The Spectrum

Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: The Spectrum/Chris Morrow

From the start of Saturday's game against Iona, senior Jonathan Corto, co-captain and defensive linebacker, showed why he was named to the Football Gazette Pre-Season All-America Team.

Jon Corto started off the game with a tackle on the opening kickoff, allowing Iona to gain only four yards. On the first play of Iona's drive, quarterback Dustin Croick, junior of Agoura Hills, Calif., fumbled the ball on an attempted hand-off. Corto pounced on it at the Iona three-yard line, leading to an immediate Sacred Heart touchdown.

"It was planned," said Corto a senior from Orchard Park, NY, talking about the first play of the game. They were intending on a blitz and it proved to be the right call. Corto added, "Their quarterback must have gotten nervous."

Head Coach Paul Gorham said, "[Corto] doesn't let anything get too big." Referring to stopping opponent's offensive drives and creating turnovers. Gorham added that they expect Corto to have an impact on defense every game and he consistently meets up to those expectations.

Sacred Heart opened the season with two losses as they came to play Saturday against Iona. "We said today was the start of a new season," said Corto, who was looking past the weeks against Lafayette and Marist.

Sacred Heart seemed plagued with injuries throughout the day, fortunately all were due to dehydration and were not considerably major, but still taking five Pioneers from the field. Corto said that Saturday's game was the "first really hot game, we're not used to it yet." Corto was almost caught victim with cramps but was able to keep himself in the game.

Corto finished the game with five tackles and three assists. He also picked up a fumble recovery and recorded one sack.

This upcoming Saturday Sacred Heart will take on the Duquense Dukes of Pittsburgh, Pa. This is Corto's first career game against the Dukes and the first time Sacred Heart has played them since 2001.

In 2004 Corto, made a position switch from the safety position to linebacker. During that season he set a career high and let Sacred Heart with 74 tackles, including three quarterback sacks.

In 2005, Corto led Sacred Heart with a new career high of 100 tackles, 7½ of which were sacks in 10 starts. Twice earning the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

With honor of being named to the Football Gazette Pre-Season team, Jon Corto was also named to the 2006 Pre-Season Northeast Conference All-America Team, solely representing Sacred Heart.

Injury report: Saturday didn't fair well for Sacred Heart in terms of injuries, all of which were cramping due to dehydration. Corey Bundy, Alvin Franklin, Rolando Garcia, Joey Henley and Steve Young were all on intravenous, according to Gorham.

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