Thursday, October 1, 2026
What a difference a year can make.
In 2024, the Cougars were a winless football team struggling through an 0-8 season. But last year, they turned things around in a big way. They knocked off MacArthur in the final game of the regular season to conclude a 5-3 campaign as they punched their ticket to the Conference II playoffs.
Not even an opening-round playoff loss to Mepham could spoil what Kennedy had accomplished.
“I couldn’t have been prouder of how the team did,” head coach John McGuire said. “To beat MacArthur in a win and get in game was huge. It was a big moment for the program. We’re the perpetual little brother in some people’s eyes.”
The Cougars are little brothers no more as Kennedy was voted the most-improved team in Nassau County and now, they look for a second consecutive playoff appearance with a number of key players returning from a year ago. Last season, Kennedy was seeded 12th out of 14 teams, but this season, they’re eighth and with that higher seed comes a tougher schedule.
Still, there’s good vibes at Kennedy.
“We’re cautiously optimistic,” McGuire said. “I think our boys are excited about it and they’ve worked tremendously hard.”
On offense, the Cougars are a triple option under-center team and the system runs through senior quarterback Dylan Babek and junior fullback Nico Pasquariello.
Babek, who is also a pitcher on the baseball team and is committed to Stony Brook after helping lead the Cougars to a Long Island title, returns for his second season as the starting signal-caller.
Pasquariello, who lives in the weight room and became a thousand-pound club member, is going to be looked upon to take the next step and be more dynamic.
“They’re the two main guys that the offensive goes through,” McGuire said. “We’re a triple option under-center team and it goes through the quarterback and the fullback for the large of the carries.”
Defensively, the Cougars will look for another big year from senior Nose Tackle C.J. Siegler, an All-Conference selection who recorded seven sacks last year. He is a faceoff specialist on the lacrosse team and is committed to Long Island University.
“He’s another one who is a thousand-pound club kid,” McGuire said. “He lives in the weight room and has a motor that goes all day.”
Another key player on defense is senior cornerback Dom Vaglica, the only two-way player on the team last year, who will also see some time on offense as the slot back.
“He is just sound,” said McGuire. “You can depend on him to know his assignment, do the right thing, and be in the right place.”
Other players to watch include senior defensive back/running back Dimitri Christopoulos who will also serve as the backup quarterback, Senior wideout Robbie Beinert, and senior linebacker Jonny Cohen who steps into the middle of the defense after playing safety last year.
On special teams, Babek will handle the punting while junior Ryan Finkelstein, who is also on the soccer team, will be the kicker.
But, in reality, the whole team, as well as the support system, is something special.
“We have some really good kids here,” McGuire said. “It really is a pleasure to coach these kids. I’m blessed to have really good kids and good families here at Kennedy. It’s really a special place.”
The Cougars will begin their season at home against Roosevelt.
Garden City is the cream of the crop in a very strong Conference II that also features quality contenders like Carey, Long Beach, Mepham and New Hyde Park.
Getting back to the postseason will not be easy for McGuire’s squad. “It’s going to be tough,” he said. “Conference II is definitely no pushover. If you get into the playoffs in Conference II, you’ve definitely earned it.”
Last season, the Cougars were one of the biggest surprise teams in the county. This fall, those “perpetual little brothers” will be out to prove to the big boys that they belong in the playoff conversation once again.
To read more from the Herald's 2026 High School Football Preview, click here.
