Wildcats 2005: ‘58 guys who care enough about Warwick football'

WARWICK - Warwick football coach Greg Sirico is pretty sure that something special is about to happen to his football team this year. He will be really sure if things pan out tonight, when his Wildcats tangle with Newburgh Free Academy in the section nine football season opener at home. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. "It's a great game for us to start of with," said Sirico. "They eliminated us (in the Class AA semi-finals) last year. I know they are an elite team." But the veteran coach knows his team will be pretty good, too. Maybe, the best he has ever coached at Warwick. "Every year we expect to compete," he said. "Of course, our expectations are high. But there are some tough teams in our division this year. Nobody is going to hand us anything. "We have the potential to be excellent. Last year's team may have over achieved a bit. This year on paper, we could have the best time to come through Warwick in a while." He notes in Class AA's Division II, Minisink Valley, Valley Central and Washingtonville will all be tough. And in Division I, the usual Newburgh, Kingston, Monroe-Woodbury trio will all be fighting it out for the throne this year. It's hard to pull the wool over anyone's eyes when you have a Division I player leading your list of returnees. Running back /defensive back Derek Hrinya has accepted a full athletic scholarship to Syracuse University. "Without question he is the best football player in our division," said Sirico. "He is an elite football player. Either on offense, defense, or special teams Derek Hrinya has a chance to put points on the board." Also returning is quarterback Ryan Darcey. Hrinya and Darcey will serve as two of the team's quad-captains. Offensive lineman/defensive tackle Shawn Barrett and defensive end Phil Murphy are the other two. Junior Matt Stranski will find room in the crowded backfield and play fullback. Sirico says he will play both ways and start at linebacker, too. Stranski's fellow classmates offensive tackle Bryant McNulty and defensive end Pat Sweeney will attract some attention from opponents, as well. "Right now we have 58 guys in this school who care enough about Warwick football to make the year round commitment to come out for this team," said Sirico. "With high school kids, anything could happen. There are a lot of good teams this year. I hope we will be in it at the end." In it? Don't let the witty coach fool you. If his Wildcats aren't in November's title game, there will be a full-blown investigation.