Since this site operates in the fashion that it’s ALWAYS football season, it’s never too late for a Sachem alumni story about a handful of young men who received their conference championship rings at Cortland this season.
The Red Dragons finished with a perfect 7-0 record in New Jersey Athletic Conference play, won an opening round NCAA Division III playoff game against Farmingham and lost to Wesley College in the second round in late November.
As it has been largely reported over the years, Cortland has a large Sachem contingent on its roster, all of whom were impact players and memorable athletes in Sachem’s illustrious gridiron history.
Among them are sophomore linebacker Jesse Scanna, sophomore linebacker Michael McCarthy, freshman offensive lineman Sean O’Shea, freshman offensive lineman Vin Juliano, junior defensive lineman Joe Kirchner, and senior defensive lineman Dan Cancro, who was named Honorable Mention All-NJAC.
Scanna, who recorded 47 total tackles and one sack in 2012, is arguably the best two-way player in Sachem football history as a linebacker and running back. He finished his Sachem career with 1,531 rushing yards (13th all-time in program history) and a program-record 320 career tackles.
With two college seasons left, Scanna is primed to be the top linebacker at Cortland and should get considerable recognition in his conference and beyond. A finalist for the Hansen Award given to Suffolk County’s top football player each season, Scanna’s raw physical ability should be unmatched as an upperclassmen with the Red Dragons.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro