Jeffrey Haruthunian’s Calhoun football coaching debut Saturday against Wantagh did not go the way he would have liked, but the new Colts head coach is expressing optimism that 2012 can be a successful season in North Merrick.
Wantagh jumped out to a 22-0 halftime lead and continued to roll in the second half for a 37-3 victory against its nearby Conference II rivals. The Warriors, who also knocked off Calhoun in last year’s season opener, are coming off a year in which they reached the Nassau County Conference II title game and entered 2012 as the second-ranked team behind only defending champion Garden City.
“I think we’re a little better than what today showed but Wantagh is also a very, very good team,” said Coach Haruthunian, whose Calhoun team began 2012 as the ninth ranked team in Conference II after finishing 3-5 last season.
A bright spot for Calhoun Saturday against Wantagh was senior defensive tackle Steven Valentino, who registered two sacks. Haruthunian said as one of Calhoun’s captains, Valentino will be a key leader for the Colts on and off the field in 2012.
Calhoun features a run-oriented offense that typically works out of I formation sets with running backs Brandon Lee and Zach Mastrangelo along with 6-2 215 pound fullback Scott Halleran.
“We have an identity and do what we do and we need to work on execution,” said Haruthunian, who replaced Joseph Bianca as Calhoun head coach.
Calhoun will look for its first win of the 2012 season this Friday at Westbury. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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