Sports

Pearl River Football Hopes to Build on KSA Trip

Pearl River faced powerhouse competition last week at the 2012 KSA Events National Football Summer 7's at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida.

The Pearl River football team flew into new territory at last week's 2012 KSA Events National Football Summer 7's at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida.

The Pirates faced competition on a new level during the national 7-on-7 tournament, but there was more to the trip than the games. It started with taking care of some team business on the flight down. 

Rising senior Mike "Mookie" O'Connell was named the team's third captain for the 2012 season, joining Eric Corcoran and Matt Erbacher. The announcement was made over the loudspeaker, leading to an ovation from the passengers.

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That was just part of the off-field experience that Head Coach Jeff Michael hoped would help his team, which lost 20 of 22 starters from the squad that went 6-3 and made the playoffs a year ago.

"Seeing seniors, juniors and sophomores hanging out, watching linemen and backs enjoying themselves and seeing our varsity athletes openly welcoming JV players into the fold was rewarding," Michael said. "One of the main reasons we attended the KSA Summer 7s was to team build and it's safe to say that the players that came back, came back closer than ever."

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"It was nice how so many of us came together down there," O'Connell said. "I was able to see guys in a light I never thought I would like (junior varsity quarterback Tommy) Kinnally and (junior varsity RB/WR Brian) Tarsnane."

O'Connell was surprised by the announcement as team captain, but the entire team faced the unexpected once the competition began. Pearl River had expected to be in the national bracket, but was placed instead in the Florida bracket. That brought them in contact with a new level of competition.

"Seeing these student-athletes from Florida playing live, I was amazed at the athleticism and finesse of the entire team," Michael said. "Flawless passes were pulled in by receivers with such grace. I think we were all impressed."

Pearl River played some close game, but was not able to beat any of the Florida teams. 

"We knew we were up against some of Florida's best teams," said Corcoran, a linebacker who is the Pirates' only returning starter on defense. "We didn't expect miracles, but we expected to play well and we did, considering the bracket we were in. Florida football is so much faster than what we face back home, so this is good to see for our (offense) and (defense)."

Pearl River opened with a 28-13 loss to eventual tournament champion Miami Carol High School, a magnet school in Miami. Michael was happy with the play of rising junior quarterback Chris Van Houten and said Sean Brown made a "ridiculous" catch for a touchdown. The Pirates also lost on the first day to Cocoa High School, the 2011 Florida 4A runners-up and a team with a 38-game win streak.

Michael said Van Houten and receivers Cle Davis, Kevin Considine, Brown, Rob Gullo, Tarsnane, Ronan Curry, Logan McIntyre and O'Connell all impressed in a day two loss to Freedom High School. He went on to compare Van Houten to Class of '04 graduate Dan O'Malley, currently Pearl River's junior varsity head coach and the program’s quarterback coach.

Pearl River lost its final game of the tournament to Gateway High School, which scored a touchdown and returned an interception for another score late to seal it. 

"We had fun down here and it was a great opportunity for us to see teams from Florida," Erbacher said.

The Pirates officially open training camp Aug. 17. Pearl River's first game of the season will be at home against Rye in a rematch of the Pirates' loss in the first round of the 2011 Class A Playoffs


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