Sachem’s 2013 championship season will never die. There are countless memories, photos, videos, and a ring. But what’s also exciting is the next four or five years worth of college football to enjoy with Sachem alums at schools across the northeast.
Anthony Service is one of those student-athletes. He is entering his freshman season as a quarterback at Western New England this week.
The coaches liked his game film; his rushing ability and they also liked his character. It’s not often a school gets a recruit who was a leader and integral part of a Long Island championship team.
“I picked this college because it just felt right when I went there,” said Service. “They had everything I wanted, and it was a great opportunity to keep playing football.”
Service will be majoring in sports management.
Sachem coach Dave Falco said he has a special place in his heart for Service because he took advantage of every opportunity around him and worked hard to achieve great success at the varsity level.
“We were extremely hard on him and tried to get him to reach his potential,” said Falco. “I really didn’t know if we had succeeded in getting him to play with the intensity and with the leadership qualities we needed but when we got banged up he was ready and did a great job for us. All the credit goes to him for making the changes needed to he successful. I hope that the experience he had for us will help him be successful as he moves on to Western New England. We truly believe he has only just begun to reach his potential as a quarterback.”
There were a handful of defining moments for Service during his senior year at Sachem, but he credits his touchdown pass against Connetquot in the post-season on fourth down as his personal favorite.
“It meant a lot to play for Sachem,” he said. “I truly believe there is not another high school football team on Long Island that is like Sachem; from the parents to the kids I’ve met over the four years I’ve been here.”
Service moved to the Sachem community in ninth grade from Valley Stream and never could have expected the end result four years later.
“I got my opportunity and I helped Sachem win its first LIC as the starting QB,” he said proudly. “That just meant so much to me. I’m glad to have played for Sachem, because there is no other place I would have rather been.”
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro