PHOTO CREDIT: JIM MACLEAN
Top row: Coach Andrew Giuliano is back for his fourth-year at the helm for Fox Lane; Declan Connors returns after leading the Foxes in rushing last fall. Middle row: John Czernyk is a three-year starter at quarterback for the Foxes; Senior Logan Mammola will play a big role on both sides of the ball; Will Rudolph will be a big target for the Foxes at wide receiver. Bottom row: Cam Bahari (right) will return for his senior year to anchor the line; The Foxes are ready to go on both sides of the ball.
By JIM MACLEAN
It was an exciting football season last fall at Fox Lane. Some big victories and a trip to the playoffs as the Foxes turned in a winning season that included wins over local rivals Horace Greeley and John Jay, along with a thrilling last minute victory over Mahopac.
That was last year, but a bunch of those players are back again this year and after getting a taste of winning last season they want to finish strong in their senior year.
Fox Lane coach Andrew Giuliano is back for his fourth year as the head coach, and he knows the talent and potential are there. He also knows the Foxes play in one of the toughest leagues in the state, and they are out to take it one game at a time after putting in a lot of hard work in the off season to hopefully make it another fun year.
‘I like our staff. I like our team and we’re excited to get going.’ — Fox Lane coach Drew Giuliano
“We have a core group of seniors, about eight guys, who really lead this team. We’re experienced in the skill spots, some names who have been on the team for a while now and have played in a lot of varsity games.”
Many of the seniors have been on the varsity for three years, coming up and playing a big role as sophomores and taking their lumps on the varsity level. They turned the corner last year, and now they want to continue to head in the right direction. The Foxes did lose two key players in four-year varsity starter Brian Bailey and three-year varsity starter James Minotti, who are both playing in college this fall. However, the Foxes have several key players returning at key spots all over the field to get the job done and compete.
One of those three-year varsity starters is senior quarterback John Czernyk who returns to lead the offense for the Foxes. Czernyk will have plenty of experienced and talented players around him as the Foxes hope to score more this year and find the end zone after several close and low scoring games last fall.
In the backfield Declan Connors returns as another talented senior three-year starter. Connors was the leading rusher for Fox Lane last year and he is bigger and stronger this year as he hopes for a big finish to his impressive career.
Will Rudolph and Logan Mammola are two more veteran seniors coming back and they provide two big targets for Czernyk as returning starters at wide receiver.
Providing balance in the backfield to carry the ball alongside Connors will be sophomore Evan Stackle and junior Justin Sarote. Nate Getman and Mac Keller are two more offensive weapons returning for the Foxes, and newcomers Owen Baker and Will Brogheimer will also help spark the offense.
On the line, Cam Bahari will be a senior leader as he returns after missing most of last season with an ACL injury. Kenny DeLaCruz is another returning starter to help anchor the line, and Joe Cerone is a newcomer on the varsity ready to move into a starting spot on the line.
It adds up to a veteran team with a lot of talent and potential, but Giuliano and the Foxes know what they are up against competing in their league that includes defending New York State Class A champion Somers, and defending state Class B champion Rye has also moved up to Class A this season.
“Our league is insane, but we like it that way, no weeks off. It’s tough, but it makes us better. I really like competing in this league, everyone is close together and it makes it more exciting for the fans. We’re ready and they’ve been working hard. I like our staff. I like our team and we’re excited to get going.”
Fox Lane does not have a week zero game this fall. Instead, the Foxes were set to host a four-team scrimmage with Pleasantville, Scarsdale and John F. Kennedy on Friday, Sept. 6.
The Foxes will kick off the season on the road at Mahopac on Friday, Sept. 13, and Giuliano knows that will be a big test to start the year.
“Our goal is to beat Mahopac in week one, that is what we’re focused on. We know we are facing a lot of good teams and we have to take it one game at a time and get better every day.”