It was the moment the Half Hollow Hills East football team had been waiting 262 days for — the chance to get back on the practice field.
Last Monday morning began a new season in Dix Hills.
And it’s a season with high expectations, a season the Redhawks hope will end on Thanksgiving weekend with the school’s first-ever Long Island Championship win.
“I know everyone on the team has been thinking about today, the first day of training camp,” senior lineman Trevon Cole-Jenkins told Greater Long Island. “That vibe we had in the locker room after the [Long Island Championship] last November, we didn’t like that, so we want to do it this season at an even higher level.
“We are hungry.”
Hungry to make history.
They were oh-so-close last season. Hills East had a 14-point lead in the 4th quarter against Carey in the title game, but ended up losing 37-36. The players say they are using that bitter ending as motivation, but head coach Alex Marcelin says the start of training camp means it’s finally time to turn the page.
“Last year is last year, this year is about us getting better,” Marcelin said. “I’m not even thinking about a championship anymore, I’m focused on having a good first practice and winning today.”
The Redhawks return 16 of 22 starters from last season, including one of the best running backs in New York state in Daniel White. The senior has multiple Division 1 scholarship offers including from Syracuse, Buffalo and UMass, but he tells Greater Long Island that stats and college offers is not his focus right now.
“It’s about the team. Team focused, team goals, it’s never about personal goals with me,” says White.
“He’s such a great player,” said senior linebacker Akio Johnson. “He’s so much more than a player who can break a tackle and score a touchdown for us.”
The regular season kicks off Saturday, Sept. 12, with Hills East at home against Huntington.
– all photos by Andrew Rappaport
