Look Justin Ciero in the eye and ask him what he would sacrifice for football.
You'll find there isn't much that he wouldn't.
As a sophomore in his first Varsity starting role last season, Horace Greeley's All-Section quarterback passed for 813 yards and seven touchdowns. He triggered the ground game as he ran the ball for 890 yards and nine touchdown scampers. With a compilation of angles, cuts, and jukes, Ciero displayed the pure vision of a workaday running back. The workhorse seemingly possessed the poise of a veteran, bursting on to the scene and proving himself before the masses.
"I think he's the most talented player we've ever had here," opined longtime Horace Greeley head coach Bill Tribou.
"That doesn't mean he's the best football player because remember, he's only a junior and we've had some special players. But in terms of talent, he is the most talented player. I think the issue that Justin creates for defenses, whether running or passing the ball, is that you really have to defend 11 players. That's always been the case here at Greeley. Our quarterbacks have been running backs first."
While the temperature ratcheted up throughout a sultry, sweat-inducing summer, Ciero's work ethic remained the same.
While other would-be warriors wobbled under the heat, Ciero refined elements of his game with workman-like persistence. Under the hawk-like gaze of trainers and football talent evaluators, Ciero rectified his mechanics and release. He tweaked his running style. He attended various quarterback camps and garnered some college exposure.
After materializing as one of the county's elite dual threats in 2009, Ciero knows the Quakers will reap the rewards of his high-order off-season commitment.
No question, the bar is set high for Ciero.
He is the lone junior selected on a star-spangled Super 11 that features a number of highly-touted Division-I prospects, Boston College-bound tackle Kieran Borcich of Bronxville, New Rochelle running back Jordan Lucas, and Rye quarterback Connor Eck, to name a few.
Before the hype machine is kick-started, however, Ciero must prove he can direct Tribou's offense deep into playoff territory. Last season, Ciero passed the pigskin at a 39-for-65 clip and racked up 1,703 all purpose yards. The end result, however, was dashed playoff hopes.
The Quakers' 2009 campaign culminated with an exasperating 12-7 loss to Eastchester on Halloween. The Quakers piled up a 5-3 overall record. The toughest pill to swallow was a late-season home loss to a Foxes team spearheaded by then-quarterback Jesse Hunt, who would vault into the periphery of the Player of the Year race.
A stockpile of late penalties derailed the Quakers in that crucial loss. Determined to hand Fox Lane (which was undefeated at the time) their first loss, the Quakers squandered an early 14-point bulge.
Ciero remembers it like it was yesterday: the Foxes storming Greeley's home turf in jubilant celebration while the Quakers trudged off the field wearily, sporting the look of gameday dejection. It is moments like these, Ciero said, that provide extra juice for this season.
Behind Tribou, a disciple of the legendary Tony DeMatteo, the Quakers will utilize some four-receiver sets. A bruising, immense offensive line helped pave running room for Ciero.
"Coach Tribou and the coaching staff do a great job of implementing new looks and incorporating the strength of our personnel," said Ciero, a team captain.
"As far as passing and running goes, we have a different game plan each week based on our opponents' defensive game. So, some games require me to pass more and other games we will primarily run the ball."
Having trained religiously with Anthony Botticelli, a personal trainer who once worked at Presciptions For Fitness on S.Bedford Road, Ciero upped his stamina and speed.
The augmented manpower helped Ciero with his open field moves, cuts, and throwing mechanics.
Ciero feels that the wealth of experience he gained last season, when he was thrown into the spotlight as a sophomore, will help.
"By having one year of experience under my belt, it will have a big impact on my decision making and how I manage the game. As far as goals and expectations, we just have to be focused in practice and take it one game at a time."
Ciero said Greeley wants to wash the lingering, repugnant taste of last year's Fox Lane loss out of its mouth. The Quakers were never able to give the last year's seniors the memorable sendoff they deserved.
Thus, the Quakers will play with them in mind this season.
"We owe this season to ourselves and our team from last year," explained Ciero.
"Last year's captains did a great job and the team deserved a playoff run. Because of a disappointing loss, we didn't make it. So that is definitely going to be a motivator that carries over into this season. We're definitely looking forward to playing Poughkeepsie because they're always tough and they're the returning league champs. A Section I championship is definitely our main goal."