Larry Ewald recalls Nick Damiani as a tough, hard-working player who could be counted on in close games and tough situations.

One game sticks out.

Back in 1998, Peru trailed Seton Catholic 14-7 with five minutes left before Damiani, a linebacker and tailback, picked off a pass for a touchdown.

The extra point was missed and Peru still trailed, but Damiani came through again. Facing a fourth down and inches, he scored the winning touchdown on a 46-yard scamper.

"He's that kind of kid," Ewald said. "He played every minute of the game as hard as he could."

Peru football faithful will be counting on Damiani come September, when the sixth grade teacher debuts as the new Indians varsity coach.

Damiani will have some large shoes to fill. He takes over for Ewald, who resigned in November after a 22-year career that left him with 187 wins, the most ever for a Section VII football coach.

"It's like a dream come true," Damiani said. "I always had a desire to come back and coach. To be given the opportunity to come back and coach, I'm honored."

Damiani, a 29-year-old Plattsburgh State graduate, becomes just the fourth head coach in the 50-year history of the Peru football program.

He has been coaching since he became a teacher at Peru in 2006, taking an assistant role with junior varsity. Damiani moved up to the JV head coach for two seasons before spending last year as a varsity assistant.

"First day I became a teacher, I coached football," he said.

Damiani also spent a season coaching the Plattsburgh North Stars' defense after playing for a few years.

Assistant coaches Jack Daly, the mastermind behind Peru's high-flying offensive attack, and Jim Godfrey will remain on the staff.

"The best thing for our players is to have the least amount of change as possible," Damiani said.

Although the defensive look will be slightly different — for the sake of secrecy, Damiani won't give specifics — he said it will basically be similiar to the past.

Daly will continue to handle an offense that has consistently been one of the highest-scoring in the area for years.

CHALLENGES AWAIT

The upcoming Northern Football Conference season could be a challenging one for Peru. The Indians were loaded with 22 seniors last year, including key players like Robert Duquette and Connor Keleher.

Class B also expanded from just Peru and Beekmantown to six teams this year. The Indians are no longer guaranteed a spot in the title game.

And as usual, the expectations from Peru fans will be high.

None of that seems to worry Damiani, a former member of the Air National Guard who says a strong work ethic and being goal-oriented are two of his biggest strengths.

"I've got high expectations for myself and what I put into it ... I've got high expectations for the coaches that help me along the way, and I have high expectations for every one of my players who steps on the field," he said.

Damiani received a ringing endorsement from Ewald.

"He's a guy that is honest as the day is long, and he's a very hard worker and he's very interested in the development of the young people — that's what a teacher is all about," Ewald said. "Great teachers make great coaches, and that's what we're hoping he's going to do.

"I'm sure he will."

Damiani, who recently celebrated the birth of son Nicholas Charles III, isn't lacking when it comes to passion for the sport.

"I've got my faith, my family — and then it's football," Damiani said.

E-mail Ryan Hayner at: rhayner@pressrepublican.com