Practice report: Nyack
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- November
- 3
This is stop No. 1 on my journey through all 10 teams playing for Section 1 championships this weekend at Mahopac
At halftime on Saturday night at Somers, a few people asked me if I thought the Tuskers were going to mount a comeback down 24-7. I told them that if Somers didn’t come back and win the game, it was going to come darn close.
Then I watched the Nyack players walk out of the locker room. Suddenly, my confidence plummeted.
The Indians walked out of the locker room with a menacing aura, like a pack of mean dogs. The red Somers jersey might as well have been raw meat.
Nyack outplayed the Tuskers for another 24 minutes, using a bone-jarring style of play to lock up a rematch of Oct. 4 with Ossining in the Class A championship.
At Nyack today, I had a similar feeling in my gut. When I walked in, they all sat there in silence in total darkness, getting dressed as they watched the game film of Ossining’s dramatic overtime win over Yorktown.
Given the fact I hadn’t seen the Ossining-Yorktown epic, I pulled up a seat next to Nyack coach John Castellano. He’d already watched the tape a few times but, like me, was in awe of how things unfolded.
Castellano didn’t say it, but I will admit after watching Nyack on Saturday and this tape today, I like Nyack’s chances of pulling the upset even more. I’m not sure I’m going to pick in the Indians’ favor. But it’s going to be as tough a game to call this weekend.
There still seemed to be a sense of surprise around Nyack yesterday; not that they beat Somers on Saturday, but that they won by a 30-7 margin. Frankly, I’m still stunned it went down the way it did.
At practice, I got a glimpse of a few things Nyack was working on before I darted out (cannot mention; privileged information).
But I didn’t spend a few minutes with quarterback Raymond Nichols, who played excellent on Saturday and was the difference in the game, depending on who you asked. He threw a huge touchdown on a pretty pass late in the second quarter and rushed for another score. And without Nichols, they don’t score either of their other two TDs. He had big runs all night.
Here’s the audio of my interview with Nichols:
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on Monday, November 3rd, 2008 at 3:46 pm by Kevin Devaney Jr..
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Josh Thomson has done some of everything since joining The Journal News in March 2003. He began working for the Gannett weeklies during the winter of 2002 as a freelance writer. He joined the daily staff soon after and has since covered various high school and pro sports. Away from sportswriting, Josh lives in Westchester and spends his free time either with his wife, Sarah, or expertly managing his various championship-winning fantasy sports teams. He's visited 21 major-league baseball stadiums and insists that Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are the best by far. Josh graduated from Carmel High School in 1998, then went to Boston University, where, in 2002, he received a degree in communications with a minor in history.
I’ll tell you this this group of Nyack guys aren’t afraid or worried about anyone. If they lose they will look at it as if they got upset. Castellano is not looking to get the “O” monkey (Ricci) off his back, he is really expecting to win. He expected to win back in week 5. After that loss to Ossining, Nyack went on to have their worst practice week of they year, they were stunned and everyone was still feeling it up until game time against Spring Valley. Players said Castellano was very upset with them, even though I believe he contributed the biggest factor to the lost. Watch the tape anyone who has it, Castellano puts the second string qb in the run an option on a fourth down where they were about to go up 14-0 or 14-7 i think. Nyack could have easily been undefeated. I’m not going to lie though, Ossining was clearly the better team at that point and time. I feel like Nyack came close to beating them, but Ossining was still the better team. Ossining won 20-7, solidly they stopped nyack when they had too. Nyack almost won but there is no doubt about who was the better team in week 5, clearly it was Ossining. And that loss was coming off of Nyack’s best practice week according to the players. When you lose after your best practice week you obviously weren’t good enough. Nyack is about 1.5 to 2 times better then they were in week 5…
What Nyack uses to their advantage is the way they come out, they really punch you in the mouth for that first quarter of play. Ask Ossining Sleepy, or Somers. Nyack is one of the best first quarter teams around, they jump on you early. Their defense is best in the first quarter, then they wear down a bit as shown in ossining, and somers
all year long the third quarter has been Nyack’s weakness. They tend to come out the half a but lethargic. For them to be the best 1st quarter team, they have got to be the worst 3rd quarter team I’ve seen. They let up against Ossining, Beacon, and Harrison all in the third quarter. Great teams play their best in the 3rd and 4th quarters. I feel like Nyack does play great in the first, alright in the second, weak in the third, and just enough to win in the 4th. Look at all those blowouts, the games were over by the first quarter. When Nyack plays decent teams they get weared down a bit as the game goes on. This is a fact, and Castellano better have one hell of a speech for the indians at Halftime for these indians
Good points made guys
10960,
Do you live on this blog?
hahah why do you have to be negative, it is section 1 championship week, i know when i get back to my dorm room this will be the first site i check before Facebook or ESPN. 10960 brings a lot of sense to this blog. You guys think all he knows is nyack but his Class AA post are always money and along the lines of a Kevin Devaney.
Hahah I’ll take it as you are a fan from A League South AKA a fan from someone who is not playing Friday or Saturday, now thats funny hahah lol. If your a player hit the weight room and look forward to next season, if your a fan don’t worry basketball season is coming up soon, better luck with that
Fantasy FB… well put! Nyack will be ready! accroding to Joe public, they go into to this weekend once again as an underdog. Nyack feeds off that!
Go Nyack!!
Kevin admit it, you hate Nyack. You had to make that your first trip, had to get that one over with. You don’t like Nyack after Coach Cas got very upset with you when you wrote that bias @$$ letter about Terell transferring to Nyack from North Rockland. After Coach Cas had some words for you, you’ve never liked them since. Admit it! and don’t try to delete my post, freedom of speech its one of my amendments… Others stay away from trying to blast me on this one, none of you know what I am talking about but Kevin does!
This man hates nyack. Out of all the Class D and C schools to scout on a monday he goes to Nyack, to get it over with. A nyack who is playing in one of the primetime games this weekend, probably the biggst game this week.
Kevin i know that reprimanding Cas gave you 2 years a go hurt, but just get over it.
You tried to through Casseralla under the bus earlier this year.That was not even your interview, you seen those statements made by that Carmel coach and you had to say something right. You hate Rockland period!
The only reason you would delete my post is because you know it’s true… sorry to use strong words like “hate” though, too lazy to go back and change them to dislike. If Nyack was to beat Ossining it would be real Devaney like to pick them to lose to Cornwall
Nyack gets all the credit in the world, but i’m not going to lie there is something about those Rockland teams I just dislike. I truly do feel like Westchester has better teams, programs, and produces better players.
I’m the type of guy who would say Harrison has a better program than Nyack, and New Rochelle has a better program the North Rockland. I’m sure Devaney would agree! I don’t have facts though, that’s just me being bias, Devaney has the facts to prove that one!
Ya know…... alot of people spend time watching TV. Perhaps the games…. back to back shows….. some spend hours creating a myspace or facebook…... some are glued to CNN watching the election wind down…...
10960 likes to blog for a pass time….. I’m off work and have no classes sooooo here I am!!!!
Fantasy FB,
Kudos to your your watching My back….. but even bigger credit for being real…. You have a westchester Bias and you admit it…. It’s easier to get more acurate info from someone who’s open and honest.
WOW
Great Job Indians
P.S. Keep it going!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not many guys picking Croton this weekend, I think this is a mistake. They have discipline, play like a team and really seem to like each other. I thought when Dobbs had them 14-0 they would fold, they didn’t and I don’t expect them to fold this week either. This isn’t even the same team that played Westlake earlier this season. Very balanced it issn’t just Luntz, Marinara, and Trailli. Its his little brother anf Keppler(who has jets)plus whats turning into a solid O line and defense. They don’t seem to quit. Put your money on the tigers.
“a few people asked me if I thought the Tuskers were going to mount a comeback down 24-7. I told them that if Somers didn’t come back and win the game, it was going to come darn close.
Then I watched the Nyack players walk out of the locker room. Suddenly, my confidence plummeted.”
Kevin your confidence plummits everytime Nyack does something right. Your confidence plummeted when Nyack played stout defense the first half against Ossining
Why can’t you ever have confidence in Nyack. You didn’t earlier in the season with your suspect rankings, and you sure don’t now.
Your going to go to Ossining, watch practice, and probally take Ricci out to dinner after and come back with some post like “Wow, Ossining this, Kreamer that”
(no disrespect to coach Ricci about the dinner thing, no disrespect to the “O”. You guys have Nyack’s respect if you didn’t you wouldn’t be 3-0 against us since moving backdown to A. You or Nyack would represent the section right in the state playoffs)
this guy Ray sounds like a pretty smart guy.
Alonzo Powell’s classics, and Anthony Davis comments lately have been suspect… the 3-3, 5-2 comment about harrison murdered me
Fantasy FB,
You should get over Anthony’s statement. Almost every other team in Class A played 7 games during the regular season. Harrison may have been the only one that did not.
He is a great kid.
Your post about not liking Rockland programs says it all.
I agree with the westchester over rockland teams. Though, New rochelle does have a better program than No Rock. I would say harrison has a better program than nyack. besides this year, Harrison had been on top for a long time.
Was I out of line? Because if I was I am sorry!
Anthony and Ray are good players. Alonzo was a great one and one for the ages.
Good luck Nyack and same to you Ossining. My team is gone so i can just blog for the fun of it
I so don’t believe that Kevin has a bias. I’m not even sure he wants to pick Ossining this weekend. Nyack is trying hard to remain the underdog but it just isn’t so. Two good teams are coming to play. No underdog here.
I really don’t get why people have to take all of this so personally!! Why can’t you look at the logistics of all of it and understand that Kevin is a sports reporter who actually does a great job at what he is supposed to do!!!! He should not be treated like everyone else who has a screen name. This is a westchester paper for the most part and does his job making most of the westchester and putnam fan base happy. How could he not focus more on the “O”. I bet you if you were to ask him what he thought of Nyack this year off the record he would give you the answer you want to hear. “Ther’re a great teams that has a chance to beat ossining”. We should not put Kevin’s name in any blog here in that he does not speak from the same veiwpoiont everyonone else does. THIS IS HIS JOB AND HE DOES A DAM GOOD JOB BEING AS OBJECTIVE AND IMPARTIAL AS ONE CAN BE REPORTING ON A GAME HE OBVIOUSLY HAS A PASSION FOR AND A GOOD IDEA OF WHATS GOING ON. Lets leave Kevin’s view out of what we talk about until he stops getting paid for it.
I love what Kevin does for Section 1 football. I never got upset about him and anything to do with ossining. I really think that Kevin is bias when it comes to westchester. Everyone is bias and so is kevin. Kevin has “favorites” and they way he blogged about ossining this year, ossining was one of them. That is kevin’s favorite team in the section by far
Cant blame the guy for being human. Everyone has favorites. I just don’t like when he denies it.
Rockland by the way is half the size of westchester and probably only a third of the population. Rockland is pure suburban territory and Westchester is becoming city like in alot of areas. I’d say there’s more talent opportunities and more schools, so ofcourse the chances of having a better program somewhere is possible.
Harrison on a head to head comparison to Nyack is pretty even… Both have five section championships and 2 state championships. Nyack did all of it in class A while Harrison did most of theirs in class B. There’s a competitive difference there.
Although this is a section 1 blog, it’s clearly more of a westchester blog. Imagine Rockland was section 9 where technically its supposed to be…. Nyack would be even more succesful!!!!
If it is his favorite team, who cares? If Nyack was his favorite, would you be happy? Mike Lupica hates the Yankees and steroids, yet he wrote a book about two of the biggest juice heads ever.The Daily news has hated the Knicks for the past 5+ years. Mike Francesa loves the Yanks and Russo hated them. I have seen ZERO fact to back up that statement, but if Devaney loves the O, God bless him.
The farther Dobbs gets from Coach Violaante, the more they will resemble the Westlakes and Crotons of the world.Which is very good every now and again, but rarely Chip worthy.This and last years team had more talent than the first chip team.Sad to see
I like the way QB Nichols says how its fun to open up the paper and laugh at it afterwards!!!
10960, being that you have become the voie of the Indians. How about the nice lists that the Indian players have been makin.How about the Homecoming exploits? How about the fact that the senior class is the most hated senior class in many, many years at the Yack( by the teachers)?There are more episodes that I know have happened for a FACT in Indian country,however, out of respect for coach and the “good kids” I wont bring it up.
Kevin,
You do a great job with this site and with promoting high school sports, However, you get caught up in the moment ie the Fox Lane qb having a great game vs. Eastchester and then warning of more vs. Ossining (did the kid complete a pass?), now your in Nyacks locker room at halftime and watching Ossinings game with coach Cas. and Ossining better watch out. Ossining has only gotten better on offense since the last Nyack game. They had an awful game on defense vs. a team they thought they would easily defeat. SHAME ON THEM. Fennessy had an average of 90 yds a game he ends up with 385 rushing yds for the game. Honestly the way things were going in the third quarter it didn’t matter where Yorktown started their possession… Fennessy was taking it to the endzone.The point is that’s probably not going to happen again. Remember last year Ossining lost to Fox Lane 40 – 6. That was Ossining’s bad game. This year it was in the playoffs and almost cost them.
From the begining chief wild eagle and I new that Nyack was the team to beat and they still are. I don’t see Ossining having two bad games on defense and turning the ball over on offense as they did the other night.
RIVERINDIAN HAD A VISION AND SAW A 1 POINT VICTORY.
Does Ricci get the two or not?
riley girl, please STOP talking
Ricci might get it, but damn it’s going to be tough! I think Ricci gets it. Having bad games in the playoffs don’t help though.
Nyack 04’ – quarterfinals Nyack 42 Becon 0; Semifinals Nyack 14 Brewster 7; Final Nyack 20 Harrison 19; State quarter Nyack 20 Wallkill 21… They hit the damn wall
Ossining may not be as talented as that team but they’ve got the hype of that team and they MAY hit the wall in the final
Ossining 07 – quarterfianls Ossining 52 Foxlane 12or13; Semifinals Ossining 45 Yorktown 44; Final Ossining ??? Nyack ???
Like i said before this Ossining team is no where near as talented as that Nyack team, but the situation has got to be somewhat the same… I don’t know if Ossining is tired or not but for a guy to run for 385 yards on you, you have to be exhausted…
HAS OSSINING RAN OUT OF GAS? WILL NYACK BE ABLE TO OVERCOME THESE INJURIES?
My advice to both teams is drink 5 hour energy.
I think Ricci edges Cas in this one! Ossining will capitalize on Nyack’s turnovers. Nyack will be on the wrong end of the “bad calls”. I’m not saying the refs will be for Ricci don’t take that out of context. Sometimes Refs make bad calls and I think nyack will be on the wrong side of those bad calls… Ricci rides the bus and Brundage gets 35-40 carries for 80-95 yards. Nichols wasn’t ready for a game of this magnitude, Leonard, Fede, and Davis play their hearts out and come up short
John & the boys from Nyack,good luck on Saturday…..
Riley Girl,
If your gonna talk about the kids that way… Your not even worth a conversation.
10960,
while most of the time i respect your opinions on this blog, calling devaney out on his favorites really is warranted. You always complained of the obnoxious harrison bloggers, but you’re becoming obnoxious yourself. I ask you just to tone it down a little before you turn everyone against nyack like the harrison guys did to harrison.
10801, 10960 didn’t say anything about favorites. I brought it up buddy, and i think I’m right buddy
Well than i have to say i think your way off than. Kevins has done a great job bringing exposure to almost every team in this area. Everyone gets upset when they dont share there opinion with the most public source of highschool football. People are passionate about their teams, and when you disagree with kevin obviously it will upset you. I dont see the big deal in going to nyack first. If anything i would take that as being most eager to see them practice. This article seemed nothing but praiseworthy.
Not even worth a conversation? 10960, its great to see that you are a 22 year old kid still holding on to your high school days. However, it is a fact that many of the Nyack football players have been involved in countless situations this year that have never ever been tolerated in the past. I didnt mention any names, or specifics but the incidents occurred.
RileyGirl:
Why do you bring this up? And why do you call out 10960 about it?
Seems kind of petty and I am not 22 years old.
I remember you calling out people to a fight on the Syracuse forum a few years ago and you put 10960 down.
Sorry I don’t get it. Most of your posts here and on Syracuse.com are insightful, but once in a while…
These are good kids on the Nyack team. If a couple have made mistakes I still think they are great kids and will continue to support them.
Sorry but I don’t think your post is appropriate.
Rileygirl. You are a great poster ..but you are losing me here..what is your point? I know you had mentioned you are a principal in the city, so are you trying to say Cas is more powerful than most and the trouble gets swept under the rug?
Regardless this isn’t the time or place, these kids are going for a championship Saturday. That should be the focus
Well I see that 22 is too old to watch High school football. I guess the only “old” people that should be involved is coaches LOL. They should Ask for ID at these games, only 21 and younger allowed!!
I dont see how we’re all talking about sections while somebody tries to find a way to try to sneak in something off topic. What a hater.
I’m done with this. Lets just move on.
Actually I would have to disagree about the under 21 rule.
I would have been shut out over 30 years ago…
I agree, let’s move on.
Go Nyack…
Listen to the Matt Dubray interview! He says it like it is. Ossining has nothing but respect for Nyack and love for the game of football. And, like every other town, Ossining fans are proud of their football team and its coaches on and off the field.
Having seen both Ossining and Nyack up close I have to give the edge to Nyack. Speed wise the teams are even. What I like about Nyack is thier strength and size. I think they have an edge there. It’s very simple. If Nyack gets the running game going and can go on 5 and 6 minute drives then Ossining will have problems. Nyack has a very good inside out game. Ossining will have a tough time running the middle with that little pain in the neck nose tackle Nyack has on the center. He slants to the strongside 90 percent of the time and is hard to stop. Ossining has a good passing game,,, but,, I think Nyack will be smart enough to stay with thier man.. Also, Nyack needs to find a way to put some pressure on the QB.. Make him have to think a bit.
The refs will play a big role in this game. If its a Rockland crew then Ossining is in big trouble. Make no mistake about that. For some reason they screw the playoff games up more then the regular season games. If I were the Ossining coach I would call boces and have a chat with the head of the officials.
I think it will be a good game.
Nyack 20 Ossining 13
Kevin is a reporter. Although since its high school we do no expect the teams, kids, coaches to be scrutinized like they are profesionals. However, coaches (and AD’s) are fairly well paid (if they are also teachers) custodians of important community programs (taxpayer funded). So it is not uncalled for if their decisions or motives are questioned by either reporters or public bloggers. Of course respectful critiques are always preferable.
I say this because while I beleive that Cas and Casserrella are 2 of the best in the section, they should never be immune from someone asking a contra question. And also there are plenty of average and even poor coaches across the high school sport spectrum that fly under the radar because there programs are perennial losers.
Look at your own schools sports programs and surely you will see some programs that are underperforming, sometimes for years. The coaches never get scrutinized, the AD’s ignore them, and the poor results continue year-after-year.
My point was not to call Coach Cas out. He has been nothing but a true gentlemen to myself and my family and his record on the field speaks for itself. I guess like Joe Pa in Penn, I was shocked to hear of what many of the Yack football players have been up to off the field.10960, your love of the game is tremendous and its obvious that youre close with the program. You are correct that I should have not brought it up. When you have children ( namely girls) you will understand why I made this mistake.
Back to football, Is Drinks, Brundage, Davis,Leonard going anywhere next year?
What is more prevalent today is the sharing of information. With social sites especially, like Facebook, etc., when kids post tales (and sometimes pictures) of their exploits likes, dislikes and opinions…these comments become part of a public forum, for all to see. The word, most often the wrong type, gets around.
Maybe 5 years ago this type of media did not even exist. And, kids have not changed THAT MUCH in 5 years. Sure some stuff happens, the usual teen year things. Hopefully like most of us they outgrow it and settle into a mostly conventional adulthood. Coaches and teammates help in this regard. For what we most know, is that for a very short period of our lives, 4 years in high school, our coaches and teammates become positive life long associations.
Rileygirl,
You did not make a mistake. If the kids are being jerks and it’s being swept under the rug then shame on the coach and the school. I have no idea what any of this is about, but it sounds like you know what your talking about. Football is a game. Everybody on this blog needs to remember that. Life is reality. If the kids are being jerks and its being brushed aside for the sake of a stupid game then we are all losers. What lesson is that teaching the kids.
Lion.. this blog is about Football. Save your self-help inspirational rants to your patients. I almost fell asleep reading your posts.
Under the Stands. I see your point, but there is a time and a place for everything. So right now is not the time to bring up accusations. Cas has run a solid program for 20 years. Some kids may have acted out, but overall his program is legit and his players stay out of trouble.. So there is no need to start crap 4 days before their big game. I am sure Rileygirl has validity to his claim, but he even admitied it is not the right time to thrwo Nyack under the bus.
Regardless, football is secondary to the responsibility we have to our children.
Donald, I think Nyack will put pressure on the QB, Mr Fede adn company did that quite well in game 1. Problem is Nyack will not be able to stay with their man, cause no one is fast enough to handle Drinks, not to mentions Lacetti and Lucky etc.
The referees will be a mixed crew of Westchester and Rockland guy.
RileyGirl: DO NOT BACK DOWN. There is obviously something to what you have posted, cause the Nyack blog tribe is on you like a raiding party.
If the kids are wrong say so. If they need to be punished do it. Bad attitudes and bad grades should not be swept under the rug just because of football. Look where it got Maldonado.
Whatever it is it cannot be worse than what went on up in Somers some years back when the great Skippy was playing convicted felons on the field.
I’d love for Leonard to play at the next football. But college cost money. Some parts of Nyack are just as ashy as Mount Vernon (just without the homicides)... People don’t have money like that to afford college.
i kind of thought this was a football blog, not a blog about accusing kids 4 days before the biggest game of their life
what exactly did Drinks do in week 5? He wasn’t faster then nyack. If they stayed with him before they’ll stay with him again.
in week 5 against nyack drinks didnt have one catch and nyack contained brundage very well, they only had trouble with their qb
BROTHER INDIANS,
Ricci played it too close to the vest in the first meeting. He did it last year in Somers. Whatever the game dictates he goes with. Call it luck, instincts, whatever the guy has the ability to do the right thing during the course of the game.
Also #52 for Nyack gave Ossining fits in the first meeting. Ossining must contain him.
3-1 or 4-0 vs. Cas. we’ll know by 8pm Saturday.
I cant believe how low one can go….. You guys really wanna dirty the Nyack name dont cha.
what a shame. You guys are makin these kids look bad, I take that personal, I have relatives on that team.
10960..its just the bloggers with “stands” in their name. Reilly girl was mature about the situation and backed off.
The “stands” crew has decided that RG’s comments equate to fact and should be investigated. They sound like pathetic followers trying to throw teenagers under the bus.
Out of curiosity, based on your reactions, what are you teaching kids? How to jump the gun? How to take the side of the accuser and not the accused? How to divulge into situations that have nothing to do with you? How to badmouth a 20 yr coach and his program?
This thread got away from football and it shouldn’t have. Being a father, coach and fan, I find it appalling that people would immediately jump on the negative side and ask for more dirt.
Im not a principle, just a Dean. I didnt get if that post was directed to me, however, if you have kids than you would think that some of the actions by the players have been uncalled for. Like I said, I was not trying to damage Coach Cas or the program. I wanted to point out that blind loyalty to a uniform is silly, especially with what has happened recently. I have all my ducks in a row regarding this situation that I already stated “should not have brought up”.
LETS GO NYACK
drinks is the least of nyacks concerns.
#20 and Kramer are the keys to the success fo Ossining.
Nyack is to disciplined to let drinks behind them.
I think nyack is excited about the play of ossining’s D, not great of late.
Defense wins championships and Nyack has the edge in that
department.
Along with the most consistent running attack in class A.
Lots of mudslinging going on here. Unfortunately, Rileygirl is correct with the Nyack situation. I have a relative on the team and some stupid things have happened this year that have quietly been swept away. Besides that, my heart wants Nyack to win, but my mind thinks Ossining pulls out a victory. Also, what is going to hold back some of these Nyack kids from playing football in college is not the financial end, it will be the grades. I can see a few of them in prep school next year, then to college. If you do not have a descent GPA, these colleges do not even want to see you. The first question that a recruiter asks the coach is if they have any players for him and what is his GPA and SAT scores. Not his accomplishments during the season.
You are 100% correct with the grades. The kids need to learn this.