By Eason Dong – Staff Reporter 

Jonathan Law junior defensive end Anthony Scappatura has emerged as one of the best defensive players on the team.

Scappatura is a game-changer on the field with his big, explosive plays, stopping opposing offenses, but also with the power to motivate his teammates.

“He shows a great sign of leadership to everyone,” Senior Captain Nick Comas said. “His impact has been huge at defensive end making huge plays and he motivates the team by getting the energy up in times we are down.” 

Scappatura isn’t just a game changer on the field, but also a great teammate who brings a positive attitude every day. He leads by example, but is also a great leader, motivating teammates on game days.

“He always has a positive attitude…except when he doesn’t get a holding call called against the o line blocking him,” Head Coach Ryan Pearson said. “ He is obviously a great player and leads by example but he’s also a leader by always making sure the team is as fired up as he is.”

Scappatura is a player who sacrifices for the team – from defending his teammates to putting his body on the line.

“He supports the team by having everybody’s back on the defensive and putting his body on the line,” junior Seamus Fedigan said.

Scappatura’s goal for the rest of the season is very different from others. Instead of the goal to be going to states, he expresses how he doesn’t like focusing on the future, but the present, and wants to destroy the Foran Lions on Thanksgiving.

“My only goal for the rest of the season is to dominate the Thanksgiving Day game,” Scappatura said. “ I’m not a fan of thinking too far ahead when it comes to football.”

A person who has influenced Scappatura to become the man he is today is Law alum Matt Ramos. He taught Scappatura so much about football, but also about life.

“That man has earned my respect from the day I met him,” Scappatura said. “He’s instilled in me a level of respect I have for myself and a level of respect that I demand from others.”

Just like how Ramos pushed Scappatura to be his best, Scappatura also pushes teammates to their best by his leadership.

“Something that he brings to the defense that does not show up on the stat sheet would be his leadership,” sophomore Arthur Rossi said. “He’s always pushing people to be better and he has high standards for us he cares about us so much and wants us to be the best we can be.”

Ramos isn’t the only person who has had an impact on Scappatura’s life and career as a football player. His dad is the reason he even started playing.

“I have to give my credit for playing football to my dad. Him signing me up for pop warner when I was 10 opened this chapter of my life,” Scappatura said.

Scappatura is a player that any coach would love to have on their team. 

“Scapp is definitely a one of a kind player and we are happy to have him,” Pearson said.