Seniors Stock Mustang Roster for 2011 Season

With 14 starters returning from a team that qualified for the Nassau Conference IV post-season last year, the Mineola Mustangs have high hopes for another playoff berth and perhaps more in 2011.

Two concerns, however, are a tougher schedule – including contests with  four-time defending Nassau champ Seaford and runner-up Roosevelt – and the fact that All-Conference running back Steve Napolitano will be out for likely the first half of the season as he recovers from a broken ankle sustained in June.

Still, football is a team game, and Mineola packs a lot of talent on its 28-player roster. “We still have a good team, with a lot of kids back,” head coach Dan Guido said.

Last season: 5-4 overall, 5-3 regular season.

Coach: Dan Guido (25th season as head coach).

Position breakdown: The Mustangs could move the ball and score points in bunches last season, and that should be true again this season, even without Napolitano. Rob Clarkin returns as the starting quarterback. Clarkin can run the option well, take it himself, or pitch it to capable backs including Brian Gaffney, Brian Weber and Joe Massaro. They will be running behind an offensive line that features 6-4, 265-pound tackle Bruno Ferreira.

Balance is the key to offense, and in Nico Pantelides, Mineola has a playmaking receiver who can put his size (6’ 3”), speed and sure-handedness to good use. Pantelides, like many other offensive starters, also plays defense and special teams. Senior Tom Breslin is another of the versatile quality seniors that Guido is counting on.

Expectations: For this experienced, senior-laden team, the expectations are a playoff appearance and hopefully a post-season victory. Mineola, the No. 7 seed in Conference IV (they were 14th last season), opens with a tough road game at No. 3 seed Locust Valley on Saturday (1:30 p.m.).

Mineola will win by forfeit in week two as Friends Academy was unable to field a team this season. Coach Guido said he is trying to find a non-league opponent to fill the void for week two.

The hope is that Napolitano returns by midseason when the Mustangs face a tough stretch against Roosevelt, Cold Spring Harbor and defending champion Seaford in consecutive weeks. “It’s got to be a good year,” Guido said. “We have a lot of seniors.”

Mineola Schedule

September 10

at Locust Valley

1:30 pm

September 17

at Friends Academy (win by forfeit)

September 24

vs Oyster Bay (Homecoming)

1:30 pm

October 1

vs Roosevelt

3:00 pm

October 6

at Cold Spring Harbor

2:00 pm

October 14

vs Seaford

7:00 pm

October 22

at West Hempstead

1:30 pm

October 29

vs Malverne

TBD