Fox Lane’s move into Section 1’s Ability‑Based Development League (ABDL) wasn’t a demotion as much as it was a strategic reset.
When football coach Andrew Giuliano and staff made the decision to drop down to the ABDL Independent League, they did so begrudgingly but knowing the move would benefit the overall program and set the foundation for a sustainable future.
Yet this year's players are reaping the rewards, too.
“We switched leagues, and so far, we are seeing success,” Giuliano said. “So far, it has been a fantastic move for us. However, the progress in our program goes well beyond the scoreboard. Our players understand our situation. We spoke about it last spring and again on the first day of double sessions. It was clearly understood that we moved to this league to maintain high-level competitiveness while navigating a temporary dip in overall numbers. We currently have 26 players on our roster. While recent history shows we could compete with our previous opponents, it is extremely difficult to do so consistently when facing teams with rosters ranging from 35 to 50 players.
"This move was far from a desire to simply win games," the coach added. "It was about staying competitive during a short-term drop in roster size. Our youth and modified numbers are strong, and we made this choice to ensure our current roster could compete and stay true to our brand of football while those younger classes make their way up.”
The ABDL was designed exactly for Fox Lane’s situation: programs with declining numbers, inconsistent JV pipelines, and a need to rebuild without being crushed by the traditional Section 1 gauntlet. Both Fox Lane and John Jay-Cross River faced the same crisis — dwindling rosters, JV issues, and consecutive subpar seasons. The section gave them a controlled environment to grow, and Fox Lane can now be seen as a model for how quickly a program can rebound when given the right conditions.
“Some would say being 4-0 is great, and while we agree that starting 4-0 is a good thing, we do not define that as our ultimate success,” the coach said. “Winning is a product of the work that goes into the season. It comes from the preparation, the effort, the commitment, the accountability, and the overall buy-in from everyone involved.
“To me, that process is our true success,” Giuliano added. “Our success is watching these kids grow into young men and seeing their confidence build day by day. It is new players learning the game while our veterans lead by example. It is watching concepts taught in practice successfully executed on Friday nights. All of those elements combined are what equal 4-0 to us.”
As it turns out, the move to the ABDL has been an elixir that has enabled the undefeated Class A Foxes (4-0) to grow within their means, including two victories against two Section 1 Class AA teams – White Plains and RCK – and two more against indy clubs Port Chester and Ossining.
In the 7-6 win over RCK on Sept. 26, QB Andrew Rudolph crisply connected on 12 of 17 passes for 122 yards, including a 39-yard TD strike to WR Emmett Bendish. RB Luke Grasso bullied the line of scrimmage for 110 yards on 14 carries, and Noah Lieberman sealed the deal, snuffing out an RCK two-point conversion attempt with 40 seconds left. The Fox defense was swarming, led by Chase Stonecipher (9 tackles), Malik Young (8), Jason Milito (8) and Gavin Mammola (7). Bendish added an INT.
In Fox Lane's 36-14 win over Ossining, Rudolph (10 of 14, 197 yards) threw for a score on nearly half his 10 completions, firing four touchdown passes—two to Stonecipher (seven catches, 128 yards) and one each to Gavin Mammola and Victor Golz. Grasso also rumbled for a score, while Mammola intercepted a pass and Jason Milito recovered a fumble.
“On the field, we have had numerous individuals step up and perform,” Giuliano said. “We have several receivers who can make plays, along with a junior quarterback in Andrew Rudolph who excels at distributing the ball. His main targets are Emmett Bendish, Chase Stonecipher, Jason Milito and Gavin Mammola. Our offensive line has progressed nicely and continues to improve daily. The best part about our linemen is that they operate like a team within a team. They act like a tight-knit family, which is exactly what you want upfront. Our primary group includes Liam Provost, Joe Frusciante, Bryan Martinez, Anthony Lopez, and sophomore Noah Lieberman.
“Defensively, we have been solid, led by Gavin Mammola and Milito,” the coach added. “In the secondary, Emmett Bendish has hauled in a few interceptions, and Chase Stonecipher has truly settled into his new role at safety. Sophomore Victor Golz improves every single week and is quickly becoming a special player. Overall, it has been a wonderful experience. More than the wins, true success is seeing these players walk the hallways with a quiet confidence.”
The Foxes were scheduled to host independent league rival Horace Greeley Friday, Oct. 2, before traveling to John Jay-CR Friday, Oct. 9. The Wolves recently handed the Quakers a 38-6 setback, so the Foxes will have their hands full against yet another nearby rival as they forge ahead with their plan.
“Those team moments are where real success lives,” Giuliano said. “Things are changing here, and this league move was made to strengthen our program for the long haul by reestablishing our culture.
"So far, we are seeing that vision come to life.”
According to Lakeland coach Tim Hourahan, Fox Lane is one of many Class AA contenders with a shot at sectional supremacy as the season moves closer to Oct. 31, when the Section 1 finals kick off at Mahopac High School.
As they head into October, the Foxes (5-1-2) are one of six exceptional challengers, including Lakeland (7-1) along with state-ranked (No. 10) Eastchester (6-0-1) and Greeley (4-2-2), state-ranked (No. 20) Mahopac (8-1-1) and (No. 8) Harrison (5-1-1, whose only loss was to No. 2 Class A Rye, which may be the best overall team in Section 1).
“Class AA is a bear, and every quarterfinal game and semifinal game will be massive, and the two programs who survive are going to have to really earn it to get to the finals,” Hourahan said. “We have six teams that have had a legitimate start. This is the deepest class in Section 1 by a mile.”
Fox Lane will get a look at three of those teams between Oct. 2 and Oct. 10: Harrison, Eastchester and Greeley.
On Tuesday, Sept. 29, Fox Lane managed a 2-0 win over John Jay-Cross River, which had a tough time slowing down Lucas Ormazabal, who set up a pair of goals, one for Kevin Lopez (his second of the season) and the other for Juan Acosta (2G, 3A this season). Ormazabal is among the section’s top scorers with nine goals and three assists as of our Oct. 1 press time.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, Fox Lane had a real chance to prove its worth but came up just short in a 2-1 loss to Eastchester. Fredy Contreras (3G, 6A this season) scored his third goal of the year off a pass from Acosta.
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the Foxes exploded for a 5-1 win over Yorktown, which struggled to contain both Contreras and Ormazabal, each of whom provided a goal and two assists. Acosta tickled twine twice; Lopez added a goal and Peter Tevez dished an assist.
Fox Lane coach Tom Bond noted the defensive efforts of Peter Tevez, Max Cohen, Christian Mejia and Diego Martinez.
“They are all playing great defensively and the goal here at Fox Lane remains to win a sectional championship,” the coach said.
Fox Lane then went on to sweep Yorktown in a 2-1 win on Oct. 1 behind goals from Evan Cattanach and Martinez with assists coming off the feet of Christian Mejia and Kevin Lopez. Keeper Luke Valenti, as he’s been all season, made key saves to preserve the road win.
There’s been some tough sledding along the first half of the schedule, with Fox Lane girls toughing out a 2-6 start. Aside from a 5-3 win over Arlington’s B team on Sept. 19, the Foxes were outscored 24-1 in recent losses to Mahopac, Walter Panas, Horace Greeley and John Jay-CR, the last an 8-0 road loss on Oct. 1.
Against Arlington B, Lauren Spolasky continued to shine as a mega-bright spot for the future. The sophomore notched a hat trick and set up another score, while Lily Mazzuca and Jillian Kurchack tacked on goals—which have been tough to come by ever since.
With Brewster (2-3-2), Greeley (2-3-2) and Somers (1-3-2) up next, the Foxes are hoping some winnable matches will give them the momentum to improve their potential playoff seed (No. 14 as of press time).
Coached by Toni Racanelli and Nicole Regan, the Foxes were 3-6 overall at press time, with several recent accomplishments, including a fast-paced battle against Valhalla that went five sets before a Fox Lane win.
Strong serve runs by Gene Grogan and Jackson Lubinsky and kills by Curtis McConnell and Chris Vega have been key to the program’s progression. Evan Stackle and Harrison Rosenbloom are dominating at the net, and Justin Cohen has been all over the court, getting the necessary sets.
Kwesi Chambers and Sam Liu are making defense look effortless. Perfect passes are coming from libero Hades Laskaris, and Ethan Coppola is steady and ready to block. The unit is looking forward to taking another shot at Croton/Briarcliff/Hen Hud in the hopes of preparing for a shot at playoffs.
The Foxes (0-7-1) have fought tooth and nail, but the results are not what they were hoping for, including a 1-0 loss to host Somers on Oct. 1. Despite the continued efforts of Sofia Valente, Phoebe Fisher, Emily Kalarchian and Sara Renz, Fox Lane will be seeking its first win this week in the hopes of salvaging a playoff position.
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