Kicker Powers Pearl River

Maybe the name is not known to everybody just yet, but the powerful right leg of Pearl River senior Connor O’Sullivan is quickly gaining wide recognition in scholastic football circles.

“I don’t know his name, but I know Pearl River has a great kicker,” said Spring Valley athletic director Bill Tilla, whose Tigers visit the Pirates  4:30 p.m. today.

Spring Valley and Pearl River are going in opposite directions, with the Tigers still looking for their first victory after four games, and the Pirates still undefeated after four games — including last week’s thrilling victory over perennially-powerful Nyack.

O'Sullivan, a former soccer and rugby player from Limerick, Ireland, made a huge impact on the two-point victory over Nyack. He made two field goals, including the game-winner with 22 seconds remaining, but also helped the Pirates control field position.

“He was the difference,” said Nyack Head Coach Mike Ramponi. “His punts kept us deep (in our territory) all game, and he made two field goals.”

“He’s a weapon for sure; he’s a luxury that you often don’t have in high school,” offered Pearl River head coach Jeff Michael, adding that O’Sullivan not only kicks them long, but now can boom them long and far with precision.

O’Sullivan, who came into the Pearl River school district as a sophomore, and is completing his third year on the varsity, nearly decided to play soccer, but eventually realized there was too much running involved to his liking.

Soccer’s loss, then, was the football team’s gain.

“He’s the best I’ve seen in 10 years … maybe a kid from Harrison a few years ago might be in his class," Ramponi said. "Somers has a good kid, too; Clarkstown South as well. But he’s a natural, and consistent. He kicked it out of the end zone every time. The ball explodes off his foot. That’s a big weapon to have in close games, in poor weather. He can put you over the top. It was a tough loss for us—bad field, we had a couple of players injured, but they won the game bottom line.”

O’Sullivan’s ever-growing exploits and reputation has led to a “seeing is believing” skepticism by those who have yet to see Connor put his foot into the ball.

“People read about a kid hitting a 52-yard field goal in pouring rain, and are intrigued by what they read in the paper,” said Pearl River athletic director Todd Santabarbara. “He sure has opened some eyes. He missed a 56-yarder (against Nyack) by a couple of yards, but even this, just the fact he would attempt a 56-yarder, and had a shot at making it, is something to see.”

For his part, O’Sullivan seems to be taking his powerful foot as a matter of course. In fact, if he had his druthers, he might rather be playing at the cornerback position.

 “But I’m just not fast enough,” O’Sullivan smiled during a break in practice Tuesday evening.

It is his foot, however, that will probably land him on some roster in college, several of which having already made contact. Among those expressing an interest—and more are certainly to follow—include Delaware, Alabama, Buffalo, Virginia, Marist, Holy Cross, and Fordham.

 “I want to be playing college, anywhere I can,” said O’Sullivan, who played football on varsity as a sophomore with older brother Michael, now a student at Rockland Community College. “I’d love to play in the NFL, too. If I had an offer I’d take it right now!”

O’Sullivan strength of leg, he feels, comes from his varied athletic background.

“I haven’t lifted a weight in my leg, and don’t really know if I could get more distance if I did,” he says. “The power, I think, comes from soccer, rugby, and Irish football, where’s it’s all feet pretty much. You know, there are a lot of good kickers in Ireland, definitely. My brother was good. He kicked here his senior year.”

O’Sullivan also competed in hurling in Ireland, but soccer, Irish football, and rugby were his main sports. It was as a rugby player, on the Bruff Rugby Football Club, when Connor first realized he could kick in earnest, but the knack actually started at home

“When I played rugby as a kid I would kick in my back lawn,” he recalls. “I played about seven years for Bruff RFC.”

O’Sullivan first brush with American football came during a practice session in the preseason.

“I was also a lineman, but that lasted only three or four days in camp,” O’Sullivan said. “The first day I was dead (tired), but I kept coming back. I knew I could kick, and was wondering when I would get the chance. I picked it up during a water break. (Former) Coach Travaglino noticed my punting first, but I was a lot better with field goals then.”

Now, O’Sullivan does double duty as a punter and place-kicker, and does both equally well. Kicking off from his own 40-yard line, O’Sullivan has 11 touchbacks in a row. On field goals, he has that 52-yarder to his credit, and in practice has hit from 63 yards out.

O’Sullivan might be needed this afternoon, despite Spring Valley’s record, which has come against stiff Section 1 competition.

“This is no easy game, not by a long shot,” Michael warns. “Spring Valley is fast, tough, and they might have the toughest schedule around. They just lost a tough game on a bad field to Eastchester, and have Somers on their schedule, too.”

The Tigers of fourth-year coach Drew Delva also boast of a solid kicker in junior Mike Pierre.

 “He might be our best offensive player,” said Tilla. “We’re having a tough year after losing our all-time leading passer and receiver from last season.”

Spring Valley, indeed, has a rugged schedule. They’ve also fallen to powerhouse Poughkeepsie, and other powers Nyack and Somers. Following the Pearl River game, the Tigers face Ramapo and Port Chester.

“It won’t be an easy game,” warns O’Sullivan. “It won’t be easy at all. Coach has told us that we can’t overlook them. They’re just as good as Nyack to us.”

Extra points

• Following Spring Valley, the Pirates hit the road to meet rival Nanuet in the Little Brown Jug game on Oct. 15, and then meet a very formidable Bronxville team before the postseason schedule.
• O’Sullivan’s field-goal kicking is made possible by the snaps of senior center Ryan Fatigate, and senior holder John Brebbia, who doubles as quarterback. Brebbia left the Nyack game with an injury, but is expected to be back behind center for Spring Valley.