Huntington JV Football Compiles 6-2 Record

The Huntington High School junior varsity football team came together nicely, compiling a 6-2 mark this past fall as players settled into their roles and won their final five games.

The Blue Devils were led by sophomores Frankie Algieri (LB/RB), Henry Gerberg (QB/DB), Chase Northrop (LB/TE), Jack Kamenstein (WR/LB), Banny Soc Concua (OL/LB), Vinny Pupillo (CB/WR), Nick Normoyle (LB/TE), Will Peters (OL/DE), Christian Luca (K/S/P) and Walt Kusterbeck (CB/WR).

The JV squad was coached by Jim Byrnes and James Byrnes Jr. and captained by Algieri, Gerberg, Northrop, Kamenstein, Concua and Erick Anariba.

“We started the season off 1-2 and then went on to win the remaining five games in a row, outscoring our opponents 201-26,” head coach Jim Byrnes said.

The five game winning streak began with back-to-back shut out wins against Smithtown East (38-0) and Northport (41-0). The roll continued against Deer Park, where Huntington scored 46 points, including 38 in the first quarter, and held the Falcons to just 6.

Following Deer Park, the Blue Devils scored a season high 48 points against Half Hollow Hills East and forced five turnovers in a 48-14 victory.

The final game of the season came against Copiague with Huntington closing out the fall season with a 28-6 win. “To put in perspective how great of a roll the season ended on, we averaged 40 points per game while giving up an average of five points,” Byrnes said. “The future of Huntington football looks bright as the team truly relied on each and every player to contribute to its weekly success.”

The top players included:

• Henry Gerberg: “Henry was a dual threat quarterback who was put in a tough position and asked to play quarterback for a team that did not have one,” Byrnes said. “He ended up leading the team in both rushing yards and passing yards and grew into the offensive identity as the team went on.”

• Frankie Algieri: “He’s a dominant linebacker and tailback whose football IQ was like having a coach on the field,” Byrnes said. “Frankie accounted for touchdowns both passing and rushing throughout the year as well as being key to us causing the other teams to turn over the ball, including leading the team in fumbles caused.”

• Chase Northrop: “He was known as ‘The Edge’ because whatever side of the ball he was on was the team that had it that game,” Byrnes said. “Chase was the key to the offense’s game plan all year. He opened up holes everywhere.”

• Jack Kamenstein: He led the team in receiving yardage and touchdowns from his wide receiver position. “Jack was uncoverable and the go-to guy when the team needed a spark on offense in the air,” Byrnes said.

• Banny Soc Concua: “Banny is a hard working leader on the offensive line who in only his second year in the sport was able to tie for the team lead in tackles and interceptions,” Byrnes said. “It was a testament to his work ethic and football IQ.”

• Vinny Pupillo” Vinny is a shutdown cornerback who embodied everything you would want in a teammate,” Byrnes said. “He’s a leader on the field and off who did whatever was necessary for the team to win week in and week out without complaints.”

• Nick Normoyle: “He joined the team late, but immediately contributed on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball; a credit to his athleticism and intelligence,” Byrnes said. “He was a key contributor on offense and the team’s go-to fourth down guy.”

• Will Peters: “Will was a leader of the defensive line and a key part of the offensive line at tackle,” Byrnes said. “He was the hardest working kid on the field every single day. A leader by example day in and day out. He will continue to be a big contributor on the program moving forward.”

• Christian Luca: “He joined the team late, but immediately filled a void as the leader of the special teams,” Byrnes said.

• Walt Kusterbeck: “Walter was the team’s best cover cornerback and had a knack for taking the opposing team’s best wide receiver completely out of games,” Byrnes said.

“Selflessness was this team’s identity,” Byrnes said. “It was composed of kids who really bought into the idea of team above self and did whatever necessary to put the team in the best positon to win that week, even if it meant sacrificing individual success in some areas for overall team success. They understood the need for hard work and discipline and that in order to be successful over the long haul there was a price that needed to be paid on a daily basis. There were no ‘me guys’ on this team. It truly was a great example of how people can come together and collectively buy into a vision and idea and continue to work toward it every single day. It’s a credit to the players on the team and their ability to come together and understand teamwork.”

The Huntington JV outscored its opponents, 229-106. The team prided itself on its versatility and depth of talent with multiple players contributing touchdowns offensively. “In addition to the offensive side of the ball, many of these same players were responsible for causing and recovering multiple turnovers throughout the year,” Byrnes said.

Gerberg led the team with 14 touchdown passes and seven rushing touchdowns. Kamenstein caught a team best 24 passes and had the most yards receiving. Algieri and Concua had the most tackles. Kamenstein and Concua led in interceptions.

Looking ahead to 2024, the Blue Devils hope to continue to build on the success they achieved over the final five games last fall. Ninth grade captain Eric Anariba and starters Shates Miller, Blake Bender, Zach Matthews, Ricardo Berry and Zaivion McCoy will lead a group of freshmen returnees “that will have to continue to grow and develop as they did throughout the season and step in to replace the guys being lost to varsity,” Byrnes said. “Finley will, as always, play a key role in our ability to find success next year, as the program really starts there.”