Live from Sachem Football Training Camp: East

After seeing both Sachem High Schools football training camps this week, there's one clear factor that both East and North share: they're both hungry for the playoffs.

Both schools are separated by 10 seeds in pre-season rankings, so they're focused on their own agendas. At East, working with the No. 11 seed, means working extra hard during the summer months. The staff and players agree that this off-season has been the most productive in years.

RELATED: Read up on Sachem North's training camp

"It's the best we've had since I started on varsity," said Lucas Brum, a three-year starter as a tackle. "More and more people have been getting in each day and everyone is really improving. We have our goals set high."

After last year's less than spectacular 1-7 season, East is anxious for a bid into the playoffs for just the second time in school history. Since the post-season is open to eight teams from each division in Suffolk and Nassau Counties, there is a good possibility that East grabs a low playoff seed with some upsets throughout the regular season.

RELATED: Sachem's football history book updated with '09 information

East head coach Brian Harvey thinks this can happen.

"We're excited," he said. "We've had the best summer we've ever had."

Aside from Week 3's match-up against No. 3 Lindenhurst and Week 6's battle against No. 5 Connetquot the rest of the games are within reach. East opens the season on the road against No. 10 Central Islip.

"It's all a mind game," said senior Matt Berlingieri. "Most of us are in good enough shape. We come here together and have to work hard and be strong mentally and have heart. If you have those two things you'll find yourself in a good place."

Besides Brum, Harvey said sophomore Steve Casali and senior quarterback Kyle Starke are players to watch for this year. Sachem Patch will be breaking down each position before the season starts.

Inside X's and O's

East will run a little bit of the Wing T and Spread offenses. With the Wing T, the linemen are a key part of successful production. It mixes passing and running plays. With the Spread, multiple wide receivers, out of the shotgun sometimes, are used to stretch or "spread" the field.

2010 Schedule

• Week 1: Saturday September 11 @ Central Islip
• Week 2: Thursday September 16 vs. Patchogue-Medford
• Week 3: Friday September 24 @ Lindenhurst
• Week 4: Friday October 1 @ Walt Whitman
• Week 5: Saturday October 9 vs. Commack
• Week 6: Saturday October 16 @ Connetquot
• Week 7: Friday October 22 vs. Brentwood
• Week 8: Friday October 29 vs. Ward Melville

Things to look forward to this season

Sachem Patch will be covering Sachem sports unlike any other media out in the world. With exclusive access to every team, coach and player, Patch will strive to provide coverage of every angle from Sachem throughout the fall, winter and spring. Here's a look at what to expect:

• Player blogs
• An "Inside the Arrows" blog updated daily with pertinent info
• A  live blog of the action at each Sachem Football home game
• Profiles and features on all coaches
• Game stories, photo galleries and video highlights
• A coaches corner video show each week
• Players of the week
• All-Sachem Patch teams, as well as Sachem Patch Players of the Year
• Historical analysis and breakdown
• Plenty more, so stay tuned ...

Sachem Patch editor Chris Vaccaro will be upstate next week at East and North's training camp for a day with live coverage. Stay tuned for that as well.