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Glen Cove - Big Red
GLEN COVE
Big Red looking to continue its momentum
By MARC FISHKIN
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle won Most Improved Player in 2020-21, then the following season reverted back to mediocrity. Glen Cove football will try to avoid the Randle template. After winning four of its last fi ve games last season to fi nish 4-4, coaches voted Glen Cove most improved team in Nassau County. Last season’s .500 record looked spectacular compared to its 0-5 fi nish in the 2021 Covid-19 fall season. Glen Cove played in the Conference III championship game in 2015 and has struggled since. Despite losing its entire offensive line, head coach Steve Tripp is eyeing its fi rst winning season in seven years. “We’re looking to start where he left off last year,” Tripp said. “The last couple of years, we came out of the box really slow and our inexperience showed. We got wiped out in our fi rst couple of games. We’re looking at them to take the experience they gained last year and get out on the fi eld and move it forward - not wait and learn.” Fourteen players return, with 13 seniors. Glen Cove’s JV team posted a 6-2 record last season, giving Tripp more optimism. The Big Red took off after Tripp installed a two-running-back set, inserting freshman Devon Gonzales, the backup, into the mix. Gonzales excelled alongside departed Anthony Schettino, now playing at Nassau C.C. The maneuver turned around the season. Gonzalez is now a sophomore and key backfi eld fi xture. He will also play inside linebacker. Last season, Gonzales, bulled his way to 10 yards a carry – 63 rushes for 638 yards. “He was more the inside runner, a real power runner,” Tripp said. The other offensive standout is slot receiver, senior Christian St. Eloi, who also will be play in the defensive backfi eld. He’s an after-the-catch kind of playmaker. On defense, St. Eloi led the Big Red in interceptions two straight seasons, including three picks in 2021. “He does a lot of things over the middle,’’ Tripp said. “He can catch a 5-yard pass and break it into a touchdown. He runs great routs, has great hands. Defensively he has great fi eld vision.’’ The pivotal cog to the machine is the maturation of sophomore quarterback Jadyn Johnson, up from JV. Johnson was last season’s JV starter. He’s likely to win
Christian St Chaya Letellier
the starting berth despite his youth, combining a rushing element to take pressure off Gonzales bullish running. “He has a good arm,” Tripp said. ‘He‘s a good runner. That’s going to be an add if don’t use the two backs. He’s an add if don’t use the two backs. He’s getting pretty big so he’ll be able to block on counters, reverses.” Johnson can also play linebacker but Johnson can also play linebacker but Glen Cove’s staff hopes he can focus on Glen Cove’s staff hopes he can focus on one side of the ball. “It’s always on the one side of the ball. “It’s always on the table,’’ Tripp said. For depth, there is running back senior Chyaa LeTellier, who will be part senior Chyaa LeTellier, who will be part of the backfi eld though perhaps not on every down. He’ll start at safety. “It’s an experienced, inexperienced team,’’ Tripp said. “The starting offensive line from last year was all seniors.” The keystone to the line is junior center Matteo Cameron. “He’s a smart center Matteo Cameron. “He’s a smart player who understand the blocking schemes,’’ said Tripp, who added that left schemes,’’ said Tripp, who added that left guard Caleb Ham will also be relied upon guard Caleb Ham will also be relied upon to provide stability on the line’s interior. to provide stability on the line’s interior. Glen Cove’s defensive line is anchored by senior end Nigel Rodriguez and junior nose tackle Bryan Bonilla in a 3-4 alignment. Rodriguez isn’t fl ashy, just man his spot excellently and provides a decent pass rush. At linebacker, Gonzales will be joined by senior Jason Downer, an outside linebacker who has bulked up in the offseason and benches 200 pounds. Senior Adel Waly is part of a strong linebacker corps, adding extreme quickness off the ball. The safeties of Letellier and St. Elio is boosted by the expected solidness of Josh Pernett. In close contests, Glen Cove won’t rely on its kicking game, so expect a lot of 2-point conversion attempts.
Devon Gonzalez
Schedule
September 10 @ Lynbrook 2:00 p.m. 17 Floral Park 2:00 p.m. 23 V.S North 7:00 p.m. October 1 @ Roosevelt 3:00 p.m. 8 @ Division 2:00 p.m. 15 Manhasset 5:00 p.m. 22 @ Hewlett 3:00 p.m. 29 Wantagh 2:00 p.m.
Matteo Cameron
