Victor DiFusco
Mahopac High School,
Class of 2011
Mahopac High junior Victor DiFusco may look like a mild-mannered, civic-minded citizen and truth be told; he is just that. But put him on the gridiron and a different man emerges. On the gridiron, this cool, calm and otherwise collected sort becomes a brutally, competitive individual with one goal in mind; to be the best football player on the field and play at the next level.
“Nothing ever can beat a Friday night under the lights on a football field,” said DiFusco, who loves the bonds and brotherhood of the game as much as he loves the game itself. “Nothing compares to that gut feeling you get when you know that you prepared all week for that one game.” Mahopac High football Coach Tom Donahoe once called his 6’1”, 217-pound captain “a fiercely competitive individual”; one who “stops at nothing to make the play.” Those sentiments were echoed by defensive coach Mark Langella, a man who molds defensive playmakers and gives DiFusco full range to punish opposing ball carriers. “Victor is a dedicated athlete who is willing to train to better his abilities as a football player, said Langella, the 10-year veteran defensive coach at Mahopac, which boasts a most respectable football heritage in Section 1 (NYS). “He has the ability to be one of the best inside linebackers in the past five years at Mahopac. His tenacity to find the ball carrier makes him a defensive weapon.”
Film doesn’t lie, and what coaches can see from highlights of DiFusco is a relentless linebacker, one that never takes a play off. DiFusco recorded double-digit tackles in three games (14, 12, 11 tackles) for the 5-4 Indians during his stellar junior campaign while logging a team-high 30 solos and 71 combined tackles, including a pair of sacks.
“Victor is a very strong young man,” Langella said. “His knowledge of the game has made him a very successful defensive ball player. He is working on his agility and running skills which should make him an even better offensive player.
While the defensive side of the ball is the side in which DiFusco excels, he is far from limited to the defense of his goal line. He is a punishing blocker from the fullback position where he rumbled for an 11-yard score, and his pass protecting skills are exemplary. His duties on special teams includes kick returns where he averages 28 yards per return, including a spectacular game-breaking 88-yard TD jaunt against John Jay Cross River, one of Section 1’s most respected programs. “Victor was an outstanding special teams player and a developing offensive weapon,” Langella said. “As a senior he will be expected to excel at all positions. He presently is training to play tight end and fullback on offense. His versatility will allow him to get playing time at both positions. He is expected to start again at inside linebacker.”
Off the field, DiFusco is a young man of virtue. Since the recent passing of his dad, Victor has taken on the added responsibility of being a father figure to his siblings, showing a maturity
beyond his years. Being a family-first humanitarian, DiFusco would prefer competitive schools along the east coast where he can be closer to his mom and three sisters, but he won’t limit his choices should collegiate offers arise from other parts of the country.
Additionally, DiFusco hasn’t limited his athletic endeavors. He’s played three sports (track and field, baseball) since his freshman year to stay in shape for football while maintaining a 90 GPA in his junior-year studies, which include his favorites, U.S. History and Chemistry. Downtime is spent cranking Led Zeppelin, fishing, working out, playing guitar and hanging out with friends and family, who support and encourage his cause to play football at the next level.
The end result is a well-rounded, likeable young man… one that would make a solid contribution; both on and off the field at any university or institution for higher learning.
Ray Gallagher
Three-time NYPA Sportswriter of the Year
Examiner Sports Editor (Westchester/Putnam/Yorktown)
Covering Section 1 NYS Sports
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