GameTime CT

Connecticut's premier high school sports website

  • GIRLS SPORTS
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Field Hockey
    • Golf
    • Gymnastics
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
  • BOYS SPORTS
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Wrestling
  • Schools
  • Newspapers
    • CT Post
    • The Danbury News-Times
    • Greenwich Time
    • The Middletown Press
    • New Haven Register
    • The Norwalk Hour
    • The Register Citizen
    • The Stamford Advocate
  • Polls
    • Baseball Top 10
    • Boys Basketball Top 10
    • Girls Basketball Top 10
    • Football Top 10
    • Hockey Top 10
    • Boys Lacrosse Top 10
    • Softball Top 10
    • Other Polls
  • Scores & Stats
Football

SCC Football 2019: NOTRE DAME-WEST HAVEN preview

Peter Paguaga | August 15, 2019

Notre Dame-West Haven’s Tyler Basti runs up field during the Grip It and Rip tournament at Hand high school on Friday, June 28, 2019. (Pete Paguaga, Hearst Connecticut Media)

[Vitals]

  • COACH — JOE DeCAPRIO (3rd year, 9-11) 
  • CONFERENCE — SCC Tier I
  • PLAYOFF CLASS — Class L (535 boys enrollment)
  • HOME — Veterans Memorial Field, West Haven
  • 2018 RECORD — 6-4
  • 2019 OPENER — Sept. 13 at Hand, 7 p.m.
  • TEAM WEBSITE — www.gogreenknights.com; TWITTER: @NDWHFB; INSTAGRAM: @NDWHFOOTBALL

[Top Players]

  • JACKSON ZALINSKY, Sr., QB (6-1, 180)
  • JACK AHEARN, Sr., C (5-11, 250)
  • MARK ALTIERI, Sr. LB (5-11, 210)
  • AMADOU KAMARA, Sr., WR (6-2, 195)
  • NICO GAREA, Sr., G/NG (5-11, 240)
  • TYLER BASTI, Jr., RB/OLB (5-10, 190)
  • TOM CANDELORA, Jr. WR/DB (5-10, 180)
  • ROBBIE OLIVERIO, Jr., WR/S (6-2, 190)
  • AUSTIN PIECK, Jr., WR/CB (5-10, 170)
  • PETER CASSESSE, Jr., TE/LB (6-2, 200)
  • JAMAR DEJESUS, Jr., G/DE (5-11, 190)

[Key Losses]

Zack Hochman (WR/DB, all-state), Kamron Bell (OL/LB),  Dominick Avilone (OL/LB), Johan Klien – Robbenhaar (DL/OL) Justin Shanley (WR/DB), Warren Murphy (RB/DB).

[Outlook]

In the second year of Joe DeCaprio leading the Notre Dame-West Haven program, the Green Knights made strides doubling their win total from the year before finishing 6-4, as they look to return to the postseason for the first time since 2016.

Gone is Mr. Everything Zack Hochman for the Green Knights. The wide receiver who totaled 974 all-purpose yards and a team leading 16 touchdowns. He is off to play lacrosse at UMass. Last year’s leading rusher Warren Murphy also graduated.

Yet, there is reason for excitement as senior quarterback Jackson Zalinsky is back for his second year under center.

He started every game for the Green Knights last year, throwing for 1,233 yards 11 touchdowns and added nine touchdowns on the ground. DeCaprio has high hopes for his quarterback after his strong finish last season.

“He knows the offense inside and out and we are looking for a big season from him,” the third year coach said. “He can run and make all the throws, he is also surrounded by many good skill players that will go get the ball for him.”

Junior running back Tyler Basti will be called upon to be one of the top skill players this season, replacing Murphy.

Despite only 62 carries as a sophomore, Basti made the most of his opportunities rushing for 332 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. He started two games in place of Murphy last season. Against Branford, he rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns. He added 56 yards against Xavier. The junior has a knack for the big play with a rush of 50 yards against Branford and a 55 yard run vs. Shelton.

“He earned more and more time as the season went on and I feel very confident in his ability to run the ball and pass block,” DeCaprio said. “He has deceptive speed and is a tough kid to tackle.”

Junior wideouts Tom Candelora, Robbie Oliverio and Austin Pieck, caught 40 passes and three touchdowns as a unit. They are tasked with spelling Hochman’s production.

“We have a tremendous group of skilled guys with a lot of varsity experience,” DeCaprio said. “They all know the offense and what we are trying to accomplish. We have a lot of overall team speed. We also have good leadership/team chemistry.

At offensive line, the Green Knights have three starters returning, most notably senior center Jack Ahearn. 

Defensively, Jamar Dejesus (68 tackles, 4.5 sacks), Mark Altieri (44 tackles, 1.5 sacks) are back to anchor the line and the linebackers.

Across the state no team might have a tougher schedule to start the season.

The Green Knights open up on the road against two-time Class L state champion Hand. They then travel to Trumbull to face back-to-back state champions (Class S and Class M) St. Joseph, which is now in Class L with the Green Knights, before they host Class L semifinalist, Platt.

They also face Class L playoff team Bunnell on Oct. 18 before getting into the heart of their SCC Tier I schedule with dates against Xavier, Fairfield Prep and West Haven.

“We will be battle tested for sure,” DeCaprio said. “I would put our schedule up against anyone’s in the state. We are looking forward to the challenge and believe we can be in the mix at the end of the season.”

[2019 Schedule]

  • Sept. 13 — at Hand**, 7 p.m.
  • Sept. 21 — at St. Joseph, 1:30 p.m.
  • Sept. 27 — PLATT, 7 p.m.
  • Oct. 4 — AMITY*, 7 p.m.
  • Oct. 18 — BUNNELL, 7 p.m.
  • Oct. 25 — at Fitch, 6:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 1 — XAVIER**, 7 p.m.
  • Nov. 8 — at Fairfield Prep**, 6 p.m.
  • Nov. 15 — WEST HAVEN**, 7 p.m.
  • Nov. 28 — at Hamden*, 10:30 a.m.
Home games in CAPS
Scheduling Alliance games in bold.
*Conference game
**Division game

About Peter Paguaga

Pete Paguaga is the senior producer for GameTimeCT.com. Email him at pete.paguaga@hearstmediact.com. Twitter: @PetePaguaga

Newsletter Signup

Don't strike out on CT high school sports news. Sign up for The Whistle newsletter from GametimeCT

You agree to our Terms of Use. Your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.

Spring Sports Quick Links

Spring Sports Quick Links

BASEBALL 2021: PRESEASON TOP 10 | PLAYERS TO WATCH | GAMES TO SEE
SOFTBALL 2021: PRESEASON TOP 10 | PLAYERS TO WATCH | GAMES TO SEE
BOYS LACROSSE 2021: PRESEASON TOP 10 | PLAYERS TO WATCH | GAMES TO WATCH
Spring Sports Schedules

Winter 2021 Preview Links

Winter Sports 2021 Links

2021 ALL-STATE TEAMS

CHSCA: GIRLS BASKETBALL | GYMNASTICS | BOYS HOCKEY | CHSGHA: GIRLS HOCKEY

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

BERKSHIRE | CCC | CRAL | CTC | ECC | FCIAC | NCCC | NVL | SCC | SHORELINE | SWC

TeamPlayer Scores and Stats search

Scores and Stats

Video

Podcasts

Fall Sports Quick Links

Fall Sports Quick Links

2021 FOOTBALL COLLEGE RECRUITING LIST
2020 GAMETIMECT ALL-STATE TEAMS
BOYS SOCCER
GIRLS SOCCER
FIELD HOCKEY
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
2020 LEAGUE PLAYOFFS:
Central Connecticut
Fairfield County
Shoreline Conference
Southern Connecticut
South-West Conference

Twitter

Tweets

Polls

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.
Follow Us
© Copyright 2017 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC