Sports

Coach Falco: 'We Have A Target On Our Backs'

Despite high rankings, Sachem North head coach wants team to stay humble, focused.

On Saturday afternoon, the Sachem North Varsity Football team will travel to Longwood to take on a 1-1 Lions team that beat Half Hollow Hills and lost by a touchdown to Northport. Last week, the Flaming Arrows poured on some offense and defeated Connetquot 56-40.

We caught up with head coach David Falco to discuss his thoughts on the team's progress and the keys to victory in Longwood on Saturday.

Sachem Patch: A shootout last week against Connetquot. What was your overall reaction to the game?
David Falco: We allowed Connetquot to stay in the game because of a fumble and a kick off return. I also thought that our pass defense and coverage communication needs to get better. Number 6 (Tyler Nason) for them had a great day against us.

SP: The T-Birds put up 40 points. Did they just make a lot of dynamic plays or were there breakdowns and problems with your defense that made you cringe a little?
DF: I think both dynamic plays but defensive and special teams breakdowns allowed them to keep it close in the first half. We had 662 yards of offense and only threw for 30 yards so they were not able to stop us.

SP: Longwood is 1-1, but they're a competitive team. Do they have the kind of explosiveness that Connetquot has?
DF: Longwood is well coached and is always a threat to play a great game against you, so we need to prepare and be ready to play. I believe some of their kids are banged up but we will prepare from what we see on film and our live scout of them as we always do.

SP: How are the guys feeling after last week's game? Are they concerned about giving up so many points? Any worry they might play a little tight or try to do too much on a play?
DF: Our team understands that we have a target on our backs and are working hard every day to improve and eliminate mistakes. Rankings such as Newsday's Big 10 (#3) and the large school pol (#1) and MSG Varsity top 25 (#21) as well as our ranking in the NYSSWRA poll this week (#4) only makes things harder and we talk about that on a daily basis. The only poll that matters is the one after the season ends.

SP: On a more positive note, what did you see out of your guys last week that you liked? Obviously your offense is producing. 
DF: 662 yards of offense, throwing the ball to score a 30 yard TD. Very good run defense out of our base looks. 100-percent kick percentage on our PATs. 

SP: How is the running game practicing? Usually the running game can control the clock and keep an opposing team's offense off the field.
DF: We work hard at running the football against loaded fronts (many guys close to the line of scrimmage). We will continue to put pressure on teams to defend both sides of the field as well as the middle of the formations, and stretch them vertically with our pass game.

SP: Any injuries this week?
DF: No injuries to report this week.

SP: Five keys to victory against Longwood.

DF:

  • Turn Over Margin + for us
  • No big plays given up on special teams
  • 100% PAT's
  • 1st down yardage average over 3
  • Tackling and Blocking for 6 seconds
Sachem North vs. Longwood; Saturday, 2 p.m. Longwood Middle School. 41 Yaphank-Middle Island Road, Middle Island.


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