Tappan Zee Football Prepares For Big Game

The Tappan Zee High School football team is in their building stage, but already hard at work preparing for a bowl game.

The Dutchmen's season and home-opener will take place Saturday night, Sept. 11 against rival Pearl River in the Orange Bowl.

"That's always a big game and it means a lot to both programs," said Tappan Zee's fifth-year head coach Andy DiDomenico before leaving for mini-camp. "We'd love to win."

Winning has eluded the Dutchmen to a great extent, however. They were a very young team last season, going 2-6 and losing to the Pirates 6-0 in the Orange Bowl. DiDomenico is quick to emphasize, however, that the last four results in the Orange Bowl have been decided by less than a touchdown. Much closer, actually—four years ago the Pirates prevailed by a point, and the last two victories were by two points each time.

So a turnaround is always a possibility.

"We're taking what I like to call baby steps," DiDomenico said. "We're trying to build something here, but it's an uphill battle. It's always about numbers, off-season work. From modified [football] to high school we lose a lot of kids to other sports or apathy. But that's not unusual."

DiDomenico's task is aided by a staff that includes newcomer Chris Galligan, a defensive and offensive line coach who has also been at Spring Valley and Clarkstown North.

"This is where it all starts," Galligan said, speaking of his linemen. "They're enthusiastic and that's most of the battle right there. We're still fitting the pieces together, finding out who can do what."

Tom Amendola is the backs and secondary coach and Rob Gallagher is the defensive co-ordinator. The junior varsity program, which boasts of a number of prospects, is led by head coach Jim Ardizone and assistant Joe Onativia.

Tappan Zee, which at one time had to give up football for a season, is aligned in a Section 1 non-playoff league with the aforementioned Pearl River, Port Chester, Byram Hills, Beacon and Peekskill, with a crossover game against Albertus Magnus.

DiDomenico feels that last year's youth is a positive for this season. "Most definitely," he added.

The Dutchmen will utilize a "single wing" attack that features multipurpose backs without the prototypical quarterback.

Tappan Zee has several players that fit the triple-threat mold including senior James McWilliams and junior Kevin Dinnegan, another threat as a runner, passer or receiver. DiDomenico likens their versatility to Hall of Famers Frank Gifford of the Giants and Paul Hornung of the Green Bay Packers. And, of course, there is well-regarded sophomore Joe Letizia, who rushed for 900 yards last season as a freshman, and senior receiver/running back Billy Bodner.

"Joe [Letizia] has vision, balance, as well as the intangibles," DiDomenico explained. "He's driven, wants to work."

Taking due care of all the athletes is longtime trainer Gabrielle "Gabby" Kachur of Pearl River. The East Stroudsburg graduate, who played soccer there after running track in high school, is assisted by interns from nearby Dominican College.

Gabby Kachur —"All I know about the name is that he's a Cowboy," she laughed, mentioning Gabby Hayes—prepares the players for practice, handles on-field coverage, first-aid and postgame.

"The whole gamut," concluded Kachur, who is in her tenth season.