Poly Prep two-way lineman Jay Hayes is a pretty upbeat kid already, but his smile gets a bit wider when the Notre Dame-bound senior is asked about the potential for his team this year.
The talent and experience on this squad reminded Hayes of his freshman year, when the Blue Devils went 9–1 during their independent schedule. The Blue Devils were 6–3 a year ago.
“I think this is one of the most talented teams we’ve had so far,” Hayes said.
The 6-foot-5, 270-pound senior even joked that history may be set to repeat itself, since running back Gregory Charles missed their annual scrimmage with Fort Hamilton because of an injury last Saturday, just like he did in their freshman year.
The optimistic Hayes understands his impact is going to have to come sporadically as a defensive end with more and more teams running plays opposite his position on the line. He said he just has to stay focused so he can be ready when the action eventually comes his way.
“I’m expecting it almost every game,” Hayes said. “You can’t play down to it.”
One thing he — and an offensive line that returns Malik Bethea, Stan Kaminsky, Denzel Monroe, Sean Feldman and Ray Marten — can control is the Blue Devils versatile running game. Junior quarterback Chris Parker, one of the area’s most underrated players and Charles, a senior running back, both also return. Parker is shifty running downfield and has a strong enough arm to keep defenses honest, exactly the tools the team needed.
“A kid like Chris Parker who is so elusive, he’s perfect for the offense,” Poly Prep coach Dino Mangiero said.
The Blue Devils added a little help in St. Anthony’s (LI) transfer Brendan Femiano, who recently moved to Brooklyn. Mangiero said he and his staff knew they had a special player just from watching his highlight tapes.
The 210-pound downhill runner is a battering ram that loves contact. He scored three touchdowns and blocked a punt against Fort Hamilton with Charles sidelined with an ankle injury. Add to that wide receivers Devon Rose and Torres Brown, and the Blue Devils team has a host of options.
“I think we can do what ever we want, honestly,” Parker said.
Poly will have some youth in its defense, with all-new linebackers outside of Nicholas Tardy. Mangiero feels that as much experience as his team has, he is still filling in around them with talented freshmen and sophomores.
Still it doesn’t temper the players’ enthusiasm and expectations for this team — especially Hayes. Mangiero sees an extra enthusiasm from his star.
“He has a lot to prove,” Mangiero said. “He wants to do well. He wants the team to do well. We were 6–3 last year. He wants us to do much better than that.”