Several players from the Huntington High School varsity football team have garnered post-season honors.
The 32-player squad was led by head coach Steve Muller and assistant coaches Todd Jamison and Kevin Graham. Jim Byrnes Sr. and Jim Byrnes Jr. served as the junior varsity team’s coaches.
John P. Paci captured All-County and All-Academic honors following a fabulous season as the Blue Devil quarterback. Eric Sands, Jonathan Koumas, Tazadon Smith, Jordan McCoy, Jaylen Bush and Bryce Criscuola were all named to the All-Division team. Criscuola added All-Academic recognition.
Henry Cartwright was tapped as a National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete after exceling on the field and in the classroom.
Paci, Sands, McCoy, Criscuola and Cartwright will all be graduating in June. Koumas, Smith and Bush are set to return to the field next fall for the Blue Devils.
While the loss of the team’s seniors will obviously be felt, Muller is confident that a strong team is returning to the fold for the 2019 campaign. Many veteran underclassmen are coming back along with some a group of talented junior varsity players that are due for promotion.
Muller and his staff are already at work on next year’s team, figuring out where all the parts to the puzzle fit offensively and defensively. Returning players are engaged in physical conditioning.
It will be many months before Huntington and other Section XI football teams know where they will be seeded and who their eight regular season opponents will be. But Muller believes that regardless of the 2019 schedule, the Blue Devils will be competitive with everyone.
