Plainview Hawks Celebrate Best Season In 36 Years Ahead Of Playoffs

PLAINVIEW-OLD BETHPAGE, NY — The Plainview Hawks have soared this season, with the team winning six games in a season for the first time in 36 years.

The Plainview-Old Bethpage varsity football team's success is especially significant in a time when other districts, like Jericho and Amityville, have canceled football programs.

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Going 6-2, the Hawks are headed into the playoffs, led by Coach Brian Gurney and team captains Ethan Brake, Alex Zager, Andrew Novis, Evan Halpern, and Drew Sansobrino.

"They are very good leaders and have taken pride in what we are trying to accomplish," Coach Brian Gurney told Patch.

The team's first matchup in the Nassau County Conference I quarterfinals will be against Port Washington on Nov. 6.

Senior and starting running back Drew Sansobrino has been playing football since he was 12 years old, when he was in seventh grade.

"Football and being a Hawk means a lot to me," he said. "It's pretty cool to be a leader of my team."

Sansobrino said he and most of his teammates are seniors and have been playing the sport together for years, growing a close bond, which he attributes to helping the team have the most successful season in decades.

As captain, Sansobrino has seen his teammates and 'best friends' challenge and push each other on and off the field, he said.

"We have put in the work all year round, not just in season," he said. "This is the best Plainview team in 36 years."

For Sansobrino, one of his standout moments was when he hit 1,000 yards rushing this season.

Despite the success the Hawks have seen, he said there was one goal the team couldn't reach this season: "To beat Farmingdale."

Although they were leading in the game, Farmingdale ultimately came out the victor. The Hawks may still have a chance to play Farmingdale again if both teams advance to the championship game.

Regardless of whether the team gets a rematch, Sansobrino said he and his teammates have learned valuable lessons throughout their years together and are proud of this season's incredible success.

"Football has also taught me numerous life skills such as discipline, hard work, and taking pride in whatever you do," he said.

Along with praising his teammates, Sansobrino also credited Coach Gurney, the staff, and the community for cheering the team on.

"The last few years, the town has really been supporting our team and showing up for games," he said.

He added that the school spirit can inspire newer generations, especially middle school football players.

"The young kids see that and want to be a part of that," he said. "Those kids will develop into good football players as they enter high school."

Brian Gurney has been coaching for 20 years, with five of them in the Plainview district. He played at Islip in high school, at Iona in New Rochelle, and on the D-line for the MAAC conference.

As a former football player himself, he said there is more to the sport than some people think.

"It teaches about life more than a sport," Gurney said. "You get out what you put in. It makes you honest with yourself. There is a reason why there is only one game a week."

Gurney described his team as "gritty," praising the players' work ethic and commitment to one another. The team has spent countless hours at practices and games, with some players working hard as starters for three years and growing together along the way.

"They have bought in, and we are reaping the rewards for their commitment," he said. "They can run practice themselves and know what is expected of them. We had the full playbook in by day three. They stayed in the summer and understood the assignment."

He said it's important to keep the Hawks' football program up and running for years to come.

"For many kids, it's a break from the stresses of the day and has them work, cope, understand, and be cerebral," Gurney said. "Football is a thinking person's game."

Athletic Director Jeffrey Salzberg agrees with Coach Gurney – football should be kept in the athletic program and school community.

"It gives our students the chance to compete, develop as leaders, and be part of a team," Salzberg said. "We want to keep building the program and give our students a positive experience."

Although Salzberg acknowledged declining enrollment in the program, he said he is hopeful for the future of football in the district.

"We did weather the storm of declining enrollment in the program, but the current staff has done tremendous work the past five years to increase exposure and opportunity to participate," he said.

Reflecting on the season, Salzberg emphasized how proud he is of the team's unity.

"I'm most proud of how this group has come together," he said. "They work hard, support each other, and take pride in representing POB. Our seniors have helped set the tone for this team, and we appreciate the commitment they've made to the program."

The Hawks' successful season has been a team effort, with players, coaches, and the school community all playing a part.

"The credit goes to our players and coaching staff. Coach Gurney and his staff have done a tremendous job preparing the team, and the players have worked hard and bought into what the coaches are asking of them," he said. "The support from our families, students, and school community has also been a big part of the season."