Huntington’s Key Returnees Ready to Make Impact

The Blue Devil football team is in its first week of practice, but hopes are already running high. Huntington is seeded fourth in Suffolk Division II. Coaches and players are striving to assemble a winning regular season that leads to the playoffs.

Ronald E. Wilson is returning for his fifth season as head coach after serving in an assistant coach capacity for 26 years. Wilson’s staff on every level of the program is highly regarded by opposing coaches. The Huntington staff includes:

Varsity Coaches: Ron Wilson, Antoine Swain, Dareus Smith, Chris Taylor, Michael Zaharios, Fred Fusaro (volunteer coach), Michael Campione (volunteer coach)

JV Coaches: Cole Rudnick, Dennis Scruggs, Clay Jamison (volunteer coach)

Finley Middle School: Joe Crocco, Pat Reilly, Ivano Naccarato

Strength & Conditioning: Malcolm Eugene (volunteer coach)

The top six returning varsity players include:

• Blake Bender - Senior | TE/LB | 5'11, 190 lbs. Coach Wilson on Blake Bender: “A physically gifted athlete with outstanding strength and size. He approaches every practice and game with a relentless work ethic, striving for perfection on every rep. After playing behind Ethan Lawless last season and contributing as an additional linebacker in key situations, he is poised to take on a much larger role this fall.”

• Shates Miller - Senior | WR/DB | 5'9, 160 lbs. Coach Wilson on Shates Miller: “A crafty and explosive playmaker, Shates gives our offense a reliable target whether lined up in the slot or out wide. His quickness and route-running ability create matchup problems for opposing defenses. Defensively, his versatility allows him to excel at multiple positions in the secondary, making him one of our most valuable two-way contributors.”

• Zayvion McCoy - Senior | RB/LB | 5'8, 175 lbs. Coach Wilson on Zayvion McCoy: “Zayvion combines strength, power, and burst to impact the game on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he's a home-run threat every time he touches the football and has the athleticism to win contested 50-50 balls that are thrown. Defensively, he played outside linebacker last season making some great tackles.”

• Zachary Matthews - Senior | OL/DL | 6'2, 230 lbs. Coach Wilson on Zachary Matthews: “The most competitive player on our roster, Zachary brings a physical, relentless mentality to every snap. His toughness and determination set the tone in the trenches, where he will be a cornerstone of both our offensive and defensive lines.”

• Logan Mazure - Junior | OL/DL | 6'0, 220 lbs. Coach Wilson on Logan Mazure: “Logan possesses excellent strength and solid footwork, making him a dependable presence on both the offensive and defensive lines. After being called up from the junior varsity team following an injury to our starting center, he made an immediate impact. His physical play was instrumental in our rushing attack, helping pave the way for multiple 250-yard rushing performances by our quarterbacks.”

• Spencer Sturges - Junior | WR/DB | 6'0, 160 lbs. Coach Wilson on Spencer Sturges: “Spencer is a complete athlete whose work ethic and football IQ separates him from the rest. His leadership, athletic ability, and understanding of the game makes him a valuable contributor on both offense and defense. He has the versatility and playmaking ability to make an impact in every phase of the game.”

Junior Chuck Rosselli (6’1, 200 lbs.) is also looking to make a splash as the varsity team’s quarterback.

Huntington will play eight regular season games evenly split between home and away.