Football Preview: Hewlett vs. South Side

Even after their fifth loss of the season, South Side football head coach Paul Mastronardi still preaches the value of focus to his players. Throughout the season, the Cyclones have moved the ball efficiently on the ground, but are prone to committing mental mistakes that halts drives. That needed focus will be tested this Saturday, as the Cyclones take on No. 3 ranked Hewlett (4-2) on their home turf.

"They are the best coached team in the conference," Mastronardi said of Hewlett. "He's [Jay Iaquinta] one the best coaches in the county."

The Cyclones (1-5) will have to deal with Hewlett's senior defensive lineman, Niv Sulton, who Mastronardi called, "the real deal."

The 6'3'', 255 pound lineman already has a Division I football scholarship lined up, he explained, and programs from around the country have scouted the favorite for the Martone Award — an honor bestowed on the county's best lineman. Not only is he "strong as a house" Mastronardi added, Sulton also runs a 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds and owns a 32-inch vertical.

"Sometimes a guy that good, you have to run right at them," he said. "We have to double the point of attack where he's at."

During this week's practice, the coach reiterated how his team needs to execute to be successful. "We have to minimize mistakes and minimize breakdowns," Mastronardi said. "We have to simplify what we do. We have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot."

The seniors on the team have begun to realize the finality of the season, Mastronardi noted, and he sees a difference in them. "They're feeling it," he said of the seniors. "The tempo at practice was great. The best we've had all season."

The Cyclones take on the Hewlett Bulldogs at South Side at 1:30 p.m.