Tundo wins Orchard Park's first Connolly Cup
RB is first junior honored since 1998
By Keith McSheaNEWS SPORTS REPORTER
Updated: 12/08/07 3:24 AM
Jeff Tundo is the first player from Orchard Park to win the Connolly Cup. And he's the first junior to win it in nine years.
But when he was asked about being the recipient of the award that goes to Western New York's most outstanding high school football player, Jeff Tundo didn't want to talk about Jeff Tundo.
"I wish they could give it to the whole line and everybody on our team, because it's really them," the junior running back said after he was named the winner of the 36th award from among 10 finalists Saturday afternoon at Ilio DiPaolo's Restaurant in Blasdell.
"I didn't think this was going to happen. All these guys are all really good. I didn't realize how big [6-foot, 200-pound McKinley senior back] Arvin Bell is. I was sitting next to [Maple Grove senior] Tom Secky, and he's one of the best quarterbacks. Delano [Fabor, a junior from St. Francis], he'll be here next year, too. It's great to be involved with all these players."
He is the first junior to win the Cup since Sandro DeAngelis of St. Joe's won it in 1998.
"I had no clue I was going to win," said Tundo. "It's awesome. I worked hard my whole life. My dad [OP coach Gene Tundo] has been my role model. He and my mom, they've worked so hard. I'm blessed to be able to be here."
Jeff Tundo helped lead Orchard Park to perhaps the best season in the program's history. The Quakers were the unanimous large school poll champion and advanced to the Class AA state semifinals and Gene Tundo was named the Western New York Coach of the Year.
In a season in which Jeff Tundo racked up huge numbers week after week, his signature game was a 368- yard, five-touchdown performance in OP's momentous breakthrough victory over Canandaigua (49-27) in the Far West Regionals. The Quakers had lost their previous seven regional games.
Tundo's total of 2,260 rushing yards tied him for fourth place on the all-time list with 1994 Connolly Cup winner David Hinson of Jamestown.
The 5-10, 185-pound Tundo is a tremendously strong runner who broke countless tackles near the line of scrimmage, made great cuts in the secondary and had the speed to break long runs.
For those big games, Tundo credited his linemen: junior Nick Bonacquisti, senior Barrett Gast, senior Steve Majstrovic, junior Justin Mesi, senior Dan Karcher and senior Randy Bloom. He also thanked junior running back Brendan Nuessle, "who led me through the holes every game."
The other nine finalists honored Saturday were: Scott Drosendahl (East Aurora junior quarterback), Reggie Garner (Cardinal O'Hara senior running back), Marcus Johnson (Sweet Home senior running back), Brandon Murie (Iroquois junior running back), Brady Raynor (Fredonia senior running back), Jon Anthony Wiltberger (Kenmore East junior quarterback), Bell, Secky and Fabor.
"[The award] says a lot for his teammates, and our program, and I'm real proud of him," said Gene Tundo. "He really prepares every single day, and he loves his teammates and loves to play football. He practices as hard as he can, and I think it showed on the field. This whole thing has been a joy. It's a joy to coach him."
With Tundo and several other OP underclassmen returning, the Quakers are already talking about next season. They've already got high expectations  partly because the team OP lost to by three points, West Genesee, went on to a 20-point victory in the Class AA state championship game.
"That's going to be our focus  we all think we can win it next year," said Jeff Tundo. "We're all already talking about it."
Said coach Tundo: "We started working out already and I got him [Jeff] a personal trainer. We're ready to rock and roll." Link
RB is first junior honored since 1998
By Keith McSheaNEWS SPORTS REPORTER
Updated: 12/08/07 3:24 AM
Jeff Tundo is the first player from Orchard Park to win the Connolly Cup. And he's the first junior to win it in nine years.
But when he was asked about being the recipient of the award that goes to Western New York's most outstanding high school football player, Jeff Tundo didn't want to talk about Jeff Tundo.
"I wish they could give it to the whole line and everybody on our team, because it's really them," the junior running back said after he was named the winner of the 36th award from among 10 finalists Saturday afternoon at Ilio DiPaolo's Restaurant in Blasdell.
"I didn't think this was going to happen. All these guys are all really good. I didn't realize how big [6-foot, 200-pound McKinley senior back] Arvin Bell is. I was sitting next to [Maple Grove senior] Tom Secky, and he's one of the best quarterbacks. Delano [Fabor, a junior from St. Francis], he'll be here next year, too. It's great to be involved with all these players."
He is the first junior to win the Cup since Sandro DeAngelis of St. Joe's won it in 1998.
"I had no clue I was going to win," said Tundo. "It's awesome. I worked hard my whole life. My dad [OP coach Gene Tundo] has been my role model. He and my mom, they've worked so hard. I'm blessed to be able to be here."
Jeff Tundo helped lead Orchard Park to perhaps the best season in the program's history. The Quakers were the unanimous large school poll champion and advanced to the Class AA state semifinals and Gene Tundo was named the Western New York Coach of the Year.
In a season in which Jeff Tundo racked up huge numbers week after week, his signature game was a 368- yard, five-touchdown performance in OP's momentous breakthrough victory over Canandaigua (49-27) in the Far West Regionals. The Quakers had lost their previous seven regional games.
Tundo's total of 2,260 rushing yards tied him for fourth place on the all-time list with 1994 Connolly Cup winner David Hinson of Jamestown.
The 5-10, 185-pound Tundo is a tremendously strong runner who broke countless tackles near the line of scrimmage, made great cuts in the secondary and had the speed to break long runs.
For those big games, Tundo credited his linemen: junior Nick Bonacquisti, senior Barrett Gast, senior Steve Majstrovic, junior Justin Mesi, senior Dan Karcher and senior Randy Bloom. He also thanked junior running back Brendan Nuessle, "who led me through the holes every game."
The other nine finalists honored Saturday were: Scott Drosendahl (East Aurora junior quarterback), Reggie Garner (Cardinal O'Hara senior running back), Marcus Johnson (Sweet Home senior running back), Brandon Murie (Iroquois junior running back), Brady Raynor (Fredonia senior running back), Jon Anthony Wiltberger (Kenmore East junior quarterback), Bell, Secky and Fabor.
"[The award] says a lot for his teammates, and our program, and I'm real proud of him," said Gene Tundo. "He really prepares every single day, and he loves his teammates and loves to play football. He practices as hard as he can, and I think it showed on the field. This whole thing has been a joy. It's a joy to coach him."
With Tundo and several other OP underclassmen returning, the Quakers are already talking about next season. They've already got high expectations  partly because the team OP lost to by three points, West Genesee, went on to a 20-point victory in the Class AA state championship game.
"That's going to be our focus  we all think we can win it next year," said Jeff Tundo. "We're all already talking about it."
Said coach Tundo: "We started working out already and I got him [Jeff] a personal trainer. We're ready to rock and roll." Link