Aviators Look Back to '11, Point to '12

It was the second year in a row that the Hasbrouck Heights football team came so close to making the state playoffs.

For the 2011 season the Aviators finished ninth in the power points, just a point behind Hawthorne for the eighth spot in the Group 1 North 1 state section. The top eight qualify for the state playoffs.

Despite missing the state playoffs Heights again showed that they are a football power in the area with a 6-4 record.

As it turned out, the game with Lyndhurst was the determining factor.

The Aviators were leading 22-10 in that game only to see the Golden Bears come back and win 25-22 with a fourth quarter touchdown.

Hasbrouck Heights head coach Nick Delcalzo said that if the result was different against Lyndhurst, the Aviators would have garnered a fourth seed in the section and in turn a home game in the first round.

But the football gods shined differently and gave Lyndhurst its first win in the history of the school over Hasbrouck Heights. It also turned out to be one of the biggest wins for the Golden Bears.

The veteran Aviators head coach points to the 25-18 victory at home over Secaucus as the team's best played games of the season. "We played a good game and they (Secaucus) were a very good team," said Delcalzo.

Heights loses several key parts to graduation, but has a bulk of the players returning for 2012. "We got a lot of kids coming back," said Delcalzo who is looking forward to next season and said the team captains for next season will get the 2012 team members together in January for training sessions.

One of the biggest losses this season will be running back/defensive back Mike Pikowski, who was first team All NJIC defensive back, and who ran for 410 yards on the ground and caught 509 yards in the air. Overall he had seven touchdowns running and receiving the ball. "He gave us a lot on both sides of the ball," said Delcalzo about Pikowski. "He had a great year."

Another player that will be missed is senior linebacker Chris Connors, who was first team All NJIC on offense at guard, but also led the team in tackles with 76.

Along with the graduation of Pikowski and Connors, the Aviators lose Chris Abramo, Alex Gonzalez, Mark Palermo, Matt Marinelli, David Im, Dan Mangieri, Mike Pasqualone, Ali Abdel-Meguid and Conner Blake.

Despite those graduation losses, Delcalzo has several returning players back including junior running back Anthony Seidel, who led the team in running yards with 867 yards and a dozen touchdowns. He was also instrumental on defense. "I think he was a lot better when we moved him from outside linebacker to inside linebacker," said Delcalzo about Seidel.

The Aviators also have sophomore quarterback Darren Iurato returning. Iurato had 707 passing yards and 10 touchdowns via the air. The sophomore quarterback also ran for 277 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Other players returning include junior tight end/linebacker James Fitzsimmons who was a first team All NJIC selection on offense along with sophomores, defensive lineman Justin Porzl and punter Mike Schroback.

All NJIC Meadowlands B division 

Offense 

First team

Chris Connors, guard
James Fitzsimmons, tight end
Anthony Seidel, running back

Second team

Matt DeSimone, center
Chris Abramo, wide receiver
Darren Iurato, quarterback
David Im, running back 

Defense

First team

Mike Pasqualone, defensive line
Mike Pikowski, defensive back 

Second team

Justin Porzl, defensive line
Mike Schroback, punter 

Honorable mention

Dan Mangieri
Chris Golio 

Hasbrouck Heights 2011 football results

Sept. 9             Saddle Brook 37                     Hasbrouck Heights 7
Sept. 17           Hasbrouck Heights  21             St. Mary 20
Sept. 23           Hasbrouck Heights 47              Wood-Ridge 6
Sept. 30           Hasbrouck Heights 41              Wallington 7
Oct. 7               Becton 20                               Hasbrouck Heights 14

Oct. 15             Hasbrouck Heights 28              Bogota            24
Oct. 21             Lyndhurst 25                          Hasbrouck Heights 22

Oct. 28             Hasbrouck Heights 25              Secaucus 18
Nov. 5              Pompton Lakes 35                   Hasbrouck Heights 0
Nov. 11            Hasbrouck Heights 40              Emerson 13