A St. Peter’s player competing in the Empire Challenge has been a rare occurrence in the game’s 15-year history when it has included New York City players.
A Low representing the Eagles in the senior all-star game against the best from Long Island, however, is not.
St. Peter’s wide receiver Dan Low will become the second member of his family to represent the all-boys Staten Island school in the game Tuesday night at Hofstra University. His cousin,Tom Low, suited up for NYC in a 21-20 win in 2008, making them just two of the five players from St. Peter’s to take part in the contest that benefits the Boomer Esiason Foundation for cystic fibrosis.
Low, who only played two seasons of high school football, knew coach Mike Cosentino had nominated him for the game, but didn’t think he would make it.
“It’s a real cool opportunity,” Low said. “It’s a good prep for college. It’s going to make me a lot more comfortable when I go play college ball.”
The 5-foot-10, 150-pound wideout will attend Division III Becker College in Massachusetts with St. Peter’s teammate Dom Bertucci. Low played quarterback as a junior and was moved to wide receiver this year to allow him to also play defensive back so the Eagles could get more athletes on the field. Low made the most of his opportunity as he caught 42 passes for 647 yards and eight touchdowns.
“He doesn’t look like a football player when you first meet him,” New York City and Lincoln head coach Shawn O’Connor said. “He looks more like an altar boy. He doesn’t look the part, but he’s impressed me. I haven’t seen him drop many passes.”
Low has been in awe so far of playing with talents ike Wayne Morgan and Alvin Cornelius, both of whom are headed to Syracuse, and work with receivers Sean Binckes (C.W. Post) and Erasmus Hall’s Luder Jean-Louis.
“I’m the smallest kid,” Low said. “I thought I was fast. These slot receivers I’m playing with are lightning. It’s like playing college football.”
He described the opportunity as an honor to represent his school and his family in the prestigious showecase. It wasn’t even something he could even think of just two years ago.”
“To do this,” Low said, “is a big accomplishment.”