Two of Long Island's best football linemen have plenty in common

Vincent Petzold and Sebastian Regis attend high schools in different counties, but they really have a lot in common. 

They’re juniors. They play football and are captains. They wrestle. They’re about the same size. And, oh, are they both strong.

Regis can bench press 390 pounds, squat 590 and deadlift 620. He’s 16. Petzold can bench press 345 pounds, squat 585 and deadlift 585. He turns 16 in October.

Here’s more in common: Petzold, a 6-1, 290-pound center/defensive tackle for Plainedge, and Regis, a 6-1, 285-pound right tackle/defensive tackle for East Islip, are two of the best linemen on Long Island heading into this season. 

Sal J. Ciampi called Petzold “a great player.” The East Islip coach watched his team fall to Plainedge last November for the Long Island Class III championship, a game Regis sat out after fracturing his right fibula in the regular-season finale.

He was missed. 

“Sometimes kids come along that are just special, different,” Ciampi said. “He’s just so physically gifted, and his strength is just off the charts.”

Regis also showed that as a Newsday All-Long Island sophomore in wrestling. He won the Suffolk title and reached the Division I state final in the 285-pound classification. 

He can move well, too, running a 4.85 40. Ciampi believes Regis’ football footwork and handwork are outstanding.

It helps that he has participated in a martial art since age 3. His parents, Milton and Melissa, are black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and instruct at their dojo in Oakdale. Sebastian is a purple belt.

“It’s been helping my whole life, just keeping me in shape and helping me with my balance a lot,” Regis said. “In order to keep the block going, you’ve got to keep balance and all that stuff.”

Regis has started since his freshman year.

“There was a lot of pressure on me and I just really didn’t know what I was doing, but I still got a way through it,” he said. “I feel like I’ve definitely improved a lot. My blocking has been better and my pass rush has definitely gotten a lot better.” 

His goal, he said, is “to play Division I football.” He thinks he will be seen “probably more as a defensive lineman for college.”

But will his height lower the recruiting interest?

“There are special cases where that doesn’t matter,” Ciampi said. “This is one of those cases.”

Ciampi sees him as an FBS talent.

“He’s going to be a kid that you’re going to go watch and play on an extremely high level on Saturdays in college someday,” Ciampi said.

Plainedge's Petzold sees that highest FBS level as his goal.

“Hopefully I can reach it,” he said. “I love center. I love playing D-tackle. So I’ll go for either one.”

Rob Shaver knows where Petzold really wants to go — Nebraska.

“In a perfect world, that’s where he would want to play,” the Plainedge coach said. “He’s been to some camps, and all the I-AAs are hot and heavy on him right now. The I-A guys, he hasn’t spoken to yet. 

“But I have a feeling they will be coming around pretty soon … He’s a Division I football player.”

This is Petzold’s first season starting on defense. 

"I can’t wait to just bang some heads, get some sacks and help my team go win another LIC," he said.

He started at guard as a freshman. This is his second season starting at center. He was a Newsday All-Long Island second-team selection last year. 

So what makes him the player he is at that position?

“Just how physical I am and how I can beat down on guys and just get right back up and just do it again the next play,” Petzold said. “Also, just being smart with my plays and helping out the rest of the line. 

“It’s not just me who makes me good. It’s also the rest of the line making me look good.” 

Petzold, an All-Nassau wrestler at 285 pounds as a sophomore, dropped 20 pounds since last football season. But he has added even more muscle.

“He’s so physically good, it’s incredible,” Shaver said. “He’s actually pretty fast … He’s incredibly athletic. So what happens is his balance allows him to maximize his strength, which is at a pretty high level. He’s one of the stronger kids we’ve ever had.”

There are many other talented area linemen. Holy Trinity senior tackle/defensive end Irvin Briggs IV, Hills East senior tackle/defensive end Louca Charalambous, St. Anthony’s senior tackle Carson Ciancuielli and Chaminade senior center Mason Dietrich are just a few.

Reece Ramos is another. But the North Shore senior guard/defensive end tore an ACL during a summer workout and won’t be playing this season.