BY JIM FURLONG

 

The Center Moriches players, coaches and fans endured growing pains. For the Red Devils' first varsity season in 2007, the team was winless (0-8). Last season coach Steve Failla saw his squad improve to a 3-5 record. Now the Red Devils (5-2) are surging and aim to clinch a playoff berth in the Suffolk Division IV playoffs.

"I want to make the point we are not satisfied," said Failla. "We are not surprised. We expected to be better than 4-2. We expect to win and we expect to make a run in the playoffs. We are all salty around here; a chip on the shoulder for the players and coaches. The success we are having is the culmination of a greater effort."

Center Moriches faced a challenge last Saturday afternoon, hosting previously undefeated Hampton Bays, which won its first six games.

The Red Devils, on their Homecoming, rallied to beat Hampton Bays 22-21.

Failla's team carries a three-game winning streak into Saturday's regular-season finale at Bayport-Blue Point (2-5). Said CM senior quarterback Joe Ratti:  "Everyone loves the feeling of winning. We are working hard in practice. The fooling around stopped. There is more focus."

One lingering motivation for the Red Devils is the memory of their last loss. Port Jefferson rallied for a 29-28 victory on Oct. 2. "We really should be (6-1)," said Ratti, a co-captain. "We had a letdown against Port Jeff, (giving up) a touchdown pass with 14 seconds to go."

Ten seniors on the 23-player varsity roster crave a successful end to their prep careers. "The pressure is building up; there is still more to come," said senior co-captain Kyle Manico, who starts at tailback and linebacker. "(The coach) is, definitely, harder on us because he knows the potential of this team and he wants to turn it into reality."

"This team has been together since middle school. We are close. We have football experience. We have more experience all-around; something this town never had."

Manico and the other seniors were eager to conquer the Hampton Bays Baymen for the first time, after losing 31-0 as sophomores and 29-6 as juniors. "We know they are standing in the way of what we want," Manico said. "We understand what is on the line. Our main goal is to hang a banner."

Failla does not want his players to feel overconfident. They dominated their previous two games with shutouts -- a 42-0 romp over Stony Brook (1-6) and a 49-0 victory at winless Riverhead McGann-Mercy.

"I want more," said senior co-captain Ryan Davis, who starts at linebacker and tight end. "I think we are going to win. We can do it. We will fight. Everybody practices hard. They are more intense. The coaches expect more from us and we give them what they want. We are ready for any challenges."

Failla, who lives in Quogue and is a teacher at Riverhead High School, began the CM program four years ago with a JV squad. At the time, Center Moriches was one of the few public high schools on Long Island without a football program. The 2009 Devils have more than 40 boys on varsity and JV.

The current seniors have paid their dues and now have "a payday," said Ratti. a three-year starter at QB. "Lesser individuals than we have in this program would have given up and been satisfied with mediocrity," said Failla. "The individuals we have here their resolves is strength."

The Red Devils use a no-huddle offense and are quicker to read defensive keys. "Our football IQ has increased," said the coach. "We are second in our division for scoring. and the credit goes to the offensive line, that they are coming together."

The lead blockers include four juniors:  center Bobby Reeve, guard Jamie Ferrante, guard Connor Murphy and tackle Billy Hotaling. Davis plays tight end and sophomore Chris Niemynski plays the other tackle.

Danny Pelosi, a versatile senior, ran for three touchdowns against Mercy, kicked seven extra points and also intercepted two passes. Mike Covello, a junior, and senior Dillon Simpson each ran for two TDs as the Red Devils built a 28-0 halftime advantage.

Failla used eight running backs against Mercy. Simpson's two-yard TD run in the fourth quarter gave CM the decisive points against Hampton Bays. The CM defenders made a tackle in the end zone for a safety in the third quarter and sophomore receiver Myles Bell caught a 29-yard TD pass from Ratti.

Other seniors contributing are Nick Schilling, Ed Small, Ricky Martinez, Leo Jendral and Brandon Robles. They helped the Red Devils score 27 or more points in their first six games.

Ratti leads the team in rushing with 715 yards, averaging almost 10 yards a carry this season. Simpson has scored a team-high 11 TDs and rushed for more than 550 yards.

For defenders, Manico made a team-high 38 tackles, including four sacks in the first six games. The versatile Simpson had 26 tackles and four sacks. Another steady asset for CM football is the parents' support. "This is the best I have been a part of (during 14 years of coaching)," said Failla. "They are behind us 100 percent. No complaining."

Local business owner have also supplied food and support. The night before each game, the parents and the local businesses usually get together to feed the team a meal. The Red Devils have already surpassed a preseason prediction. They were rated No. 10 among 14 teams in Division IV. This week CM moved up to No. 5 for the Division IV power points. Eight teams advance to the November county playoffs.

"(Failla) says we are in control of our own destiny," said Ratti.