Long Island Camp Confidential: Hills West
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Deyvon Wright (Jr. RB/DB), Gerald Filardi (Jr. QB), Jimmy Regateiro (Sr. OL/DL), Keith Slaughter (Sr. OL/DL), Jeff Terry (Sr. WR/DB), Luke Anderson (Sr. TE/LB), Cherrod White (Sr. TE/LB), Justin Brown (So. RB/LB) 2017 SCHEDULE Sept. 9 vs. Comsewogue 1 p.m.Sept. 16 vs. Westhampton 1 p.m.Sept. 23 at Harborfields 1 p.m.Sept. 27 at Rocky Point 7 p.m.Oct. 7 at Sayville 2 p.m.Oct. 14 vs. East Islip 1 p.m.Oct. 21 vs. Bellport 1 p.m.Oct. 28 at West Babylon 2 p.m. OUTLOOK:After back-to-back losses in the Suffolk Division II final, Hills West took a step forward last year by winning the county title. Now the Colts are looking to make that ultimate step and win the program’s second Long Island Championship.Hills West fell just shy a year ago, losing to Garden City, 13-6 at Stony Brook’s LaValle Stadium.“That loss was very tough on all of us,” junior quarterback Gerald Filardi said. “It’s now how we wanted it to turn out. We’re using it as motivation for us.”Hills West is in a new division this year, joining East Islip, Westhampton and Sayville in Division III. And, as is the case with Division II newcomers Bay Shore, the Colts are the preseason top seed.“I know we’re favorite to win, but at Hills West we pride ourselves on not worrying about the rankings and the preseason seed,” junior running back Deyvon Wright said. “We just try to play football and have fun.”Filardi, who threw for 1,550 yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago without an interception, is arguably Long Island’s top returning quarterback and is primed for a breakout season.“I think he’s going to take the next step,” Hills West coach Kyle Madden said. “Last year he was a young kid who was thrown into a situation where he was expected to lead a team that was expected to be in the Long Island Championship. It’s night and day from this point last year to now. I’m real proud of the way he’s progressed.”Wright, who rushed for 1,636 yards and 21 TDs, has an offer from West Virginia and heavy interest from Rutgers, Ohio State, Syracuse, Louisville, Maryland, UConn, Stony Brook, UCLA, USC and Temple.He’s the Colts top playmaker this year after Cameron Jordan graduated and went to Syracuse.“He’s my best friend and I talk to him every day,” Wright said of Jordan. “He just says stay focused and don’t worry about the rankings. If you’re as good as they say, it’s going to come. You don’t have to talk, let your game speak for you.”Madden, who said the goal for his program is “sustained excellence,” has a number of returners on both sides of the ball this year. That includes senior Jimmy Regateiro, a two-year, two-way starter on the line.“He sets a real standard of performance for the rest of the guys with his true work ethic,” Madden said.Also back on the line is Keith Slaughter, while Cherrod White and Luke Anderson anchor the linebackers in the Colts 3-4 defense and Jeff Terry and Justin Brown are two more solid athletes in the spread offense.All those players were on the the team last year that made it to the Long Island Championship.“We know we’ve been there already so we’re motivated and confident,” White said. “It’s nothing new for us.”
