Team Long Island running back Derelle Hunter of St. John...

Team Long Island running back Derelle Hunter of St. John the Baptist High School works on punt returns during practice held at Shuart Stadium, located on the campus of Hofstra University. (June 18, 2011) Credit: James Escher

There was no tackling Saturday during the Long Island team's first practice session on the turf at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium, site of Tuesday's 16th Empire Challenge all-star charity football game. So whenever No. 44 received a handoff, he made a sharp cut, found an opening, exploded past the line of scrimmage and wound up in the open field.

That pretty much describes the way it went last fall for Derelle Hunter of St. John the Baptist. Even with people trying to tackle him.

Hunter rushed for 2,294 yards in 10 games, the fifth-highest total in Suffolk history, in leading the Cougars to the CHSFL Class A title. He scored 25 rushing touchdowns, averaged more than 8 yards a carry, and had four more TDs on kick returns.

"It's instinct to me. The second a linebacker or a defensive back jumps out, I cut. I don't like to be touched," Hunter, 5-10, 190, said of his slashing, cut-back style. "I started working with my dad on cuts when I was a kid. He'd have me doing cone drills and running through tires."

There's plenty of tread left on Hunter's tires and he hopes that Stony Brook, his first college choice, continues to recruit him and sends coaches to Tuesday's game. "I think he can definitely play at that level," said Long Island running backs coach Dave Falco of Sachem North, whose former tailback, Davon Lawrence, scored a touchdown in last year's Empire Challenge and now plays for the Seawolves. "Any school at that level would be extremely happy to get him. I love his athleticism, his lateral quickness and the way he bursts into the hole."

Falco also loves the fact that Hunter, a Bay Shore resident, has been smiling since practices began Monday.

"He showed up every day and he's excited to be here," Falco said. "It's easy to just be excited on game day. He's picked up the [spread] offense in four days and done an excellent job in practice."

Hunter seemed to recognize that some people didn't overlook his flashy statistics when it came to postseason awards last fall because SJB does not play in the highest level of the Catholic league. "I want to have a big game to show everyone that I'm one of the best players on Long Island," Hunter said. "I want to make a statement. Everybody says that New York City is ready and that they're so big. But Long Island is ready, too, and I'll do what I have to do to win, especially after last year [a 15-10 loss]."

Hunter will likely get to pick his spots in a spread offense designed to create favorable running lanes. "I love the spread," he said. "My whole game plan is to slide to an open spot. If a hole isn't there, I know another one will open up."

And Hunter will hit that opening at full speed, sidestep one tackler and look for more room to maneuver. Avoiding contact with every step, just like in practice.

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