Thursday, October 1, 2026
Following back-to-back wining campaigns under head coach Tom Innes, Elmont – hit by the offseason graduation of three All-County receivers – slipped to 3-6 last season to finish sub-.500 for the first time in Innes’ tenure.
Still, at season’s end, only a field goal’s margin separated Elmont from what it had hoped would be its first Nassau semifinal appearance in five seasons, the Spartans getting edged 9-6 at South Side in the Conference III quarterfinal.
Turning a page, Innes in his fourth year at the helm will have a mostly clean slate to work with as Elmont returns just three starters. But, crucially, among that trio is last season’s breakout two-way anchor Elijah Davis, a senior All-Conference linebacker and running back who averaged almost 90 yards rushing per game while also leading Elmont in tackles.
For a young squad looking to regain its stride, a lot of the load is likely to fall on the six-foot-one, 220-pound Davis this season, a task that Innes said the third-year starter should be primed to take on.
“Elijah looks faster, looks stronger, his vision has gotten better,” Innes said. “He’s a powerful back who can also get to the edge. He’s going to lead us.”
“It’s miserable trying to tackle Elijah Davis,” Innes went on. “Even in practice, we’ve got to be careful how we match up guys tackling him. With lots of new people on offense, a lot of it is going to go through Elijah.”
Returning with Davis to Elmont’s defensive first unit is fellow senior captain Kyle McGruder at tackle, with Phillip Menard, Kesaan Thompson and Jaden Modelo set to join the Spartans’ first rotation at linebacker, while juniors Ruben Chery and Emmanuel Omoseyin become starting Spartans edge rushers.
Modelo – a converted safety – has been a top defensive standout in camp, said Innes, who also pointed to McGruder as a possible disrupter on that side of the ball.
“Jaden and Kyle will probably be our big leaders (on defense), along with Elijah,” Innes said. “Both (Modelo and McGruder are) strong, athletic kids. They’re two of our special players.”
Gio Michel takes over for three-year Spartans starter Aiden Barnes at quarterback. The 150-pound sophomore – last year’s starting quarterback on Elmont’s JV team – has some of his predecessor’s dual-threat tools, Innes said, but may focus more on arm skills while maturing as a runner this season. “Gio’s a tremendous athlete; he reminds me a lot of Aiden,” Innes said. “But he’s still just sophomore. So we’ve got to be conscious of that as he develops. He’ll grow into that running role.”
Working with first-year-starting wideouts Christian Pierre and Chris Franklin – who’ll also start in the Spartans’ defensive backfield, along with Olamide Akanni – Michel will operate behind an O-line led by 6-3, 305-pound sophomore Ugum Nnabuogor, a second-year-starting prodigy at guard.
“Ugum is just massive, and he has exceptional footwork,” Innes said. “It’s hard to believe he’s only 15 years old. He’s a tremendous lineman and he’s only going to get better, from putting in the hard work.”
Though the Spartans this year welcome more new faces than in any other season under Innes, the veteran skipper said he sees as much silver lining as he does downside in the situation.
“Yes, there’s some lack of football experience for the guys coming in,” Innes said. “But that makes for almost easier coaching, the lack of what they know coming in. They’re easier to teach because they only know what we’re teaching them.”
“Talent-wise,” Innes continued, “I’m not worried. We have plenty to work with.”
Elmont opens the season with a rematch at rival South Side, followed by its home opener Sept. 19 against Conference III finalist Bethpage. The Spartans host reigning county champ Wantagh Oct. 24.
“The key to a good season will be our execution,” Innes said. “Last year, we faltered a little bit in the execution category, and on big plays. This year, if we execute and we come up with big plays, this team will be very dynamic and very competitive in our conference.
To read more from the Herald's 2026 High School Football Preview, click here.
