SYF Middle School Football - Program Overview

All of Stamford’s 5 public middle schools, plus two private schools, Trinity Catholic and Trailblazers Academy, participate in SYF Football. All schools typically have varsity and junior varsity teams, with all 8th graders playing on the Varsity team, all 6th graders on Junior Varsity and 7th graders are placed on a varsity or junior varsity team by the coaching staff depending on ability, experience and team sizes. 

Stamford residents that do not attend one of the schools above are also eligible to participate, and are placed on the Trinity Catholic team. For 2009, this included students that attended Rogers Magnet as 6th graders, and this will continue in 2010.

Football practice is held every day after school at the facility on or near the school premises. Some schools provide study before practice for the students to do homework and school projects. The season runs from early September through mid-November. No transportation is provided. Games are on Saturday or Sunday, generally between 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, with games split between the turf football fields at Rippowam Middle School and Stamford High.

At most schools, grades and progress reports are made available to the head coach who, with the help of each school's administration, monitors those athletes who are not performing well in class to ensure that the activity they are involved in is not adversely affecting their academic performance . Stamford Youth Football's middle school students must meet minimum grade and effort requirements in order to remain eligible to play. A code of conduct is also signed, which is attached.

Code of Conduct/Parent-Player Contract

For questions regarding any issues with Middle School Football please contact SYF Football President Tony Spadaccini at (914) 755-0050.

Middle School Rules

Middle School football rules are attached.   Middle School Rules 2010.doc

 

2009 League Championship Games

Trinity defeats defending champion Rippowam 20-6 for 2009 Middle School Varsity Title

In the championship game for the Stamford youth football varsity division, the Trinity Catholic Sabres defeated the defending champion Rippowam Raptors 20-6 to give coach Dan Scalero his first title after nine years as a coach. This was Trinity's 4th trip to the Championship game. 

Trinity started off their first drive running the ball with running back Nick Della Jacono picking up big chunks of yardage as they marched down the field. Della Jacono scored the first touchdown on a 8yd run and then converted the PAT witha 2yd run. In the second quarter, Trinity converted on a 30yd touchdown pass from Austin Longi to Della Jacono, but this time the PAT was unsuccessful and Trinity led at halftime 13-0.

The Raptors came out in the third quarter determined to defend their title and scored to make the score 13-7. However, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Longi went 55 yards around the left end and Della Jacono converted the PAT to give the Sabres a 20-6 lead. Trinity's defense and Rippowam's defense both played well after that and there was no further scoring giving Trinity the crown.

For Trinity, their offensive line led by Robert Tusch, Anthony Spadaccini, Billy Santora, Joe Carrizzo, Mike Ruther and tight ends Connor Amann and Jimmy Piotrzkowski played well versus the tough Rippowan defense. On special teams, Brandon Tuccinardi, Ricky Herr, Frank Tamburro, and Hakeem Lamothe led the way. But it was the team defense that held the high scoring Rippowan team to one score that won the game for Trinity. The defensive
charge was led by Della Jacono, Longi, Spadaccini, Matt Christensen and Harrison Smith. Tyler Pingol, Jackson Solis, Michael Szemenyei, Khalil Murphy, Carrizzo and Phabio Basquiat also played well.

Cloonan defeats Dolan 28-6 for 2009 Middle School JV Title

Determined to win the JV title, the Cloonan Bulldogs came out flying and scored on their first three possessions to take a commanding 24-0 lead.  After Dolan kicked off, Kevin Brennan grabbed the ball at the 40yd line to put Cloonan in great field position. Cloonan marched down field for its first of three touchdowns with a run by Aidan Bracken.  Great defense by Eugene Robles, Torrie Perry and Brennan kept Dolan from moving the ball and a 60 yard touchdown run by Dhakedi Jackson put Cloonan ahead 16-0. An interception by Bracken brought Cloonan into scoring range again and Jeremiah Livingston connected with a pass to Joe Depreta for the third touchdown.

Dolan battled back and scored in the third quarter on a 25yd run by Devaun Joyner behind the blocking of Ryan Piersa to cut the lead to 24-8 with a PAT by Hunter Linnen, but great defense by Christian Sottosanti, Miguel Montoya, Joe Schlessinger, Jackson and Bracken kept Dolan off the scoreboard the rest of the game and gave Cloonan the JV title.

For Dolan, Darwin Leon, Jalen Brown, and Johnny Somers all played well on defense.

Congratulation on a great season to this year's champions, as well as all of our players and coaches.

SYF Middle School Football - League Champions

2009 Benjamin Gold Memorial Award Winners

SYF is pleased to present for the 6th consecutive year its scholar-athlete awards to our middle school cheerleaders and football players. This award is named in honor of Benjamin Gold, an exemplary student-athlete at Cloonan Middle School, and participant in SYF's football program who passed away in December 2003 during his 8th grade year. Ben was a bright and witty young man who is sorely missed by his family, friends and classmates.

SYF presents the Benjamin Gold Award to 8th grade participants in each of our programs who demonstrate excellence in academic achievement, leadership, sportsmanship and overall citizenship.  Players are nominated by their coaches, school principals and team managers. The recipients receive a plaque and $100 savings bond recognizing their achievement. We congratulate this year's winners on their achievements and conduct.

For 2009 SYF also honored two middle school football players and one cheerleader from any grade that have shown the highest level of on field sportsmanship. The winners of this award were determined by using information given freely from referees, comments from opposing coaches and any type of positive actions witnessed by a football or cheer committee member.

This year’s football winners are Cloonan eigth grade student Ryan Coppola and Trinity Catholic 8th grader Matt Christiansen. This year's cheerleading winner is Trinity Catholic 8th grader Katie Murphy. Congratulations and well-done Ryan and Matt. !!!