Matt O’Leary did what was needed of him as a Sachem football player. He played special teams, he was a second and third string lineman, he played on the scout team, and from Week 7 of the regular season through the Long Island championship game, he was the starting center.
When he went to Kings College on a recruiting visit, an assistant coach there said they saw the vast improvement O’Leary showed from game-to-game at the center position. And playing center at just 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds in Suffolk County’s Division I is not easy. Now he’s committed to play college football at Kings College and will continue to play bigger then he is, as the coach told him.
“Matt was a big addition to our offensive line after battling injuries early in the year,” said Sachem coach Dave Falco. “He battled back from those injuries just in time to be a big contributor at the end of the season. He brought toughness and stability to an offensive line that was having success but blossomed when he was able to contribute. His ability to shotgun snap the ball against William Floyd made all the difference on that cold windy day. Kings College will be very happy to have Matt in their program he is a hard worker and a great teammate and is a tuff football player who plays hard on every play.”
Interested in majoring in criminal justice and minoring in finance, Kings has the academic needs that O’Leary desired. Everything checks out athletically for O’Leary as well.
“They have a great group of guys on the team that welcomed me and made me feel right at home,” he said. “They have a sense of brotherhood there that I did not feel during any other college visit. The coaches remind me of my coaches here at Sachem North.”
Kings College will use O’Leary in a variety of ways, possibly including tight end for Monarchs.
While he’s ready to make the next step to the college level, he’s forever grateful for his experiences at Sachem.
“Playing at Sachem has been an unbelievable experience,” he said. “The bond I share with the teammates I suited up with will never be forgotten. Wearing the Black and Gold with Sachem across your chest makes you feel a sense of pride, honor, and family. And now we share a place in Sachem history together!”
One of the best moments of O’Leary’s career – besides winning the Class I Long Island championship – was making his first start at center against Northport in the first round of the 2013 playoffs.
“I was incredibly nervous for my first start because I had never snapped a football before and at this critical point in our season,” he said. “Returning from a shoulder injury late in the season, coach Falco called me over and told me to go learn how to snap.”
Though he did not start against Patchogue-Medford during Week 8 of the regular season, he was put in the game halfway through the second quarter. He played well enough to earn the starting nod against Northport the following week, a 42-14 Sachem victory.
From his line coaches at Sachem to alums like Steve Mills, who came home from college to work with him, O’Leary had the guidance on all ends to be a successful player when it counted most.
“The support and encouragement from the coaches was amazing,” he said.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro