Football Preview: Lakeland Hornets

To know where you are going, you have to know where you have been—and Lakeland coach Rob Cappelli certainly knows where his program has come from.

Cappelli, a 1988 Yorktown graduate who played his senior year for two-time state champion coach Ron Santavicca, enters his 11th year this fall as coach of the Hornets. That makes him the longest tenured football coach at Lakeland.

In six of the last seven seasons, Lakeland has made the Section 1 playoffs

Last year Lakeland garnered its first postseason triumph, a 24-0 victory against a Fox Lane squad that entered the game undefeated at 6-0.

The Hornets then lost to Roosevelt 32-7, the eventual Section 1 Class A champion, in the semifinals. It was the first time that Lakeland, who finished 5-3, had gotten that far since Section 1 started its playoff system in 1993.

"It's been a great journey since that first year being 1-8 and outscored 310-61," Cappelli said. "Those are days you will never forget. But we never took relief in those 10 years, we kept going and I think what we have accomplished has proven that. We are definitely very pleased where the program is headed."

Lakeland will be led by senior quarterback Conor Prunty (6-foot-2, 195 pounds), who was named all-section a year ago. Cappelli said that the key for Prunty will be to get help from his teammates and realize that he can't do everything on his own.

"We told Conor, 'just do what you did last year, play within the system, we know you are an excellent athlete,'" Cappelli said. "He was a two-way starter last year. He's going to be our safety and quarterback and he punts. He does it all. He kicks off too. Conor just has to try and not do too much for us. He just has to play within our system. The reality is if we became dependent on him, we are not going to be successful."

What makes Prunty so great is that he combines immense physical talent with a phenomenal work ethic.

"Conor was the leader this summer, he was here every morning, 6:30, weight room and running sessions," Cappelli said. "He was at all our camps. He was the first one here. He already has a deal, he signed with Siena to play lacrosse but he didn't miss one thing this summer. One of the best team players I have ever had."

Joining Prunty in the backfield will be senior halfback Anthony Morelli (5-8, 150) who started last year. Morelli is a big-time, tremendous talent according to Cappelli.

"Anthony is very fast and very quick," Cappelli said. "He has got great hands. We can use him all over the place, he is a multiple type of guy."

Filling the Hornets other halfback spot is junior Dan Eremita (5-11, 150). Senior Paul Briggs (5-10, 180) will be the fullback.

Cappelli said that Briggs will be pushed at his position by junior Nick Mariani (6-0, 180).

When Prunty looks to air out it, he will be looking in the direction of tight ends, junior Tony LaGuerre (5-9, 150) and senior Zach Lenane (5-11, 190).

What Cappelli is concerned about is an offensive line that basically graduated all its starters from last year, save the three games senior Vincent Cuccia (5-10, 175) started a ago.

"This is the first time that this line will be starting as a unit," Cappelli said. "That's the first time we have something like that since the first year of our program. We are very, very concerned about that."

Looking to alleviate those concerns is senior Jack Garbowski (5-10, 200), who will be at guard. He was an all-league defensive end last year, a two-way starter who brings a ton of energy to the field.

Senior Alex Maravegias (5-11, 200), who is coming back from a knee injury, will play center.

"Our tackles, sophomore Connor O'Neill (6-0, 220) and junior Anthony Centone (5-9, 190) are very young," Cappelli said. "They have zero varsity experience. So you can see we are going to be very young. The youngest we have been on the line since I have been here."

 Lakeland's defensive line will also be very young.

"Senior Bryan Stevens (6-0, 230), he is a returner from last year but he didn't play last year at all, not one minute," Cappelli said. "Nose guard, we got a transfer, Joe Walsh (5-10, 220), from Yorktown, he's only a junior and senior Chris Burke (6-0, 180). It's really by committee."

Garbowski will help the team at his linebacker/defensive end position. Garbowski hits like a freight train according to Cappelli.

"We are very lucky to have Jack," Cappelli said. "He is one of the best linebacker/defensive ends I have ever had, just being physical, without a doubt. He keeps the motor going."

Helping Garbowski at this position will be Lenane, Mariani, Cuccia and Briggs.

The secondary will be led by Prunty and Morelli with Eremita and junior Mike Kaplan (5-7, 145) also expected to contribute.

"The strength on our team is definitely our secondary, on both sides of the ball," Cappelli said. "You have two of the best defensive backs in the entire section. They played big-time ball last year. They made a lot of plays. They played against some top receivers last year so we know they can play the position."

LaGuerre will handle the place-kicking.

Mike Perricone, Pat McCullough and Mike Meadows are Lakeland's assistant coaches.

"Our team is young but they have worked very hard this year," Capelli said. "We lost some size but we can make up for that with speed. We are a faster football team then we were last year. We're hoping that with where the program is going that we expect to be competitive every year. We are a different program now."

2010 Lakeland Schedule

Sept. 11 @ Poughkeepsie 1:30 p.m.

Sept. 16 Hen Hud 6 p.m.

Sept. 24 John Jay-CR 7 p.m.

Oct. 2 @ Greeley 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 8 @ Panas 7 p.m.

Oct. 15 Somers 7 p.m.