It’s only fitting that the most important special teams play in Sachem history came at the hands of Malik Pierre. The hardened veteran, the warrior, the tireless leader, Sachem’s thoroughbred, he came through when it mattered most to block a punt and boost Sachem’s momentum towards winning its first Long Island championship.
What’s remarkable is that Pierre also threw a 59-yard pass, rushed for another 73 yards and a touchdown, and scored on a two-point conversion. It was just another day for Malik Pierre.
It’s his running game, however, that was honored at this year’s Suffolk County Football Coaches Association dinner Monday at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge, N.Y. Pierre won the Joe Cipp Jr. Award, named after a Sachem alum, as the Most Outstanding Running Back in Suffolk County.
He is the second player from Sachem North to win the honor after Dalton Crossan in 2011 and the third in a row from the school district following Sachem East’s Steven Casali from last season.
With 1,502 yards and 21 touchdowns, Pierre had one of finest single-seasons of any running back in Sachem history. The rushing yards are the fifth most in a single-season at Sachem, and his 2,825 career yards rank third all-time behind only James O’Neal and Dalton Crossan.
“Malik Pierre will be remembered forever around here,” said Sachem coach Dave Falco. “He’s that special kind of player who has a legacy. For him to be recognized as the top running back in the county is a great thing for him and our program.”
Pierre was selfless after the awards dinner, giving 100 percent of the credit to his linemen, guys like Bryan Gresalfi, Anthony DiMatteo, Teddy Konstantatos, Phil Koehler, Matt O’Leary, Mike Kearns, Nick Accurso and George Carrion, among others.
“Without them, I don’t get one yard,” he said.
“Malik would be the first to tell you that you don’t score touchdowns or get awards without guys blocking,” said Falco. “The award is like an offensive team award.”
In the five-plus decades that Sachem football has been played, there may not be a player as dynamic in his pursuit of the end zone. He could run as well as anyone on Long Island, he caught touchdown passes, managed to throw three touchdown passes in his career, and scored on punt and kick returns.
He reached the 200-yard mark in a game once during his junior and senior seasons. He is also a two-time All-Long Island selection, one of only four players in the program to earn the honor twice (D. Crossan, Geogahn, Brush).
Defensively he was equally as dominant. He finished his three-year varsity career with 10 interceptions, which ranks second all-time in program history behind teammate Kevin Bragaglia.
Asked to describe his running style he said he was quick and shifty. He left out fearless, versatile and dominant no matter the situation.
“He will always be remembered for that warrior spirit that he brings to the table,” Falco said. “Once he steps over that line he is an absolute beast. Banged up, injured, tired and he never came off the field. That attitude is what we strive to preach and Malik was leading the way.”
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro