New-look Plainedge back in Nassau Conference III and out to prove it's still a contender
Aidan Ryan of Plainedge runs the ball during a game against Seaford on Oct. 31, 2025, at Massapequa. Credit: Kelvin Loarca
In some ways, Nassau Conference III is much more recognizable with Plainedge back in it. After all, the Red Devils had been a staple of the conference for almost the entirety of their existence — up until the last two years, when they were competing in Nassau IV. However, this iteration of the program has never been more unrecognizable.
The last time the team was on the field, Jaxson Torres was running the show with his powerful arm, leaning on standout skill position players like wide receiver Taylor Nitsch and running back Dylan Fella, all while under the tutelage of 30-year coach Rob Shaver. That team made it to the Nassau IV championship game.
Since then, the top skill players graduated, Shaver retired and Torres ended his football career prematurely in favor of baseball. Yet and still, the Red Devils’ tradition is expected to show up this year and shake Nassau III up. Even with all the turnover, they were picked by the conference’s coaches as the preseason No. 2 seed.
“Any people that are looking down on us because we lost these guys — we’re not listening to any of that,” senior running back/safety Dom Agovino said. “We’re still Plainedge; we’re playing smashmouth football and we’ll be up there with the top teams."
Former defensive coordinator Adam Hovorka, who had coached under Shaver since 2017, has taken over the program as its new coach. He is excited to continue the tradition that Shaver started.
“People leave programs because they think it won’t be good anymore, but that’s not the case here,” Hovorka said. “The cupboard is not bare; we have a lot of very good players. All the coaches are back, besides [Shaver]. We’ve been together for around 10 years, and he taught us well . . . Effort and toughness is why we’ve won, and that’s the expectation here. Nothing has changed.”
Alongside Hovorka comes a new quarterback in junior Aidan Ryan, who started on junior varsity as a freshman and backed up Torres last year.
Ryan may not have the booming arm that Torres does, but he was efficient in limited snaps as a sophomore, completing 6 of his 7 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns. While filling in for an injured Torres, he led the Red Devils to a 42-0, first-round playoff win over Malverne. He also brings track-star speed to the position, as he sprinted for Plainedge’s track and field team during both the winter and spring seasons to get faster, adding a new dimension to the squad’s offense.
“Obviously, I’ve got big shoes to fill, but I’m ready for this,” Ryan said. “I’ve been waiting for this moment. I’m very excited, and I’ve been put in a great spot to succeed. I have a great coach, great O-line, good receivers — perfect situation, honestly."
Mike Anderson is a high school sports reporter who has covered 12 sports so far at Newsday. He was the sports editor of Stony Brook University's campus newspaper for two years.
