Sports

St. Joseph by the Sea starts season of remembrance, redemption

In the St. Joseph by the Sea player’s minds Nick Dellaventura is still with them.

“Every minute,” senior running back/linebacker Nick King said.

The sophomore, whoi was expected to play for the junior varsity, fainted at an offseason workout at the school in July and later died at the hospital. It dealt a crushing blow to the Staten Island program. The team has dedicated the upcoming season to him and will wear a patch with his initials “ND” and number 74 on it in his honor.

Senior Brandon Young has another tribute in mind.

“Every time I score a touchdown I am going to point my hand to the sky in remembrance of Nicky,” he said. “He never took a play off. We are going to take that attitude into the season.”

Sea is coming off a disappointing 2-8 campaign in which it didn’t record a win over a CHSFL Class AAA opponent. Second-year coach Rich Clark told his club it’s one thing to talk about dedicated the season Dellaventure; it’s another to play that way.

“He’s always there with us every time we take the field,” the coach said.

Clark’s team will feature a stable of talented running backs. King, who will also play linebacker and kick, will be used as a change of pace back in short-yardage situations. The majority of the carries will be shared by Young, Andrew Russo and Frank Calcutta, a group that brings a variety of styles to Sea’s run-heavy attack.

“I think it’s a deadly group,” senior linebacker Joe Sarno said.

Senior Joseph Zollinger and junior Ryan Minlionica, who can also play safety, are battling for the quarterback job. Brandon Violante leads an undersized but athletic offensive line with Robert Orlando, Hugo Fernandez and tight end Michael Cariffe.

The Vikings will unveil a new potential star on defense. Peter Mokwauh, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound prospect, is expected to be a force aty defensive end as the centerpiece of a beefy defensive line – with three kids over 6-feet and 250 pounds – along with Brandon Spears, Paul Davanza and William Gumb.

“When he plays full speed, there is not a human being in the world who can stop him,” Violante said of Mokwauh.

They are part of a veteran Sea defense that has something to prove after finishing last in the league a year ago. Vincent Lorenzi and Christian Sarnelli will play cornerback and Cesar Fernandez and Omar Rivera will be at safety. Sarno, Anthony Venturine and Tom Galli will also see time at linebacker with King.

“There was no secret they had a tough time last year,” Clark said. “They take it personally.”

Dellaventura’s passing already made this season personal. The Sea players will take the field in his honor each week looking for a better result than a year ago.

“This season is going to be much different,” Sarno said. “Much different atmosphere, we are playing for Nicky.”

jstaszewski@nypost.com