Huntington High School Football Players Receive Awards

HUNTINGTON, NY — Six graduating Huntington High School seniors have been honored for their contributions on the gridiron, and some will go on to play college ball.

The Huntington Varsity football team is coming off a competitive 3-5 season, with heartbreaking losses to Northport, 23-22, and to perennial powerhouse West Islip, 37-35. The team would have secured a playoff spot had they won those two tight games.

Six seniors in the football program were recently presented with honors at the 51st annual Blue Devil Senior Athletic Awards Banquet in the Louis D. Giani Gymnasium. They were:

• John Paci - Quarterback - Team MVP
• Eric Sands Jr. - Multiple positions on the offensive side of the ball - Offensive MVP
• Joey Ramos Jr. - Linebacker - Defensive MVP
• Bryce Criscuola - Lineman - Most Valuable Lineman
• Jordan McCoy - Wide Receiver - Most Improved
• Patrick Durand - Coaches Award

Quarterback John Paci was named to the All-State Team for his performance last season. Paci threw for more than 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns, and added 229 yards on the ground, with a pair of rushing touchdowns, to boot. Paci is the son of John Paci III, who attended Huntington in the 1980s, where he won Suffolk County player of the year honors before going on to play at Indiana University and eventually the NFL.

Paci IV will continue playing football at Lafayette College in the fall. Offensive MVP Award winner Eric Sands Jr. also plans to continue his football career, playing at SUNY Alfred State.