It’s never easy to sit out with an injury.
Anthony Passaro found out firsthand in 2022.
In his sophomore season, the all-star lineman sustained a torn ACL while playing basketball for the Hornets. It forced him to be sidelined, and his lengthy rehabilitation resulted in the loss of his junior year.
He is eager to return to the lineup with a group of classmates and friends who are determined to put the Hornets on the winning track this fall.
“My teammates helped me out a lot,” Passaro said. “Knowing that I would be able to play in my senior year really kept me positive. It was tough being on the sidelines, and I knew that I could have helped my teammates out last year.
“This season, I feel like we have a pretty good team, so I am only looking forward.”
Two years ago, Passaro had a solid debut season.
He excelled on the offensive line, which paved the way for a running game that had 1,826 yards and 15 touchdowns, and he helped protect quarterback Aiden Collins, who threw for 857 yards.
Honesdale reached the District 2 Class 4A playoffs and finished with a 5-6 record.
Last season, he acted as a teacher and mentor to the linemen on the sidelines, but his ultimate desire was to play above all else.
The Hornets put together a three-game winning streak in the middle of the season, but missed the playoffs with a 3-7 record.
“This offseason, I have been nonstop working on my physical therapy,” Passaro said. “I went to camps. Our expectations are to compete and win games.”
There is a lot of excitement surrounding the Hornets.
Passaro’s return is also a big lift for the program. Linemen Wyatt Rutherford and Evan Funk each started all 10 games last season. Tight end Conlan Keast also returns. All three were honorable mention all-stars in the Lackawanna Football Conference Division II. Honesdale’s offense averaged 220.1 rushing yards per game.
Collins is back for his fourth season at quarterback. He threw for 1,172 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Running back Mason Avery had 1,218 yards rushing with 10 touchdowns, and fullback Bradley Bibalo had 91 yards rushing and 142 yards receiving in 2023.
“We have a lot of guys coming back,” Collins said. “We have been putting in a lot of work. We are excited about the season.”
Passaro will rejoin an experienced group on defense.
Logan Dietrich is a returning stater on the line, and he was an honorable mention all-star last season after making 28 total tackles. Linebacker Charlie Propst, who had 69 total tackles and an interception, was an LFC Division II first-team all-star. Bibalo, an honorable mention all-star, had 55 total tackles. Robert Quinn, another returning starter at linebacker, had 26 tackles.
Landen Estus, a first-team all-star, contributed 57 tackles, Colin Keast had 31 stops, and Avery had 29 in the secondary.
