Three undefeated regular seasons, two consecutive Section III and regional Class AA championships, and a combined 31 wins in 34 games – that’s what the Cicero-North Syracuse football team has accomplished.
Continuing this utter domination of the area large-school ranks is a tall order, but in 2019 the Northstars will attempt to do so, knowing that it will require a new set of standouts all over the field to make it so.
Gone are Conner Hayes, Jaiquawn McGriff, Nate Geloff, Shyrel Broadwater and Jeremiah Willis, who accounted for most of the Northstars’ offensive production the last two seasons. Most of the defense graduated, too. In all, 17 starters need to be replaced.
“We’re babies right now”, said head coach Dave Kline, comparing his new lineup to his old one. “They need to believe in themselves, can’t be afraid to accept challenges and must be willing to compete every single day.”
Hayes leaves the largest void, having started at quarterback for three-plus years before going to Ithaca College. Though three have vied to replace him, J.J. Razmovski has emerged as the favorite to be under center for Friday night’s opener at CBA, with Dom Isbell and Anthony Testa also taking snaps in last week’s scrimmage.
The ground game should remain a strong point with 235-pound junior Da-Ron Brown taking over to pound away yardage, helped by Quamir Jenkins, back after missing most of 2018 due to injury. Utica-Notre Dame transfer Mike Washington, along with Joe Penizotto and Adron Pafford, form a new corps of wide receivers.
At least C-NS has a chance to dominate up front. There’s 260-pound left tackle Matt Hogan and 280-pound left guard Rob Ottaviano, with 280-pound Drew Alvarez moving from center to right guard. Clay McNitt (270 pounds) takes over at center, with Max White (250 pounds) starting at right tackle.
Plenty of new faces occupy C-NS’s defensive front, putting more on established players like Elijah Knight and Jerrod Hills, and the linebacker corps is brand-new, too, featuring Alex Nobles, Dom Cavelli and Dennis Green. Washington and Vincenzo Lattanzio pair up at cornerback next to Jenkins and Farouk Ibrahaim at safety.
New faces or old, every opponent will want to grab C-NS’s crown, none more so than its neighbors from Liverpool.
The Warriors almost had a chance to do so in 2018, claiming the Class AA-1 division regular-season crown, but falling 17-14 in a tight sectional semifinal to West Genesee, the second straight year Liverpool was stopped one step short of the title game..
Taking that last step and getting back to the Carrier Dome in November is all that Warriors players and coaches have worked for in the last 10 months or so, and it is in prime position.
“That (the loss to West Genesee) left a sour taste,” said senior captain Jacob Vacco.”We’re definitely motivated, and we have one of the best defenses in Section III”.
And it’s Vacco, along with fellow senior captain Bryce Mills, who anchor the Liverpool defense, a pair of inside linebackers flanked outside by two more solid players, Malachi Upshur and Damien Nixon.
Combine them with ends Damonte Bell and Huhmier Williams, and the Warriors have an imposing front seven, even more so if Zach Lee and Ryan Safiotti blend in at end. And it makes things easier for a secondary that includes Max Michalak and Christian Matthews at cornerback, flanking free safety Brayden McClain.
There are far more questions on offense, where Vacco, Mills and Upshur form a deep and potent backfield, aided by Dakari Mack, but the starting quarterback is new – junior Brendan Mancuso, the son of head coach Dave Mancuso.
The older Mancuso said that Brendan does a good job running the offense, yet could still improve his timing on throws. When that happens, receivers Dominic Scro and Kyle Caves, along with tight end Noah Silfer, should benefit.
Up front, the line is big on the left side thanks to 300-pound tackle Nate Graser and 280-pound guard Ryan Scifratti, while Nick Hall and Jon Worthen rotate at center. Guard Nick Reed and tackle Jake Ronan work on the other side of the line.
Again, Liverpool is favored in AA-1, where there’s just five teams, unlike AA-2, where C-NS is part of a six-team league that includes the likes of West Genesee, Fayetteville-Manlius and Baldwinsville.
A great indication of where these rivals stand will come Sept. 13 at Bragman Stadium when, once again, Liverpool attempts to wrest way the “Star Wars” Cup from C-NS.
“Our players have a great work ethic and leadership,” said Dave Mancuso. “Our goal is to make them disciplined. I hope we are ready, but you never know.”
