The 1997 Varsity Football Team

The 1997 Patchogue-Medford Varsity Football Team rewrote the record book, setting a standard of excellence and achievement that no team has matched, before or since, in the more than 100-year history of the at Patchogue-Medford schools.

The team that the 1997 Raiders surpassed was the ’96 team which, under the guidance of coach Bob Sconone, won Patchogue-Medford’s first-ever Long Island championship. Sconone’s 1997 team carried on the phenomenal success, winning all eight of its regular-season games plus three more in the playoff to run up a two-season streak of 19 consecutive victories, the last of which was a 27-12 win over Nassa C champion Freeport to clinch Pat-Med’s second straight Long Island Championship, a feat that n team anihad ever accomplished.

The perfect 11-0 season of 1997 included five shutouts and eight games in which Pat-Med allowed the opposition no more than a single touchdown. Meanwhile the Raider offense scored 40 points or more fi‘ times, averaging 38 over the 11-game season.

The Long Island Championship represents the pinnacle of achievement for L.I. teams, as they (like New York City teams) are exempt from the New York State championship tournament. In addition to winning second straight Long Island Championship, the ’97 team was the first from Patchogue-Medford to win Rutgers Trophy as the best team in Suffolk County.

Four Pat-Med students—an unprecedented number—were chosen for All-Long Island honors: Mike Funaro, Derrick Rossy, Greg Murphy and Mike Orlandi. Those four plus two others, Brian Kallmeyer and Chris Boehler, were honored as All-Suffolk players. Rossy was the honored recipient of the Hansen Award as the best player in Suffolk County, as well as the Collata Award as the county’s best linebacker. Al Cardone received a National Football Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award. Coach Sconone was select the Suffolk County Coach of the Year. The team was ranked among the top 10 in the entire tri-state area There is no question about where the 1997 team stands in the history of Patchogue-Medford football: Number One.

1997 Season Results, 11-0

  • 36-0 William Floyd
  • 44-8 Lindenhurst
  • 48-0 Connetquot
  • 34-7 Longwood
  • 41-0 Smithtown
  • 51-7 Ward Melville
  • 37-0 Brentwood
  • 19-14 Sachem

Playoffs

  • 38-0 Commack (Suffolk Division I Semifinals)
  • 40-13 Brentwood (Suffolk Division I Championship)
  • 27-12 Freeport (Long Island Championship)

Awards

  • Suffolk Coach of the Year: Bob Sconone
  • All-Long Island: Mike Funaro, Derrick Rossy, Greg Murphy, Mike Orlandi
  • Hansen Award (Best in Suffolk): Derrick Rossy Collata Award (Suffolk Best Linebacker): Derrick Rossy
  • National Football Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award: AI Cardone
  • All-Suffolk: Funaro, Rossy, Murphy, Orlandi, Brian Kallmeyer, Chris Boehler
  • Rutgers Trophy (Suffolk Most Outstanding Team) MSG Tri-State Poll: #4 ranking
  • Daily News Tri-State Poll: #5 ranking
  • NYS Sportswriters Association: #6 in New York State