Hauppauge 2011 Football Preview

The young lineup of the Hauppauge Eagles 2011 varsity football team has a tough road ahead stepping up to Suffolk County's Division II, but are meeting the challenges ahead with hardwork and enthusiasm.

Hauppauge graduated 16 out of 37 members in the spring after going 4-4 last year in Division III, despite starting out ranked No. 10. Due to these results, under head coach Joseph Patrovich, the program has actually grown to a robust 48-man squad. 

"I think we have a hard working guys and we are going to surprise some people," Patrovich said. "We've had a pretty good off season with players doing the right thing in the weight room."

The major question lingering is who is going to step it up on the field, as there's a lot of new faces on Eagles lineup.

Record Last Year: 4-4

Division II Pre-Season Ranking: No. 11 out of 14

Head Coach: Joseph Patrovich, fourth year (17-10)

Venue: Hauppauge Eagles Football Stadium

Top Players:

• Cory Wood, quarterback
• Dominic Confredo, running back
• Mike Rutigliano, offensive guard
• Josh Kun, Offensive Team/Defensive team
• Ben Quinn, wide receiver
• Phil Guidone, centerback

Coach's Perspective

If stepping up a division without any returning starters wasn't enough of a challenge, Hauppauge is facing off against its strongest competition at the start of the season. Their schedule starts with a road game against rivals Smithtown East, followed in two weeks by No. 3 ranked West Babylon.

"I'd feel much more confident is the schedule was flipped," Patrovich said.

Junior quarterback Cory Wood is expected to lead the team as one of the returning varsity  players. Wood didn't see much playing time last season, the coach admitted, but managed to score  a touchdown against Shoreham-Wading River.

"We'll go as far as he plays well," the coach said.

The Eagles offensive line is forming up to be one of the strongest part of the them, Patrovich said, continuing to make forward progress in practices.

The coach also has high expectations from returning junior Dominic Confredo, as a strong all-round athlete who contributed in a lot of players last year.

Key Loses:

• All-County quarterback Mike Ortolani 

2011 Season Schedule

• Week 1: Sept. 10 at Smithtown East, 2 p.m. (road opener)
• Week 2: Sept. 16 vs. Riverhead, 6 p.m. (home opener)
• Week 3: Sept. 23 at West Babylon, 7 p.m.
• Week 4: Oct. 1 at Centereach, 2 p.m.
• Week 5: Oct. 6 vs. Copiague, 7 p.m. 
• Week 6: Oct. 15 at Half Hollow Hills West, 2 p.m.
• Week 7: Oct. 22 vs. Walt Whitman, 5 p.m. (homecoming)
• Week 8: Oct. 28 vs. Half Hollow Hills East, 6 p.m.

Related Coverage from Hauppauge Patch

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