Fall 2011 Preview: Island Trees Football

After finishing 4-4 last season, just points away from entering the playoffs, the Island Trees Bulldogs varsity football team has comeback more determined than ever with hopes to close out in the top four rankings of Conference IV and charge into the playoffs with honor.

Coaching Staff: Mike Bonsignore (13th year, 4th year as head coach), Tom McCormick and Joe Manna (assistant coaches).

Key Players: Leading the Bulldogs in the 2011 season is quarterback and third year varsity starter Kyle Nigro and running back and fourth-year varsity starter Chris Pascalli. According to the head coach, both players delivered phenomenally last year and have come together as seniors and team captains to guide the Bulldogs back to where they need to be. Bonsignore also named juniors Kevin Strauss and Tom Sinclair as key components to this season's roster. According to the head coach, Strauss, a second-year varsity starter, offers explosiveness and strength that allows great pentration in to the offense's backfield.

Strengths: The varsity team features a strong core of upperclass athletes this year, especially seniors. According to Bonsignore, the team is more focused as they progess in their high school careers.

"For the first time, we are a senior heavy team," he said. "It allows the team to be more focused about what they need to do since they only have one year left to accomplish their goals. Underclassmen often the feeling of 'there is always next year'."

Weakness: With the class of 2010 graduating, the Bulldogs lost valuable competitors. The team has to work even harder to fill the void of All-County runningback Dave Grecsek, All-Conference offensive lineman Joey Manna, wide receiver Mike Esposito and linebacker Peter Tucci.

Expectations: The Bulldogs fell short of their legacy last season, and although some strong players have moved up, Bonsignore believes they can surpass their 2010 record by a longshot. On the road to the playoffs, the Bulldogs will faceoff with tough competition - some returning from last year and some new - but the head coach believes the unity and dedication of this year's athletes will carry the team into the playoffs. Beyond entering the playoffs, the Bulldogs hope to place in the conference's top four in order to host a playoff game on their home turf.

"This is a great group of guys who have really come together as a team and a family," he said. "They are all good kids who have bought into what the coaches have been preaching the past few years they've been playing on the high school level. I firmly believe we are going to be able to take the next step with our program and be good role models for the feeder programs in Island Trees."

Up next: Island Trees will host North Shore this Friday at home for their annual "Pink Out" game in support of the fight against breast cancer. The action starts at 7 p.m.

Editor's Note: The Bulldogs kicked off the season Saturday afternoon at East Rockaway, a longtime rival, where Island Trees fell 14-6. After a scoreless first half, Tyler Byrne scored for the Bulldogs on a pass from Nigro, but East Rockaway bounced back with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.