D'Amico grows into sure tackler, leader for Blue Streaks

SANDUSKY — Vinny D'Amico had some extra incentive to play well last Friday night when Sandusky visited Medina Buckeye in a first-round playoff game. His father, Mario, is a graduate of Buckeye High."He was like, 'Get your name on the loudspeaker a few times and maybe some people will recognize the last name,'" D'Amico said.If Buckeye fans didn't know the D'Amico name before kickoff, they knew it after the Blue Streaks' hard-hitting 20-14 victory. The busy senior linebacker was credited with 24 tackles and helped stop the Bucks' big quarterback, Jacob Doerge, at the Sandusky 10-yard line on a fourth-down play with a minute left in the game."I ran into a couple guys I graduated with and they were impressed," said Mario D'Amico, who is a captain with the Sandusky Fire Department. "They said, 'Yeah, we kind of figured it was your son.' I was pretty proud."Sandusky coach Mike Franklin isn't one to dwell on individual statistics, but as he reviewed the game film it was obvious D'Amico came to play against the higher-seeded Bucks."I know I watched at least 20 tackles right in front of me — I think five or six on that last drive," Franklin said. "He was a man that last series. For 180 pounds at the most, he brings it all."D'Amico, a first-team All-Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division selection, has 117 tackles this season and was second in the division in that category. He'll get a chance to add to that total Friday when the Streaks face Norwalk in a Division III, Region 10 semifinal in Bellevue.D'Amico, whose given name is Mario Vincent, has come a long way in two years. As a junior, he didn't start until midway through the season but finished with 40 tackles. "I had no idea I'd have this many tackles," D'Amico said about his senior season. "I didn't think I was that good last year, but something clicked this year. I was always that nice guy who let stuff go. Now I'm more confident. Something just clicked." Motivated seniorD'Amico said he found motivation this summer when football practice started. He felt that his starting spot was in jeopardy when other linebackers were getting looks in camp."At the beginning of the season they tried to start someone over me. I got so mad," he said. "Then I just started flying to the ball and it stuck with me. I think that was part of the reason."Franklin said D'Amico always was part of the plan."When you start the preseason, everything's open," he said. "We knew we were losing a couple good linebackers, but Vinny was never out of the equation."D'Amico, who is listed at 6-foot, 180 pounds, has grown into a leadership role on and off the field. A standout wrestler in the winter, he uses his speed and usually takes a direct route to the football, making plays all over the field.He's the oldest of five children and has three brothers, including Anthony, a junior on the football team. His mother, Joni, grew up in Strongsville. His father, whom Vinny said has been his biggest influence, sometimes works Blue Streaks games as a first responder at Strobel Field."I'm a pretty determined, hard-working person and I've tried to push that on my kids," Mario said. "Everyone I talk to says Vinny is a good kid, so I guess we've done something right."Mario's oldest son isn't one to shy away from contact — a great trait for linebackers. Much of that mentality begins at home."There's always been football, wrestling," Mario said. "It can get pretty rough in the house at times, just having fun."Franklin appreciates D'Amico's approach."You can't sometimes teach the will to want to be physical. All three of those brothers have the will to be physical," Franklin said. "I think it's a family thing. They're not afraid of anything." Hard worker, leaderD'Amico, an honor roll student who especially enjoys math classes, says Ohio State University is at the top of his list of colleges. Franklin had D'Amico in his AP biology class and says he's as good in school as he is on the football field."He's a very dedicated person in whatever he's doing," Franklin said. "And they'll tell you in the wrestling room that nobody outworks him."D'Amico, who calls the defensive signals for the Streaks, has plenty of hard workers lining up next to him on defense. Fellow senior linebacker and honor roll student Rashon Redding is second on the team with 88 tackles. Franklin says the duo is a big reason why the Streaks are in the playoffs for the fourth straight season."You can't put a better combination at linebacker when you get two guys with great academics and great athletic ability," he said. "Rashon, sideline-to-sideline, he's going to get there."D'Amico, who started playing tackle football in the fifth grade, is proud of his team and proud to be a Blue Streak. Of course, the end of the football season brings with it mixed emotions, something not lost on the standout senior."Being with my brothers," he said when asked about what he likes most about the sport. "They're all so cool; I love being around them. In the games, you get this feeling, this adrenaline. You're so pumped. It's a unique feeling. You make a big play and it raises that feeling through the roof."No matter how many games Sandusky has left this season, one thing is certain: D'Amico will go down tackling — and talking. During conditioning drills in the hot summer sun, D'Amico always was first in his group to finish and was quick to offer "encouragement" to teammates. The vocal leader is not afraid to challenge anyone on the team, including good friend and star running back Terion Stewart. "I would never have done that last year, but I want to push (Stewart)," D'Amico said. "I want to push everybody of this team because they have so much potential."Sandusky senior linebacker Vinny D'Amico (27) helps bring down Buckeye quarterback Jacob Doerge, with an assist from Xavier Parker, at the Blue Streaks' 10-yard line late in last Friday's playoff game. The Blue Streaks stopped Doerge on a fourth-down run to clinch a 20-14 victory.Sandusky linebacker Vinny D'Amico, right, celebrates the Blue Streaks' win over Buckeye last Friday with linebacker Rashon Redding. D'Amico and Redding are the Streaks' top tacklers this season.Vinny D'Amico (27) has become a strong vocal leader for the Blue Streaks. The senior linebacker leads the team in tackles this season.