Mineola Mustangs
Record last year: 3-5 Nassau Conference IV
Head coach: Dan Guido (24th year)
Find out what's happening in Mineolawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Players to Watch:
QB - Steven O'Connor, Sr.
Find out what's happening in Mineolawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
RB – Craig Webber, Jr.
LB – Nico Pantelides, Jr.
RB/QB – Stephen Napolitano, Jr.
QB – Robbie Clarkin, Jr.
Expectations:
A young squad that figures to improve as the season progresses. Several players from last year's 4-4 junior varsity squad have moved up. Coach Dan Guido said between 60 and 70 percent of his 26-member squad will start on both offense and defense.
Senior Steven O'Connor will be one of three quarterbacks used in Mineola's no-huddle, shotgun spread offense. The others are Stephen Napolitano and Robbie Clarkin. Mineola runs a 4-3 defense led by junior Nico Pantelides, a 6-3. 175-pounder, who looked impressive in a scrimmage against Carle Place on Sept. 3, with two quarterback sacks in the first half. Pantelides will also be a factor on offense.
Coach Guido says: "We're a young group, with a lot of juniors. If we can go .500, we can make the playoffs."
Notes: Eight teams make the playoffs out of the 14 in Conference IV. This year's schedule does not include defending Long Island champion Seaford, and rival Carle Place has moved to Conference III because of enrollment increases. Still, every game will be a battle for the Mustangs who are in the midst of a rebuilding year. Guido pointed to Clarke and North Shore as top teams in the conference. Mineola opens the season September 11 with a home game against Valley Stream North. Game time is 1:30 p.m. at Hampton Stadium.
The schedule:
9/11 –
9/16 –
9/24 –
10/2 – .
10/9 –
10/16 –
10/23 –
10/30 –
