael Slattery won the 12th Man Award, presented annually to a player who overcomes serious injury, disability, odds or adversity to return and contribute to the success of his team.
Head coach Dave Falco was named Newsday’s Suffolk County Coach of the Year.
Justin Rivera took home Newsday First Team All-Long Island honors. The second team players will be announced by the paper next weekend.
Trent Crossan took home his Long Island Championship Offensive MVP honors, while Rivera grabbed the Defensive MVP from the LIC.
Chris Biryla was presented with the Suffolk County Division I Championship award. He recorded 16 tackles and three sacks in the victory over Floyd.
PHOTOS: See images from the 2013 All-County Dinner
All-County players from Sachem
- Zach Geer, Sachem East
- Kevin Bragaglia, Sachem North
- Anthony DiMatteo, Sachem North
- Malik Pierre, Sachem North
- Justin Rivera, Sachem North
Major award winners
- Hansen Award (top player): Jordan Gowins, St. Anthony’s
- Rutger’s Trophy (top team): Babylon High School
- Fred Fusaro Award (top coach): Rick Punzone
- Zellner Award (lineman): Sean Christie, Pat-Med and Bobby Heyward, East Islip
- Collatta Award (linebacker): Dashawn Morton, Floyd
- National Football Foundation (wide receiver): Conor Coughlin
- Tom Cassese Award (defensive back): Jake Carlock, Babylon
- Rob Burnett Def. Player of Year: Jake Carlock, Babylon
- Boomer Esiason Award (quarterback): Ben Kocis, Huntington
- James LaBue (scholar athlete): Christian Jamison, Huntington
EDITORIAL NOTE: We’ll have full stories about Pierre, Slats and Falco in the next 24 hours.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro