LIVERPOOL – Joe Sindoni has made a name for himself in many different venues, none more so that at Skaneateles, where he led the Lakers to unprecedented glory, including a state Class C championship.
Now Sindoni find himself at Liverpool, replacing long-time head coach Dave Mancuso and faced with a challenge more to do with the opposition on the field than the Warriors program itself.
Ever since it last claimed the Section III Class AA title in 2016, Liverpool has won plenty, but has never quite got back to the top, often thwarted by its rivals from Cicero-North Syracuse, including painful semifinal defeats the last time sectional playoffs were held in 2019 and 2021.
Add to it the promotion of last year’s state Class A champions, Christian Brothers Academy, and the Warriors know the path to a championship has only got tougher in 2022.
Knowing all this, Sindoni and the coaching staff he largely brought from Skaneateles spent most of the off-season teaching and implementing the spread offense that worked so well for the Lakers in recent years guided by quarterbacks like Patrick Hackler and James Musso.
“Our method is culture and discipline,” said Sindoni. “That won’t happen immediately, but I’m happy with the strides we have made. We like these players and they are fun to coach.”
When the Warriors open Thursday night against Henninger at LHS Stadium, it likely will have senior Sol Panayil under center, working in front of a mostly revamped offensive line.
Senior Jacob Renaud is the only returning starter, and he could line up at guard or center. Another senior, Jayden Forde, moved from tight end to tackle, while Hunter Thompason, Marken Tigner, James Tearney and Anthony Cerio all step into new roles.
At least they will be blocking for a proven group of running backs, led by Jah’Deuir Reese, last season’s leading rusher (400 yards, three touchdowns), along with teammates Bruce Wingate, Anthony Kelly and Urijah Matthews.
A spread offense requires a deep, talented and quick group of wide receivers. Jason Swanson, Tai’yari Sholtz, Shawmeer Bradwell, Ian Herrera and Vince McBride all fit into Liverpool’s passing plans.
On a defense with few returning starters, Forde, at defensive end, will anchor the front line, helped by Jace Bliss and Cody Kirkendall along with expected contributions from Wingate and Matthews.
At linebacker, Renaud returns, with Kendar Patterson also part of the mix in front of a secondary where Herrera and Sholtz line up at corner, with Jordan Grandinetti at safety.
Following the Henninger opener, Liverpool looks to avenge last year’s defeat to Baldwinsville Sept. 16, but showdowns with C-NS and CBA don’t take place until October.
That might give the Warriors time to see how its new-look offense will fare, and who will run it, before the important tests that are likely to determine where it ends up seeded for the sectional playoffs.
Given all this, said Sindoni, “we may have to change the way we run our offense for a while, but we are prepared for it.”
