Glenn Football Prepares for Playoff Push

The road to a county championship may seem all too familiar for football (8-0 overall), which is preparing to do battle with Center Moriches (3-5 overall) Saturday in the opening round of the Suffolk Division IV playoffs.

It's no mystery as to how the top seeded Knights (ranked fourth in the county, according to Maxpreps.com) secured their spot on top, as they finished another season in flawless fashion.

"We are 24-0 the last four years in the regular season," Knights coach Dave Shanahan said.  "We have an excellent group of kids, a hard working group of kids hungry to win."

Focus may be the key for Glenn on Saturday, as they come off an, and take on a 6, a few weeks before.

How do they overcome the trap of overconfidence? "We are making sure our kids that they understand that going into the playoffs everybody is 0-0," Shanahan said. "It is a one and done season; if you lose you're done."

From a player's standpoint, they are already jumping on board.

"Usually we expect a higher intensity come playoffs," said senior co-captain Bryan Shankman. " We don't  take them lightly just because we beat them earlier in the season. We are practicing against them like we have never played them before."

The season for Glenn, however, can't be defined by one game. It has been a wide array of contributions from the entire team that has guided them to this point, managing to rack up 337 points in eight games (42 per game) and only 96 against (12 per game).

"We have had a real team effort offensively and defensively," Shanahan stated. "They take pride in the program, they take pride in the off-season and that's the long and short of it."

Senior quarterback Ryan Rielly led the charge, compiling 1,202 passing yards and 12 touchdowns through the air, as well as 865 yards on the ground. Senior Joe Rizzuto chipped in with 10 yards per carry and 10 touchdowns on the ground, and Junior Nick Wagner pulled in 23 receptions and 7 touchdowns.

How did they achieve this success? Let's just say practice makes perfect.

"Every week we prepare for a team like it is the best team on our schedule," said Rielly, a co-captain on the team. "So they [the coaches] put in just as much time for the best team, and we are going to play and put in the same amount of time for a weaker team."

More importantly, they have gotten consistent production from the offensive and defensive line.

"Our whole offensive line, if we didn't have them, none of us on skilled positions would be doing half as good,' said Rielly, who was second in rushing in the county. "I don't even think about people getting to me because I know they've got my back."

Shankman, a member of the line said, "We have all played JV with each other since we are younger, so all of the linemen have good chemistry."

But, in an indication the closeness extends beyond the line, Shankman was also quick to return the compliment. "Having Ryan behind us," he said, "doesn't hurt, either."

Northport Tigers Claw into Second Round of Boys Soccer AA Playoffs:

We could be in for an eventful afternoon in Commack Friday, as the No. 10  prepare to take on second seeded Commack Cougars. It's been nine games since Northport (11-3-3 overall) has tasted defeat, and riding Neil-Ryan Yodice's game winning goal in overtime on Tuesday, it may seem as if lady luck is on their side. Commack (15-1-1 overall) also looks to continue their winning ways, having scored two goals in a matter of 3 minutes to comeback and beat No. 15 Huntington.  

Push come to shove, this should a battle to the finish.