Gearing Up for the Gridiron

A new beginning dawns on the gridiron at Tappan Zee High School, and a new era looms on the football field at Nyack High.

The Flying Dutchmen of Orangeburg, coming off a one-loss, championship season in a developmental league, are ready to again test the waters against regular Section 1 Class A opposition.

Meanwhile, the Indians are about to embark on their first season without longtime coach John Castellano calling the shots.

Everyone, however, at Tappan Zee and at Nyack, is apparently embracing the challenge.

Nyack coach Mike Ramponi, a 1997 Tappan Zee graduate who spent nine years in the Nyack program (the last six as an assistant), has attempted to shift the focus to the players.

“I told them, Nyack football is not about a coach, it never will be; it’s about the players,” Ramponi related. “I told them they go to school here, they will walk the streets, and they need to take ownership of this team, whether it’s with me or someone else. We work hard, practice hard every day—that’s our focus; we’re in a groove. I enjoy the kids; it’s a real nice vibe.”

Tappan Zee, which lost only to Rogers High last season, in Newport, RI, opened the year by beating Pearl River 9-2, and closed the season with a 20-0 win over those same Pirates in the league championship game.

But winning the title, as much as it meant, does not mean enough to a cadre of optimistic, determined returning players.

“Winning the [developmental] league is not the same [as winning a Section 1 title],” offered senior captain Kevin Dinnegan, who manned the safety and running back/wide receiver position a year ago. “We need to earn respect. Each week we got together, and discussed our goals. Number one—to show up and give 100 percent every play, every day, and make the most of the season, and have fun every day.”

Senior linebacker/guard Chris McGann, also a captain, is determined to see that the Dutchmen’s success last season does not fade into distant memory.

“We worked hard last year, and now we’re back in Section 1. We want to prove ourselves against better opponents; we’re excited,” enthused McGann. “We talk about it; how we finally have a chance to be in Section 1, and earn some respect.”

A new era dawns

Respect in Nyack has long been a given as Castellano’s club won 180 games in 23 seasons. But Castellano, the third-winningest coach in Rockland County history, is now as assistant at national powerhouse Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, NJ, where the Ironmen are the defending five-time state champion.

Ramponi, however, has been along for the some of the ride, and actually served as the head coach in last year’s season-opening win (Castellano had to serve a one-game suspension, which carried over from the previous season’s playoff game).

“I’m into the coaching part of it, that’s no problem,” Ramponi said. “It’s all the other things that are different—the organization. Off the field there are so many things, so much responsibility. It’s a non-stop thing; it feels like it never ends. Other than that, there’s not much of a difference. When we’re on the field I’m in my comfort zone.”

Ramponi will oversee the offense and defense, but has 18-year veteran Rob Wisner, his man in the booth on game days, as an aide-de-camp, along with 10-year veteran Scott Reynolds, and line coach Cliff Tallman, the acclaimed power-lifting king who coached Clarkstown North in the '90s. New to the staff are former Nyack High player Danny Berkowtiz, Ralph Squittieri, and elementary school physical education teacher Andrew Zirafici.

Tappan Zee coach Andy DiDomenico, returning for his sixth season, faces a daunting schedule, even for a team already established in Section 1 competition.

“The schedule is a lot tougher. For example, there’s Poughkeepsie, top-ranked or near the top,” said assistant Tom Amendola. “But we’re excited, no doubt about that.”

The Dutchmen’s multipurpose, single-wing attack features junior returnee Joe Letizia, who first starred as a freshman when he rushed for more than 900 yards.

“Like any year, we feel we have a good team,” assessed Dinnegan, who is looking forward not only to the opener, but the second game of the season when big, powerful, highly regarded Somers is welcomed to Orangeburg on “Z Nite.”

“Winning the (development) league was huge, but our main goal was to get back to Section 1,” Dinnegan said. “Now, we’ll really be put to the test. ‘Z Nite’ will be great: Somers has a great coach [legendary Tony DeMatteo], a great program.”

Dinnegan’s sentiments were echoed by McGann.

Bring on Somers

“We’re looking forward to Somers, and ‘Z Nite,” McGann noted. “That’s a high-quality team, and a high attendance game. Everyone from the town is at that game. We’re looking forward to that.”

Other key Dutchmen include senior back Brendan Donohue, and Pat Walpole, a junior captain along with Letizia.

Over at Nyack, Ramponi’s Indians confront a daunting schedule that also includes Somers and Poughkeepsie, and other teams such as Brewster, Spring Valley, Horace Greeley, and Eastchester.

“It’s a tough schedule, especially for an inexperienced team,” said Ramponi. “But we have high expectations. There’s no game we can’t win. We expect to make the playoffs somehow, and make a run.”

Ramponi will implement a wing-T philosophy on offense, and the longstanding “50 defense,” with a few wrinkles here and there.

“It’s basically a five-man front; next year we’ll move to a different defense, but right now we know it so well,” Ramponi added.

Regarding the offense, the coach said if you have to put a name to it, try hybrid.

“It’s a wing-T and spread. Basically the wing-T philosophy, with some changes in formation. We have a lot of speed, ” he said. “We want to get the ball out into open space, with the fullback probably getting 20-25 carries a game.”

Among the cast are junior Derwhon Bartley, and seniors Will Smith and Ronald Lewis.

“Everyone can flat-out run; we’re excited about that,” enthused Ramponi. “The collective speed of our defense will cause a lot of problems.”

Varsity newcomer Khalid Shabazz, a junior, is one of the players who give cause for excitement.

“He’s one of those kids when he has the ball, and open space, is really electric,” notes Ramponi. “He’s not only fast, but can cut and finish it off. He’s up from the JV. He’s a player, and we expect a lot out of him. I can’t say he’s a superstar, but we expect a lot.”

There are other high-expectation players, including senior defensive end/split end Quincy Vassar; senior quarterback Raydell Williams, halfback/defensive back Jamel Jones (another speed-burner), two-way lineman Breton Fitzgibbon, and running back/defensive back Paul Mitchell, a senior who is another guy who can run, and is tough.

Tappan Zee varsity football schedule

            (Home games in caps)

            Sept. 9 – WALTER PANAS, 7 p.m.

            Sept. 16 – SOMERS, 7 p.m.

            Sept. 23 – at Brewster, 7 p.m.

            Oct. 1 – at Poughkeepsie, 1:30 p.m.

            Oct. 6 – EASTCHESTER, 4:30 p.m.

            Oct. 14 – ALBERTUS MAGNUS, 7 p.m.

            Oct. 22 – at Saunders, 1:30 p.m.

            Oct. 29 – To be determined

            Nov. 5 – To be determined

Dutchmen last year: 8-1 (only loss came on the road in fourth game of the season; 27-8 to Rogers HS in Newport, RI); big wins posted against Albertus Magnus, 31-12, and twice against Pearl River (9-2 in season opener, and 20-0 in league championship game).

Nyack High varsity football schedule

            (Home games in caps)

            Sept. 9 – BREWSTER, 7 p.m.

            Sept. 17 – SPRING VALLEY, 1:30 p.m.

            Sept. 23 – at Horace Greeley, Chappaqua, 7 p.m.

            Oct. 1 – at Pearl River, 3 p.m.

            Oct. 6 – SOMERS, 7 p.m.

            Oct. 15 – at Eastchester, 1:30 p.m.

            Oct. 21 – POUGHKEEPSIE, 7:30 p.m.

Indians last year: 6-3 (beat Rye twice; lost to Roosevelt, Horace Greeley, and John Jay). The 2003 state champs averaged 24 points, allowing 16 per game, and tied for first in Section 1 A-2 with a 5-1 mark.

Extra points

• There are 27 teams in Class A, with 14 bracketed in one “league,” and 13 in another. Not everyone in each “league” plays each other.
• In an offseason ranking of the Class A teams, Pearl River was ranked No. 14; Tappan Zee was ranked No. 15. The teams are not scheduled to meet in the regular season. Pearl River selected Nanuet as its “rival” game while Tappan Zee chose Albertus Magnus.
• Pearl River and Tappan Zee theoretically can meet in the postseason, but the chance is unlikely.