Defense leads Uniondale to victory

Uniondale’s football team has had quite a back and forth season, but got back on the right track after a 20-3 victory over Valley Stream Central last Friday in Nassau Conference I.

The victory was led by the Knights’ strong defensive effort. If the offense struggled to find its footing, the defense was always there to make a big stop and supply its counterpart with solid field position.

That has pretty much been the story of the whole season for Uniondale. The leader for the unit is middle linebacker Luis Lizama. He’s been an absolute monster, seemingly always around the ball when a play needs to be made.

“[Lizama] is a once in a lifetime type of kid,” head coach Phil Coppola said. “He’s just an absolute terror on opposing teams. He’s all over the field and I think that teams are scheming just to stop him. Whether it be practice, a scrimmage, or a game he’s flying to the ball no matter the situation.”

Charlie Debose has been a force on the defensive line, filling up gaps all year. Even if he’s not there to make the tackle he gives the next level the opportunity to make the play just by limiting the opposition’s options. Tristan Greenwood has been a great player in the secondary this year. Coppola refers to him as a “missile” and a player who is always there when a play needs to be made.

Jahiem Foote is a key two-way player for the Knights, being a primary runner of the ball on offense and a hard-hitting safety on defense. Jaden Lewis-White has had a very strong year on the offensive line and as a junior can only get better moving on.

Jonel Lattore has done a very nice job at the quarterback position. He’s a dual-threat able to both run and throw and excels with play fakes. In the season-opener against Farmingdale he completely fooled the defense and took a read option 49 yards.

Barry Weed who started out as a primary receiver has also slotted into an outside linebacker position and excelled there. Xzavier Whyte, who plays both receiver and corner, has played wonderfully at both positions this season. With a soft cast on due to injury, he made an Odell Beckham-like interception earlier in the year.

The Knights have a 3-3 record so far and Coppola is very proud of his team especially due to the tough situations it has faced.

“My kids have been through a lot of adversity this year,” Coppola said. “The whole school is going through construction and we’ve been practicting in between two construction sites with no goal posts or lines. Our homecoming is at Freeport because we don’t have a true home field yet, but none of that has discouraged the team at all. They just want to go out and play football no matter where that is.”

Uniondale plays its next game on Saturday when it takes on Freeport at 2 p.m.