MIGHTY DEFENSE LEADS LI TO 14-7 SENIOR BOWL WIN!!!
In the time-honored Metro Catholic football tradition of some “pancakes and sausage” in the morning (Awards Breakfast); followed by one final appearance on the gridiron for our departing seniors…
The theme of the day for the contingent from Long Island’s defense was “bend don’t break”!!!
Spoiling repeated promising drives from their counterparts hailing from NYC; the Nassau/Suffolk/Queen comprised roster rose to the occasion when needed en route to hanging on for a 14-7 triumph on Sunday afternoon at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex!!!
The biggest defensive stand/game-saving moment occurring in the final 10:00 of regulation; it would back-to-back run stuffs by Chaminade LB, Liam Trainor, complemented by pass break-ups on 3rd and 4th downs courtesy of Josiah Dodson (St. Francis Prep) and Brody Richert (St. Anthony’s) that stranded the City boys on the LI 5-yard line and yielded a turnover on downs with just 7:41 remaining in the 4th quarter!!
Set up by a long KO return by Mount St. Michael’s Nathaniel Cabrera, several runs for medium gains from Kevin Gumb (including an 8-yarder to the opposing 6), and multiple completions from KJ Dillon (Kennedy Catholic) to Aiden Howard (Cardinal Hayes); the inability to cash-on on this late possession haunted NYC as this ultimately was their last true chance at an equalizer….
The aforementioned scenario accurately depicting how the day went for the true clashing sidelines; on three separate occasions throughout the melee, New York found themselves in enemy territory only to be repelled by stout defensive efforts or self-inflicted wounds…
On the initial march of the contest, Fordham Prep field general, Colin Ballantyne, connected with Farrell Lion, Alex Ustun, on a 15-yard hook-up that advanced the ball to the LI 49…But alas, shortly after, it was Terrier DL, Anthony Brown (had a monster display) stripping Gumb on a carry attempt and St. Anthony’s Friar, Daniel Garcia, pouncing on the loose pigskin to take over control on their own 46!
A trade-off of induced punts marked the next two alternating possessions, as Kevin Cameron (FP) had a 3rd down sack for NYC to derail Long Island’s opening drive; and then it was the already cited tag team of Brown and Garcia joining forces to shut down a Dillon QB keeper on 3rd down to return the favor on behalf of “Strong Island”….
The deadlock lasting until the last 94 seconds of the 1st quarter; points finally went up on the scoreboard when it was Holy Cross tailback, Antoine Williams, culminating a 58-yard series by taking a hand-off around the corner for an 8-yard house call…
Prior to the Knight TD, a 27-yard pass from SJB Cougar, Maurice Scott, to Chaminade TE, Henry Peterson, to the NYC 13, followed by a Scott 5-yard run accounted for much of the preliminary work!!!
Gumb squared the showdown at 7-7 on NYC’s ensuing ownership of the ball when he found a hole and sprinted 49 yards to paydirt approximately 1:11 into the 2nd stanza to register the only touchdown for his squad!!
After an LI punt; both teams would muster one final crack at additional points prior to intermission; as Gumb and his HS teammate, Gianni Pasqualone, had consecutive runs of 13 and 10 yards to advance the football to the LI 24…But disaster struck when the former fumbled on the enemy 26 (recovered by Luca Collado of Holy Cross)….
Under 1:00 to go before the teams retreated to the locker room when LI regained control following the untimely turnover; any hope of a last-ditch quick attack was quashed when Stepinac’s Elias Murray shot up the middle for a sack on the last snap of the 1st half!!
The exhibition of stellar defensive playmaking continuing when action resumed in the 3rd quarter; Nieem Hardy (Stepinac) put a premature halt to LI’s first series when he camped under a home run toss attempt from Jack Leary (St. Francis Prep) for the INT on the NYC 25…
Garcia then forced a punt for LI when he tacked on a 3rd down sack to further bolster his senior bowl resume!!!!
The modest punt that resulted from the Friar’s QB bag situating Long Island on the opposing 46 with 10:00 remaining in the 3Q; the turning point and/or eventual deciding factor transpired in quick fashion as a 13-yard carry from Benedict Santos (St. Francis Prep) created momentum; and then Nazareth’s Imheer Isaac exploded for runs of 31 and 3 yards two snaps apart, with the second run landing him in the promised land for the game-winning score with 6:09 on the clock!!
A duck-duck-goose celebration commemorated the moment!!
After NYC’s opportunity to respond was met with heartbreak (the T.O.D. on the LI 5 referenced above), the defense did afford them one final chance….
Buried inside their own 19 by a perfectly executed squib punt off the foot of Xaverian’s Evan Philipson in the ultimate 2:38 of regulation; a 14-yard pitch-and-catch between Ballantyne and Howard pushed the pigskin to their own 33; but three unsuccessful pass tries, including a 4th &1 pass break-up by Holy Trinity’s Ian Williams (threatened an interception, but was unable to hang on) proved to be the final nail!!!
Taking home individual honors would be:
LI Offense: Antoine WIlliams (Holy Cross)
LI Defense: Anthony Brown (St. Francis Prep)
NYC Offense: Kevin Gumb (Monsignor Farrell)
NYC Defense: Elias Murray (Stepinac)
