Plainedge Red Devils football team is under new leadership

Shaver was on the verge of notching his seventh county title last winter but Plainedge (10-1) got upset by Seaford in the Conference IV championship game.

“Sometimes you get lulled, but I’m not going to stay we took them lightly,’’ Hovorka said. “Their coaches and players did a really good job and got us that day.’’

What struck Hovorka was how players responded to the defeat.  

“Without saying anything to anyone, that Monday after the disappointing loss, they all came to the weight room,’’ Hovorka said. “That loss motivated them to put in a lot of work and time in the offseason.’’

Despite losing 14 seniors, Plainedge is No. 2 seed as it moves up from to Conference III from IV. It’s still is loaded with a dense senior class, including its star senior running back/receiver/safety Dom Agovino.

“We’re the two seed for a reason,’’ Hovorka said. “That’s with a new coach coming in. That’s credit to what coach Shaver has built here and how our community values football. We got a lot of good players.”

Agovino, armed with a lacrosse scholarship to Wingate (N.C.), is a super football player, too, and mans three positions.

“He’ll be the best player on the team most likely,’’ Hovorka said. “He does a little bit of everything offensively – shifty, electric with the ball, hard to cover, hard to tackle.’’

The new coach won’t disclose his strategy on when Agovino will be used in the backfield. Shaver acted as offensive coordinator. The OC position is now shared by Mike Walsh and Kevin Spellman.

“He’s probably our best running back and best receiver,’’ Hovorka said of Agovino. “It would be silly not to use him in both.’’

Senior Casey Auer is another key offensive cog - the running back who will take quarterback reps in “wildcat” formations. Last season, Auer, who will play lacrosse at Hofstra, lined up at receiver in 2025. He’s a third-year starter, also playing linebacker. “He’s very athletic and strong,’’ Hovorka said.

The new quarterback is junior Aidan Ryan, taking over for senior Jaxson Torres, who’s focusing on his baseball scholarship at Arizona State.

“He’s very athletic and a dual-threat guy who can run and throw,’’ Hovorka said of Ryan. “He had a great summer and worked really hard.’’

As a sophomore, Ryan started at safety and will do so again.

Anchoring the offensive line is run-blocking specialist Jake McClosky. He also plays the defensive line and is headed to Springfield College for football.

Also returning on both lines is senior Matteo Pallone. The Red Devils will need good work from senior offensive and defensive lineman Alex Martinez, a first-year starter.

The offense could be measurably helped if junior tight end Jimmy Marx is as good as advertised. Marx is up from JV – a 6-foot-3 potential stud. “Big, tall guy, strong as heck in the weight room,’’ Hovorka said. “He won’t be a surprise as he’s been real good all summer.’’

The defense is boosted by linebacker Jonny Cynar, who also received a lacrosse scholarship to Wingate. Cynar started at linebacker a year ago but will get a crack at running back.

James Cito, a senior, was a backup player last year but his hard work in the weight room has earned him a role at receiver/safety. Senior Andrew Speed also will see time at receiver/safety.

A junior, Caiden Farrell is up from JV after a solid offseason and will play on both lines. “He got really strong - one of the strongest kids we have,’’ Hovorka said. “We lost a lot of seniors but we’re still pretty deep,’’ he added.

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