Championship Yearn Still Burns at Yorktown; Rescigno’s Huskers Hoping to End Section 1 Title Drought
When former NYS Football Coach of the Year Ron Santavicca left Yorktown High for a second time in 2004 there were some hurt feelings. Breakups are never easy, so parting ways can get a little messy. Besides some hurt feelings there was lots of turnover within one of the most prideful football programs in all of Section 1.
But Athletic Director Fio Nardone and the Yorktown School Board made a great call on his replacement in 2005, even if it took a year or so to get the program back on solid footing. Coach Mike “House” Rescigno was the right man to replace Santavicca, the two-time NYS champion and disciple of Tony DeMatteo, who will soon celebrate the 20th year anniversary of the Cornhuskers repeat at state champions (1993-94).
And who knows; with a little bit of luck Santavicca could be back in Syracuse this November watching his nephew, Nick, if he and Rescigno’s state-ranked (No.10) Huskers (5-0) can continue their assault on Section 1 Class A foes this season. Don’t think for a second that the Sanatavicca’s, who have had a family member on the team or coaching staff since 1977, haven’t thought about the prospects of Thanksgiving weekend at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, home of the NYS championship. But let’s not put the cart before the horse; there’s a ton of work to do here.
Though Nick Santavicca, the junior halfback who recently gashed Horace Greeley for 328 yards and two scores in last Thursday 32-21 win over the Quakers, is the kind of horse coach’s ride to state titles; just as Uncle Ronnie did with the likes of now-departed Don Weese and company some 20 years ago.
Yorktown gets those kinds of kids more often than not, which is why you’ll find them on the tip of every coach’s tongue when we start discussing the best football programs in Section 1. There is something to be said for consistency, something about two state jewels and four sectional titles from 1993-98. And Yorktown can thank Santavicca and former A.D. Isabel Costa for turning a floor mat of a program into a dynasty, along with assistants Mr. C., Paul Paradiso and Jim Deans.
But that was more than a decade ago, and the yearn to hoist the hardware grows with each year, and that yearn has not been this rooted since Coach Santavicca’s final season when he and his son, Paul, came up short in November of 2004 during the ball coach’s second stint at Yorktown, four years after former Coach Dan Callahan guided the Huskers to a 1998 sectional championship and state tourney semifinal admittance.
The 2014 Cornhuskers have that same yearn; the one Weese had, the one QB Matt Caione had, the one RB/LB Adam Lodewick and OL/DL Bumper Roberson and Phil Settembrino had: The yearn Yorktown always seems to have on the gridiron and most other athletic venues, particularly lacrosse.
“We have been blessed year after year with kids that will run through brick walls for each other,” Rescigno, now in his 10th season at Yorktown after a stud career at Carmel High and Hofstra U., said after the dispatching of Greeley. “The way they buy in to this program is simply awesome!”
Nick Santavicca has “bought in” since his dad Roger, a longtime assistant on the staff, turned him into a Yorktown ball boy before he could throw a spiral. Now, a decade later, he’s threatening to shatter every rushing record in the Husker book, including rushing yards and TDs, the two most important stats in high school football, which like professional football, is taking a beating these days. Moms don’t want their sons playing any more. Concussions and dementia are a serious and sometime grave concern. Heat stroke, aggressive contact… these are all things that worry moms to death and deter kids from strapping on a helmet and pads. The numbers of kids playing the great American game competitively are decreasing. In fact, the only numbers increasing are TV ratings and Fantasy Football.
Somehow, Yorktown has managed to survive and thrive as one of the section’s most consistent and respected programs, but the icing on the cake would be the title Yorktown, Rescigno and the Santavicca family, so desperately crave. That is now Nick’s cross to bear, and he relishes the moment, according to Rescigno.
“Every so often you get a kid that NEEDS you to put the team on his back,” Rescigno said, citing 2009 All-Section RB John Fennessy along with Santavicca. “John was certainly one of those guys that craved to be the difference. Nicky is another example of a young man with football in his blood. He needs this game. The beautiful thing about is that Nicky is surrounded by teammates with the same passion. They all play for all of the immeasurable values that football has to offer. They appreciate just how great this game is. People are trying to take shots at football nowadays… they should watch Nick Santavicca play. Watch how his team plays with him. That is what’s good in football.”
That, and a sectional championship! Go get some
Direct Rays:
Yorktown junior HB Nick Santavicca got loose for 328 yards and a pair of scores in the Huskers’ 32-21 win over host Greeley last Thursday, giving him 920 yards for the year, He should/could break the school record for rushing yards in a season (1,103) within a game or two and hopes to lead the Huskers to their first sectional title since 1998.
Ray has 33 years experience covering and photographing local sports in Westchester and Putnam counties, including everything from Little League/Travel Baseball to varsity high school prep sports and collegiate coverage. He has been a sports editor at Examiner Media since its inception in 2007.
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