Long Island Players To Watch

Eugene Nottingham

Amityville

This year's Hansen Award recipient has made his mark in the Long Island high school record books with 2,197 rushing yards this past season which is the single-season record.  His career total of 4,484 rushing yards ranks second in Suffolk County and fourth on Long Island.  Amityville coach Len Mattera said the halfback 'can zag while he's zigging.'  His numbers show that he has done a lot of fancy footwork to help Amityville to the Long Island championship the last two seasons.

Nottingham also spends time in the Amiyville community speaking with children about the importance of education. "School is so important and I like teaching the underclassmen and younger kids about the importance of homework and studies." Nottingham said, "and the kids respond to me and listen, and I like that."

Chris Richez

Freeport

Freeport High school, the Thorp Award and the Empire Challenge are becoming common tri-fecta.  In the 60 years that Nassau County has given the award to the outstanding high school football player in the county, three of the recipients have been from Freeport High School and two of those have played in the Empire Challenge.

This years recipient, Chris Richez, follows in the footsteps of former teammate, Syracuse linebacker Clifton Smith, who played in the Empire Challenge in 1999.

a wide receiver during his junior year, Richez converted back to his sophomore role of quarterback to lead Freeport to a 11-0 record this past season and the Long Island Class I championship.

Head coach Russ Cellan attributes the team's success this season to Richez's hard work and ability to understand and execute.  "Chris understood every single thing, "said Cellan. It was his ability to handle everything that allowed us to do as much as we did.

Richez also executed well in the classroom as he was ranked sixth in class of 425 students and will attend Notre Dame this fall.