Joe Cruz put the crown on his Sachem career by winning the coveted Zellner Award presented to the top lineman in Suffolk County.
Cruz, a towering 6-foot-6, 285-pound two-way lineman, was presented the honor at the Suffolk County Football Coaches Association dinner on Monday night.
“This honor means a lot to me because it really shows that all my hard work and dedication paid off over the years at Sachem North,” said Cruz. “I’ve definitely grown a lot as a player from my freshman to senior years, not only in size, but as a person and player.”
He is the fourth lineman in Sachem North history to win the award after Michael Farley (1983), Peter Maiello (1990) and Steve Mills (2012). Danny Carrol won the honor at Sachem East in 2018 as well.
“Joe is so deserving of this award and our program is honored to have our fourth Zellner winner,” said Sachem coach David Caputo. “I could not be more happy for Joe and his family, and also for his line coach Vin Juliano, who has nurtured Joe’s natural ability for the last four years and invested so much in him. This award is the end result. We are ecstatic as a program.”
A Syracuse commit primed to play in the ACC, Cruz is one of the top recruits on Long Island this year. Cruz is also the first Sachem player in 25 years to get a Division I FCS scholarship.
“Linemen do not play football for individual stats or individual awards but for Joe to win this award is a testament to him and the work he has put in over the course of his career,” said Juliano. “To be recognized as the top lineman in Suffolk County is really special and it is something that will hang in our showcase forever. His legacy as one of the best Sachem linemen is cemented.”
Juliano said the linemen that came before Cruz helped guide him and he has carried on the tradition on and off the field where he has been exemplary in his game preparation and execution.
“The hogs are a special group,” said Juliano referring to his linemen. “He has been an integral part in creating the nasty, physical, and technique oriented culture that the Sachem North line prides itself on. It will be impossible to replace Joe but he has left a blueprint on how to play the position the right way at Sachem and in Suffolk County.”
