Golden Knights Football: Conklin Era Continues at Nanuet High School

When you think of Nanuet High School football you immediately think of coach Rich Conklin, who remains as enthused today as he was 35 years ago when he took command of a struggling program.

Since that time, the Golden Knights have "done very well," observes a not disinterested and longtime observer, Rich's wife Donna.

Very well, indeed. Since the beginning of the Conklin era, Nanuet has had but five losing seasons and, as the coach recalls, "two of those were 4-5s."

It's no wonder, then, that Conklin is already looking forward to the season opener on Sunday, Sept. 12, at Ardsley, not to mention the annual clash against rival Pearl River for the Little Brown Jug, at home on Oct. 16 in the last regularly scheduled game. After that, obviously, come the playoffs. "I hope so," Conklin says. "If you don't expect to be there, heck, then what are you doing. We'll be competitive this year, maybe more so than you might think on paper because of what we lost."

What Nanuet has lost from a team that rolled to an 11-1 record last season -- losing only to powerhouse Hornel in a stirring contest that went down to the wire in the state title game -- are 10 of 11 starters on offense and eight of 11 on defense.

"But that being said, we have a lot of kids who saw considerable action," cautions the coach, a 1967 Nanuet graduate and player who still remembers the poundings they took in the old PSAL days when it was just Clarkstown (no North and South) and just Spring Valley (no Ramapo).

Critical to the 2010 cause is returning senior Kyle Hanney, who was the understudy to his brother Tom last year. "Kyle has better feet, so we're trading an arm for quickness," observes Conklin, also touting returning seniors John Brezovsky, a two-way starter at tight end/safety, and Greg Caneparo, a linebacker/safety also known in Nanuet parlance as a "dog safety." Another senior to watch is lineman Rich Berkery.

The coach is also buoyed by the prospect of talented players from below such as juniors Adam Gonzalez, a lineman, and Mike McGreevey, a cornerback/halfback. Another impact player is senior halfback/defensive back Stephen Guerriero.

The Golden Knights have not lost to the rival Pirates over the course of the last 13 years, making the Little Brown Jug a fixture at Nanuet. And in that span, Nanuet and Pearl River met two other times, with Nanuet taking the measure of those confrontations too. It's a rivalry not lost on either the coach or his wife.

"You know," remembers Donna, "we never won until, in all honesty, Rich got there 35 years ago. He puts everything into it. The Little Brown Jug was the idea of the athletic directors – both small schools, close to each other. It's a great tradition. We prayed to beat Pearl River. The alumni still get together in a fun game on Thanksgiving, then they party at the Elks Club and get to know one another."

"I love it," the coach tells New City Patch. "It's a good rivalry, a lot of spirit. It's always something to look forward to."