CICERO – For the last five seasons, no one in area Class AA football has stopped Cicero-North Syracuse, at least when it counts.
Four consecutive Section III and regional titles, along with an undefeated spring 2021 season during the recovery from COVID-19, has left the Northstars squarely on top, waiting to see if anyone can dethrone them.
Those who have tried, including Baldwinsville, Utica Proctor and especially Liverpool, have proven unable to unseat C-NS. Now Christian Brothers Academy arrives back in Class AA, fresh off an unlikely 2021 run to the state Class A crown.
CBA meets the Northstars Sept. 16 at Alibrandi Stadium, following two opening tests that includes this Friday’s opener at Horseheads, from Section IV.
As it works toward a new season, C-NS does so with plenty of questions on both sides of the ball -understandable with stars like Jerrod Hills, Mason Ellis, Vinnie Lattanzio, James Cahill and Tavores Flournory gone.
However, there isn’t a question of who starts under center.
Junior Jaxon Razmovski split starting duties with Anthony Testa last fall. With Testa gone, Razmovski now starts full-time, head coach Dave Kline saying that he has worked hard building up arm and body strength in the off-season.
A group of receivers, including Mason Mingle, Andrew Vinette and Nathan Williams, look to put up production matching what Ellis (79 career catches, 1,048 career yards) contributed.
Testa ended up leading C-NS in rushing in 2021 after an injury sidelined senior Jamar Ballard. Senior Farouk Ibrahim and La’Quan Lemon, back after a season at Liverpool, leads this year’s group which also includes Shane Williams.
By far, C-NS’s biggest challenge on offense lies up front. Just one senior, guard Mike Bozinovski, is part of the rotation, while Joe Main moves from center to the other guard spot, with competition for both tackle spots and center.
No single player on the roster is more difficult to replace than Hills. In 2021, he compiled 15 sacks and 99 tackles, dominating on defense and, according to Kline, covering up for plenty of mistakes made by linemen on both sides of the ball.
It’s up to the likes of defensive linemen Ty Daughton and Roemellow Robinson to approximate the impact Hills made. Things are more settled at linebacker, where Lemon, Evan Gallgaher and Cody Heller are set to start, all of them looking to replace Cahill’s 6 ½ sacks and 89 tackles.
Thanks to Ibrahim and senior Carlton Garnes (also a track standout who has long-jumped 22 feet 4 ½ inches), there’s plenty of experience and quality in the C-NS secondary, with depth added by Mingle and David Shafer-Mooney.
Ibrahim, a fourth-year varsity player, said what’ has helped the Northstars stay on top is the combination of strong coaching by Dave Kline and his staff, along with the understanding that every year brings a new challenge and a new chemistry among teammates, and not shying away from that challenge.
For his part, Kline said that the key for this team to maintain this championship streak is to bring the same energy and effort they show in practice to the field.
“They have a great ethic, and want to get to better,” said Kline.
