Football Preview: Shay pleas for Riverhead team unity

Shoreham-Wading River (7-3) achieved some big things last year in what may have been the best season the Wildcats have ever had. They defeated Mount Sinai for the first time in their history, played and won a home playoff game for the second year in a row, and reached the Suffolk Division IV semifinals for the second year in a row before being beaten by Long Island champion Babylon.

That’s a lot of good stuff. Wildcats coach Matt Millheiser wants more.

“My expectations have started getting higher and higher, whether it be of the staff, of the players or the program as a whole,” he said. “It’s time to start making those big steps. We want to get to that next level. We want to be with Babylon and Glenn consistently. I just think the bar is raised a little bit.”

The Wildcats have done well for themselves in Millheiser’s five years in charge (a 20-17 record), most notably in the last three years, when they went 20-9.

The team’s progression last year was another shot in the arm.

“We see as a program where we need to get to,” Millheiser said. “That experience is great. Now the kids see a light at the end of the tunnel. That experience has to make them better players.”

The Wildcats, who are seeded third in Division IV, lost a heck of a player in running back Tyler Anderson to graduation, but they still have a good deal of talent to work with. They have an aerial threat in senior quarterback Dan Hughes and senior wide receiver Isreal Squires, who were both all-county players. Hughes also plays strong safety and Squires also plays free safety.

“They’re two talented kids, rarely do they not look good,” said Millheiser.

Another two seniors, Bryce Casey and Mike Ingemi, will be part of that passing game. They both play wide receiver and defensive back.

In addition, two other seniors were all-division choices, guard/defensive lineman Bobby Puckey and fullback/linebacker Aaron Harley-Rey.

Also in Shoreham’s plans are running back/linebacker Chris Rosati, tight end/defensive end Ethan Wiederkehr and guard/defensive tackle Dalton Stalzer. Tom Cutinella, a first-year varsity player, plays middle linebacker and guard.

Millheiser said the team has more depth this year and may be more difficult for opposing defenses to stop.

The ticket to Shoreham’s success, Millheiser said, is to borrow a page from Babylon’s book and keep turnovers to a minimum.

“You want to limit the mistakes,” he said. “You don’t want the fumbles, you don’t want the interceptions, you don’t want the mistakes. … The easiest way to win is not to make mistakes.”