Sachem North's motivated seniors: 'All-or-nothing year for us' in Suffolk I
Luke LaRocca of Sachem North rolls out for a pass against Longwood during a Suffolk Division I football game on Oct. 5, 2024. Credit: /Derrick Dingle
For the first time in program history, Sachem North has a three-year starting quarterback. Senior Luke LaRocca already owns nearly every major passing record in school history.
LaRocca is joined by teammates he has won with his entire life. Many of the seniors played together in PAL, when the group lost only a handful of games over many seasons and won championships growing up together.
At the varsity level, Sachem North has reached the semifinals the last four seasons with no title to show for it. The last time the program won a county championship was 2013.
Now this senior class has one final chance to get the job done.
“It’s our last shot,” LaRocca said. “It’s everything. This is my last football season, so it just means a lot going one last time with my boys.”
LaRocca will have four returning starters on the offensive line in front of him. Senior James Chirichella is the leader of that unit.
“Me and Luke, we’ve played together our whole lives,” Chirichella said. “We both have that leadership trait to us. I think I’ve really stepped up this year, getting my guys going. We’ve been having great practices, and this is an all-or-nothing year for us.”
LaRocca said the confidence he has in the group is rare. He mentioned that the passing records feel nice, but they are not what he wants to be remembered for in his final football season.
“Not many quarterbacks in Division I get to have as much confidence as I do in the linemen I have,” he said. “And with the records, it was great to be the first to do those things, but none of it means anything unless there’s a championship on there.”
The last two seasons, powerhouses Floyd and Ward Melville have cut Sachem North’s season short before it could reach the title game at Stony Brook. It’s something Chirichella hasn’t forgotten.
“It’s motivated us a ton,” Chirichella said. “No one likes second place, no one likes third place. Everyone wants to win. And this is the year for it. Ward Melville got us last year, Floyd got us my sophomore year. It’s our turn to win it all.”
