Spackenkill at Our Lady of Lourdes Preview

Spackenkill (0-0) at Our Lady of Lourdes (0-0)

Friday September 1st 7PM

In both their home and season opener, Our Lady of Lourdes will take on the closest opponent on their schedule, Spackenkill.

For Spackenkill coach Jordan Riley, who is the youngest coach of every opponent, in his schedule, he is excited to get his program back to eleven man football from eight man just last season.

Coach Riley has a coaching staff, that includes coaches like Andrew Tiess, Jay Curtis, Tom Cavuoto, and even his own father, Dave Riley.

"It's a real special feeling to have my father now helping me coach as an assistant," he said. "He coached me growing up in sports like football and basketball."

Riley says that Lourdes is one of the toughest games on the Spartans schedule and he will find it rather a unique experience facing Sean Keenan, whom a Spartan alumnus himself played against the current Lourdes coach when he was at Millbrook.

Both Keenan and Riley became Head Coaches of their respective teams in 2021.

"There are not enough words to describe Coach Keenan," he says of the 1982 Lourdes alumnus.

"What he has done for the Lourdes football, and the community in general, is just going above and beyond."

Riley is most excited about players like Brian Hoyt, whose brother Anthony he will replace.

Another offensive weapon, Hassan Milligan, will power the Spartans to touchdowns,

For the defense, All-League lineman Chris Greene will orchestrate the secondary.

His team was most recently to two consecutive championships as an eight man program.

In 2021, his team won their Sectional Championship against Sullivan West High School 54-12, before losing in the next round to Spencer - Van Etten-Candor.

His team in 2022 lost their Sectional Championship Game to Tri-Valley from Grahamsville, 43-20.

For Lourdes, is a similar story.

Before losing to Somers 35-28 in overtime, Lourdes only lost one other game, to Cornwall 28-22 on the road.

Their Section Championship was a revenge game over Cornwall, 8-7.

"A lot of our guys graduated, so we will have a lot of building to do," said Keenan. "We do not have a lot of returning starters, so there will be a lot to accomplish."

One player Keenan has a lot of faith in is Mike Sabini, the returning quarterback, who will be a Senior this year.

"Sabini has done a lot for Lourdes and this program. I have no doubt he will be a team leader on and off the field."

One key player that graduated for Lourdes who Keenan says was a blessing to coach was Matt Krauza.

"Krauza was a tremendous player and kept our defense going. There are a lot of guys that need to fill in the shoes of players like him."

Lourdes assistant Lou Portaro was persuaded by his nephew to coach him at Millbrook, Keenan's previous post.

Assisting Keenan on the Warriors sideline will be Al Affuso, John Scaglione, Jim Fedigan, and Bernie Lombardi.

This game is set to be the best matchup in Dutchess County this Labor Day Weekend.