October 23, 2008Cortese Gets Defenders' Attention: Trinity RB Can Top 1,000-yard Mark Against Stamfordfrom The Stamford Advocate Nick Cortese would probably love it if the Trinity Catholic High School football team adopted the no-huddle offense. Cortese, the Crusaders' bruising running back, wouldn't necessarily prefer the hurry-up strategy for standard reasons: to keep the opponent off-balance and to make it more difficult for defensive substitutions. No, it's more because the 6-foot-1 senior would be able to put his smash-mouth mentality on display. No need for the Crusaders to huddle up. Just get to the line of scrimmage and yell out these words to the guys on the other side of the ball: "HEY, NUMBER 44 IS GOING TO GET THE BALL!" And then give number 44 the ball and watch them move the chains. Oh yes, that would make Nick Cortese quite happy. "I love it that everyone knows the ball is going to Nick Cortese," he said. "They know what's coming. But you just lower your shoulder and get the yards. I love running into people." He loves running over them, too. Cortese, who credits his veteran offensive line and blocking backs Vince Carter, Mike Rivas and Jayme Antonelli for much of his success, has had a spectacular season so far for Trinity Catholic. The Crusaders enter Saturday's Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference game against Stamford High with a 4-2 record and visions of state playoffs dancing in their heads. Cortese, who had a 250-yard rushing day earlier this season against Fairfield Ludlowe, rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2007. So, yes, there were high hopes this season. But Cortese has exceeded expectations as he goes into week 7 of the 2008 campaign leading the entire state in rushing with 998 yards (166 yards per game) and is fourth in the state in scoring with 92 points, according to maxpreps.com "Nick is the perfect fit for our system," head coach Bryan Fox said. "Even if you key on him, and that's what teams usually do, it's hard for them to keep him from getting his four or five yards." Cortese, who also plays linebacker on defense, has benefitted from quarterback Steve Scalero. Before the season there were some doubts about the Crusaders getting balance on offense but Scalero and an above-average group of receivers have performed well. "It helps me that Steve is more comfortable now than he was at the start of the season," Cortese said. "He's throwing the ball better than ever now and he can run the option 10 times better than he could when the season started." Cortese, who said several Division II and III colleges have expressed interest in him, has had more than just a decent passing attack to help his cause. In the Westhill game earlier this season (a 46-18 Trinity victory in week 2), Cortese rushed for 239 yards. But the other three running backs combined for 223 yards that day. In the first half, when the Vikings were holding Cortese to 49 yards, Carter, Rivas and Antonelli combined for 145 yards to tear the heart out of the Westhill defense. With the Vikings caught somewhat off guard, Cortese came on and dominated the second half, running for 190 yards. Now, Cortese's success isn't just because other Crusaders have proven to be good with the ball in their hands. His teammates are also at their best when Cortese has the ball. Cortese may like running into and over people but he really appreciates it when his teammates give him some room to run. "Our offensive line is really good," Cortese said. "It's the most underrated line in the league. And our running backs take a beating when blocking for me. They've all done a heck of a job. I couldn't ask for anything more out of them." So, it's true, as Fox has reiterated several times this season: This is not just "The Nick Cortese Show." "I'm not better than anyone else on the team," Cortese said, modestly. "If I had a big head it wouldn't be good for team chemistry. We all can play and are willing to do anything for the team." Nevertheless, if the Crusaders are going to win the city championship Saturday and then extend their season into the Class S state playoffs, it will be on the shoulders of you know who. "The fact that we can open it up more with the pass has helped Nick a lot," said Fox who noted that the new-found balance on offense has not necessarily led to fewer carries for the team's meal ticket. "When a defense has to prepare for the pass, too, it allows us to give the ball to Nick as much as ever." Fox doesn't hesitate with his smash-mouth approach and believes Cortese's best attribute is his mentality. "What makes Nick great is that his mindset doesn't ever go beyond the next play," Fox said. "He's a big-time throwback player. After he got 50 carries (in the overtime win over Fairfield Ludlowe) someone asked him how a kid can get 50 carries in one game? Nick said, 'Hey, what's the big deal? Nobody complained that a guard had to block 80 or 85 times.' "That's his mentality," the coach continued. "After each play, he bounces up and says, 'OK, what do I do next.' He's the prototypical high school football player." Cortese will, no doubt, be the focus of the Stamford High defense Saturday when the teams square off at 2 p.m. at Alumni Field. For the record, that's the same Stamford High defense that allowed Danbury - a team that was scoring less than 20 points per game before last week - to get 50 last Friday in a 50-48 Danbury victory. "Stamford High is a great team; (wide receiver Chris) Evans and (running back Marcus) Dixon are very talented players," Cortese said. "We've got to keep winning if we want to make states but it's also a big game because it's for bragging rights. "I guess," he added, "I'll probably get the ball a lot on Saturday." You think? "We're going to keep giving it to Nick a ton of times," Fox said. "You know how it goes: If it ain't broke, don't fix it." CORTESE GAME BY GAME Team Att. Yds. TDs Darien 16 114 1 Westhill 32 239 4 Ludlowe 50 234 5 St. Joseph 17 85 0 Harding 18 118 2 Warde 46 208 3 Season 179 998 15 Notes: Cortese is averaging 5.58 yards per carry and 166.3 yards per game; he leads the state is rushing and is fourth in scoring (92) - Source: Maxpreps.com 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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