Ellenville High School returns to Class B
Benefiting from the success of last season, Ellenville High’s football team had a strong turnout and is looking for more success on the field in 2018.
The Blue Devils reached the postseason in ‘17 for the first time in seven years. There will be 36 players suiting up for the Friday, Aug. 31, 7 p.m. opener at home against non-league foe Woodlands of Section 1.
“This is the most numbers we’ve had in all my years,” said Ellenville coach Dan Cavanaugh, who begins his fifth season. “I think the most I’ve ever had is 25.
“This year the team is looking great. We have a lot of fresh talent coming up that is hungry and ready to play,” said senior Freeman All-Star tackle Edjren Jorge, who led the team with 55 tackles and six sacks.
“The numbers surprised me when we first started, because I thought we were going to have a little, but the people that came up, they really want to play a lot,” Jorge added. “That’s good. We have the numbers and talent, so hopefully we’ll go even farther.”
The Devils, who are not fielding a junior varsity squad, have 13 seniors, four juniors, nine sophomores and 10 freshmen on the team.
“It’s a lot of younger guys, but it’s also hope because we’re hoping to put a JV team to-
gether,” said Cavanaugh, who graduated 13 players. “That’s been our hope for the last five years. This year looks promising (for the future).”
A five-game win streak anchored a 5-3 season that led to Ellenville to a Section 9, Class C Division I title. This year the team has been moved up to B, where it joins Liberty, James I. O’Neill and defending Class C champion John S. Burke Catholic in Division 2.
“I’m not too worried about going up to B,” said Cavanaugh, who is used to the yo-yoing effect of enrollment. Ellenville was in B in 2016, C in ‘15 and B the three years before that.
“There’s more competition, but I feel that we are ready,” Jorge said. “I think we will go farther with the talent that we have on this team now.”
Jorge was voted by Section 9 coaches as the Class B Lineman of the Year. A defensive tackle, he will also anchor the offensive line as guard or tackle with Jon Oquendo.
“I want to defend my title of Lineman of the Year and I want to help my team get another banner,” he said about his goals. As to which side of the ball he prefers, there is no question.
“I like defense the best. I get to hit people.”
Sean Pettway, who led the team in rushing as a sophomore, returns in the backfield with senior Anthony Walton. Senior Donovan Decker, Zach Bonitz’s backup the last few years, takes over at quarterback.
Three-year senior starter Conrad Brissett is one of the biggest guys on the Ellenville line.
“We have a lot of size. That’s definitely going to help us,” Cavanaugh said.
“This is the most returning seniors I’ve ever had: nine returning seniors and two seniors that I hope will do big things this year who were two basketball players,” he added. “I’ve been in their ear for three years and finally, as seniors, they decided to come out. They’re very athletic.”
Those two are Jeremiah Figueroa, who looks to be a receiver, and Semaj Bruce, who could be a defensive end and a starting fullback. Both had played modified before.
Along with the size on the line, Ellenville’s defense also features Pettway (second in tackles) at linebacker and Walton and senior Alijah Williams as defensive backs.
“They were underclassmen who were previously thrown to the wolves,” Cavanaugh explained. “It’s their third year in the system. We’re hoping for a lot of big things from them.”
Also back are seniors Deante Bruce (receiver/defensive back), Na’Lee Stewart (lineman) and Daniel Wickman (receiver/defensive back); juniors Christian Cherry (running back/linebacker) and Noah Ghisolfi (running back/linebacker); plus sophomores Ethan Alexander (lineman), Tyler McNeill (lineman), Aleksander Rzemieniecki (receiver/linebacker) and Eric Wright (offensive lineman/ linebacker).
Other newcomers are seniors Jason Lonstein (lineman) and Johnathan McCombs (lineman); junior Nick Candelaria (receiver/ defensive back); sophomores Marlon Cabrera (running back/defensive back), Billy Freer (lineman), Nicholas Moza (lineman), Andrew Robles (lineman) and Jeremy Zuckrow (receiver/ defensive back); plus freshmen Joseph Cortes (running back/defensive back), Michael Doria (lineman), Walter Evans (running back/defensive back), David McCombs (quarterback/ defensive back), Joshua McNeill (receiver/defensive back), Jakob Millman (receiver/linebacker), Kenneth Mitchell (receiver/defensive back), Joseph Pasquale (lineman), John Sisco (lineman) and Dior Williams (running back/defensive back), “The senior class and the juniors, obviously we’ll be relying on them a lot,” Cavanaugh said.
“Looking at the practices, everybody wants to play, so there is a lot that sparks us up and people want to work for it,” Jorge said.
“I’m ecstatic. Everything’s been going good so far and we have a good group of veterans as well. That helps the younger guys,” Cavanaugh said. “The one good thing that I like about practicing (grades) 9 through 12 is the younger guys can see the veterans and really know this is what we’re looking for and you are not starting from nothing.” SCHEDULE AUG. — 31, WOODLANDS, 7 p.m. SEPT. — 7, RED HOOK, 7 p.m.; 15, at Highland, 7 p.m.; 21, BURKE CATHOLIC, 7 p.m.; 28, at Millbrook, 7 p.m. OCT. — 6, RONDOUT, 2 p.m.; 12, O’NEILL, 6:30 p.m.; 19, LIBERTY, 7p.m. Home games in CAPs.