By Matt Diano:
THERE IS PERFECTION IN HICKSVILLE!! 10-0!!!!
For the first time since 2008, the top-seeded Titans of Holy Trinity High School are celebrating an NYCHSFL crown following a 21-10 triumph over #2 St. John the Baptist.
A Saturday matinee contest that was a polar opposite of the initial meeting (October 3rd) between the two Long Island based schools, where the Titans jumped out to a four-touchdown lead in the 1st half and then never looked back (won 45-21), the Kahmal Roy coached squad did not enjoy their first lead of the day until approximately the midway point of the 4th quarter (6:19 remaining in regulation).
Plagued by unusual sloppiness and limited possessions (thanks to the excellent ball-control strategy incorporated by the underdog Cougars), Holy Trinity trailed 10-7 heading into the final quarter and probably for the only occasion all fall, were in serious jeopardy of suffering a defeat…But then their playmakers showed up when they were needed most!!
Facing a 3rd & 11 inside the red zone, it was sophomore signal caller, Rocco Rainone (5-for-8, 1 TD/1 INT)) hitting fellow 10th grader, Josiah Brown (2 grabs for 35 yards) on a 19-yard bubble screen, which the latter took to the promised land for the eventual winning-score!
Brown was later rewarded for his clutch contribution by being named the Offensive Most Valuable Player!!!
On the ensuing SJB drive (one that was derailed by costly penalties), junior, Dylan Braithwaite (5 tackles), who was the recipient of the Defensive Most Valuable Player award, demonstrated outstanding concentration when he picked off a twice-tipped pass on his own 40 and then returned it 47 yards to put the Titans back on the doorstep…
A few snaps later, it was senior workhorse, Kameron Robbins, crossing the goal line for the last time in his decorated scholastic journey when he darted to the house on an 11-yard gain with 1:51 on the clock to provide much needed insurance (21-10)…Despite the final margin, as noted above, this “w” was anything but easy for the Green & White juggernaut…
Deadlocked at 7-7 at the intermission, it would be Philip Alba’s Cougars that drew first blood when his superstar senior tailback, Mark Anthony Scott (entered as both the yardage and TD run leader in all of the Metro Catholic League) punched in his 19th touchdown of the year in the last 3:30 of the opening half on a 4-yard trek to give SJB the 7-0 edge…The TD run, which was set up by a previous conversion on 3rd & 11 (Scott run) and multiple receptions by junior WR, Jayson Zeva, snapped a streak of 16 scoreless quarters posted by the Titan defense!
11th grader, Christopher Bacon, who could have been a candidate for MVP status on either side of the ball in recognition of the complete, ironman effort he gave for 48 minutes, evened the score right before halftime when on the last play of the 2nd quarter, he lined up in the wildcat formation and bulldozed his way into the end zone from 1-yard away for the equalizer. Not utilized as a backfield option often during his junior campaign, as we noted in our semifinal preview, he did have great fortune in short yardage situations this season versus John the Baptist ashis TD run was the third time in two meetings he struck against his foes from West Islip!…
Senior River McMillan added an interception in the Cougar end zone 90 seconds into the 4th Quarter to keep the Cougars on top at that point. The Cougars’ only other points of the finals came in the last 3:15 of the 3rd quarter when West Virginia bound kicker, RJ Kocan, hit from 22-yards out to give his school the 10-7 lead…Senior QB, Kyle Chase (moved the sticks on a 3rd & 9 keeper) and Scott (handled the bulk of carries from the wildcat) were prominent in acting as catalysts during the drive.
Scott finished his last outing with 115 yards and the 1 TD on 25 attempts!
The Holy Trinity defense, which allowed just 49 points to be scored against them all season, had a HUGE goal line stand early in the 2nd quarter when on three consecutive snaps, they denied,they refused to relinquish an inch, keeping SJB off the board…Little did they know at that moment just how priceless their stoutness would prove to be in the end!