September 11, 2008On a Crusade: Cortese Hopes to Lead Trinity Back in Right Directionfrom The Stamford Advocate Coming off a 7-3 season, the Trinity Catholic High School football program was looking for big things last season. "We have been looking to build a foundation of having a winning season on a consistent basis and we took a step back in last season," fifth-year coach Bryan Fox said of his team, which posted a 3-7 record in 2007. "We had some injuries and we were young last season but hopefully these players have grown," Fox added. To regain its winning ways, Fox and the Crusaders will count on several key returnees who made major contributions last season. One of the top returnees will be running back Nick Cortese who ran for more than 1,000 yards as a junior. "He's a tough, strong runner," Fox said of the 6-foot-1, 200 pound senior. "We expect to utilize him again to pound the ball between the tackles. Last season when (quarterback) John O'Leary got hurt it became the Nick Cortese Show for us," Fox said. Steve Scalero, who saw time at quarterback last season when O'Leary was injured, will direct the Crusaders offense. "He's lot better passer than we thought and we have a decent receiving corps which I think will help us be a lot more balanced this season," Fox said. "Steve is also a good runner, more agile that fast, and he is a good quarterback for our system (Wing-T) because he can throw and he can run." Others who will see time in the backfield will be junior Vince Carter, a returning starter, junior Jayme Antonetti and impressive 6-1, 225-pound sophomore Michael Rivas. "I think with Carter's speed we have the ability to spread the field and use the other runners to play 'blue collar' football and live inside the tackles," the coach said. "Nick showed everyone that he can pound the ball last season but we have to be more balanced this year." Brian O'Neill, R.J Calo and Jordan Skeeter-Jones will be the wideouts with 6-8 Mike Manka and Conan Li battling for time at tight end. Max Correa will start at center and will be flanked by returnees Ralph Martello and John Schule at guard. Senior Eddie Gonzalez (275 pounds) and sophomore P.J. Tusch will be the tackles while Scott Szemenyei and Kevin Joseph will also see time with the offensive line. Fox believes defense will be the key to any success the Crusaders have this season. "We've averaged more than 14 points a game over the years but we must buckle down on defense if we hope to be successful. Defense will be the key for us this season," said Fox who saw his team score 22.6 points per game last season and yield 29.1. One of the problems at Trinity, the smallest school in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, is depth. Once again this season, nearly every player will see time on both sides of the ball. An injury to one starter translates into the loss of two players. Gonzalez will be the nose guard while Schule, David Rivas and Szemenyei will also be up front with Eric Bean providing depth. Cortese, Li and Martello start at linebacker with Carter and Tom Conte at the corners and Michael Rivas, Antonetti and Scalero at safety. "We're trying to build defense first," Fox said. "A lot of these players started last season and I see a higher level of aggressiveness and confidence in the preseason. "The key to our season is to stay healthy because we are a little thin in depth," Fox said. Last season: 3-7 Key Game: "Every game is key," coach Bryan Fox said. "In high school you have to approach every game as if it's the Super Bowl." Player to watch: Nick Cortese, a 6-1, 200-pound running back who gained 1,041 yards rushing last season and is a standout linebacker as well. Season could be: Interesting if Trinity avoids injuries. The Crusaders will have homefield advantage in seven its 11 games which should be a plus. Copyright © 2008, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.
 Big senior defensive tackle Vladimir Joseph swims by an offensive lineman in a 28-20 home victory over Fairfield Ludlowe on October 29, 2005. (CrusaderNation.net / Dana Maul)
 Junior defensive tackle Santiago "Teggy" Steele wraps up a Darien
rusher as his
 Junior center Cory Johnson prepares to snap the ball to fellow classmate
 The Crusader offensive line pushes Bassick around in the mud. The
Crusaders
 Senior wideout Rob Hawthorn races downfield to block as junior fullback
Eric Stephens
 2005 All-FCIAC East Offense Row 1, Left to Right: Eric Wells, Bassick; Willie Epps, McMahon;
Pete Raymond,
 2005 All-FCIAC East Defense Row 1, Left to Right: Joe Luchesi, Danbury; Greg Sabo, Danbury; James
Taylor, Danbury;
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