September 9, 2019

The Huntington High School varsity football team will take the field for its 96^th season opener on Saturday at Blue Devil Stadium against West Islip at 2 p.m.

One of the top programs in Suffolk, West Islip edged Huntington in the final regular season game last fall, 37-35. Since then the Blue Devils have regrouped and fixed their eyes on making a run for a post-season berth.

Head coach Steve Muller heads into his 24^th year leading the Blue Devils with a staff that includes varsity assistants Todd Jamison and Kevin Graham. “We are excited to start playing games,” Muller said. “We’ll give every opponent everything we have.”

Huntington's offense is under new management with junior Torin Bograd doing the signal-calling at quarterback. He will be complimented by a very fast, elusive trio of running backs in senior Lex Colato, junior Nasir Youngblood and sophomore Josiah Melendez.

Huntington returns a very experienced offensive line with senior Gary Barash at center, senior guards Aidan Mrotzek and Tazadon Smith and junior tackles Nick Tudisco and Kyle Green.

Playmakers at receiver positions include seniors Jaylen Bush, Jon Koumas and Aedan McDonald, junior Chad Rowe and sophomore Tyriek Mays-McKoy.

Huntington’s defense will do it’s best to stop runs and disrupt offenses with the aggressive play of a mixture of tough linebackers Koumas, Colato, Rowe, Mays-McKoy, senior Vinny Caravetto and sophomore Robbie Smith, who also will see time in the offensive backfield. McDonald is another hard-hitter on defense, who can be a game changer at safety.

Huntington hasn’t defeated West Islip since 1997 when the Blue Devils toppled the Lions, 20-7. West Islip has bested Huntington five straight times by scores of 37-35 (2018), 20-17 (2017), 28-7 (2016), 22-21 (2015) and 21-8 (1998).

A big crowd is expected at Blue Devil Stadium on Saturday for the game. The Huntington Booster Club will be selling refreshments from the fieldhouse.

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Muller comes into the season with a career mark of 127-87 for a .593 winning percentage. He passed Joe Lucey (125-95-9 .566 in 27 seasons) last fall to become the winningest Huntington varsity football coach ever.

Huntington first fielded a football team in 1895, but the squad was not officially sponsored by the high school and it contained many players from the town, but not the school. Following a catastrophic injury to a player in 1901, the sport was put on hold until 1924 when it was officially sanctioned by the high school.

Huntington played its games at Heckscher Park through the 1958 season. The program has only had nine head coaches in its 96 year history. The group includes Alton R. Stevens, Ross Scott, William Class, Frank Kubisa, Al Donofrio, Joe Lucey, John P. Paci, Jr. Ron Wilson and Steve Muller. The program’s all-time record is 420-309-30, a .573 winning percentage.

All-Long Island Football Players from Huntington

Year	Name	Grade	Ht	Wt	Position	Team
1965	Tony Fusaro	12	6'2	235	T
1970	Tom Cisternino	12	6'1	200	G
1978	Mark Paar	12	6'2	165	DB
1979	Todd Jamison	12	5'10	185	QB
1983	Sean Cooper	12	6'	183	WR
1987	Derek McCord	12	6'4	200	QB
1987	Darren Ward	12	6-2	180	RB
1989	John P. Paci III	12	6'4	198	QB
1997	Dawid Rechul	12	6'2	220	OL
1999	Paul Thomson	12	6'6	290	OL
1999	Curtis Williams	12	6'3	185	DB
2001	Stephon Sair	12	5'11	170	S
2003	Pierre Delva	12	6'1	215	LB
2003	Jovan Hairston	12	5'11	280	DL	2nd Team
2005	Zach Howell	11	6'	170	QB	2nd Team
2005	Dominick Sair	12	6'	235	RB	2nd Team
2006	Rhamel Bratton	12	6'2	180	WR
2006	Shamel Bratton	12	6'2	180	WR
2006	Zach Howell	12	6'	175	QB
2013	Ben Kocis	12	6'2	190	QB	2nd Team
2013	Troy Greene	12	6'1	190	All-Purp	2nd Team
2013	Levar Butts	12	5'8	195	LB	2nd Team
2018	John Paci IV	12	6'1	180	QB	2nd Team

NOTE: Zach Howell (QB/DB) was the Division III regular season MVP in both 2005 and 2006.