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Orlando, Cohen allow Hornets to air it out

Friday, October, 05 By Nick Curcuru
Correspondent

When preparing to play the Manchester Essex football team, be prepared for a shootout.

The 3-1 Hornets have put up 91 points over the first four games of the season, 84 in their three wins. It's a potent offense that features something that is often a rare commodity around these parts | a passing attack. The two instrumental figures in the high-powered offense are junior quarterback Pat Orlando and senior split end Sam Cohen.

Orlando has completed 27 passes for 604 yards and five touchdowns this season, and Cohen has accounted for an area-best 13 receptions for 282 yards. He has also found the end zone three times. The duo is leading Manchester Essex towards its goal of a second straight Commonwealth Small championship.

Orlando and Cohen, who are both team captains, have credit the success to knowing each other so well on the field. "We know each other's tendencies because we have been playing together for a while," said Cohen, who also does the place kicking for the Hornets. "Plus we see the game similarly which really helps."

Orlando cited that the duo's on-field chemistry is vital to their success.

"We have a lot of chemistry on the field," said Orlando, whose brother Vinny was also an explosive signal-caller at Manchester Essex and is currently a senior quarterback at Endicott College. "I always know where Sam will be so it gives me a lot of confidence throwing his way."

Cohen and Orlando have also acquired chemistry through their offseason work. The tandem participated in a rigorous workout program four days a week during the summer, and made time to run pass patterns whenever they could.

"They have worked very hard during the offseason lifting and passing," Hornets head coach Mike Athanas said. "Sam has great hands and Pat can get him the ball, but they got better at the little things through hard work."

The duo also takes practice very seriously, taking every opportunity they can to better themselves.

"We are always focused in practice because good practice leads to good play," Cohen said. "If something is not working, we will work on it until it does work. We aren't satisfied until we do everything right."

Athanas also credits Orlando and Cohen with strong but quiet leadership, which was brought to the forefront in the Hornets 21-14 victory over Lynnfield. The Hornets found themselves down by 14 points with just under four minutes remaining in the game. Cohen and Orlando would then take over scoring two touchdowns on 97 passing yards to tie the game at 14. Manchester Essex would end up winning in overtime.

Athanas pointed out that the quarterback split end pair energized the team with their big plays.

"They are both captains for a reason," Athanas said. "They lead by example on the field with their play and hard work. Plus the team rallies around their big plays."

While the Hornets have been getting a lot of big plays in the passing game, their running game has been very productive as well. Sophomore halfback Brian Ciccone has run for 220 yards and four touchdowns this season, and he believes the passing game is vital to the success of the running game.

"Our passing game opens up the run," Ciccone said. "Having a strong passing attack keeps the defense off balance and has made me a lot more successful this year."

Overall, the Manchester Essex passing attack has been one of the best on the North Shore, and Orlando sees no signs of it slowing down.

"We are going to get better as the season goes on," Orlando said. "We will keep putting up numbers and helping the team win football games."