Coach Helms Bohringer and the 1999 Mineola High School football squad hope to repeat last year's homecoming performance when they face the West Hempstead Rams on Saturday.

This rematch homecoming game pits the Mustangs, who went 5-3 last year and just missed making the playoffs, against a West Hempstead team who went 4-4 last season.

"We beat them pretty soundly last year," Bohringer said. "We're pretty confident."

The game will take place at 2 p.m. at Hampton Street Stadium, following the 18th annual homecoming parade at noon. The parade begins at Jericho Turnpike and concludes at the field on Hampton Street.

Bohringer has the good fortune of 17 players returning from last season, many of whom are seniors. Among them is co-captain Matt Antoniou, a linebacker and running back who was all-county as a junior.

"He's going to be an important factor," the coach said. "He'll share backfield duties with James McQueen, another senior. Hopefully, together they'll do a nice job."

Mineola's grid warriors fell short of the playoffs for the past two seasons, but they're working to prevent that from becoming a perennial trend this year.

"Our goal is to go to Hofstra for the playoffs," Bohringer said. "That's always been our goal. That's where everyone sees you play. The last two years we just missed it, but we have to take it one game at a time."

Also on hand for Saturday's homecoming festivities are the 1999 King Vishal Gandhi and Queen Lauren Scala. Also representing the Mustangs during the parade will be members of the homecoming court, including freshman Princess Allison Rodriguez, sophomore Princess Danielle Adams and junior Princess Katherine Hock.

The coach urges all Mineola residents to not only come out for the big game and the homecoming celebration, but for all of the Mustangs' home games.

"We'd love to see the fans at the games to support the team," he said. "We think we're going to be really fun to watch."