Long Island Wins Big in 10^th Anniversary

By Kevin Adler

            Sometimes in football, the statistics can be deceiving. In the 10^th annual Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge All-Star Football Game, New York City outgained Long Island in first downs (15 to 14) and total yards (366 to 306). But Long Island forced 7 turnovers and dominated the game from midway through the 1^st quarter, while setting a record for most points scored in the series in its 44-7 victory.  

            “All week we told our players that turnovers would make a major difference. It did this year—in a big way,” said New York City Coach Fred Snyder (Sheepshead Bay).

            NYC Running Backs Coach Vince Laino agreed that turnovers were the difference. “We practiced better than we played. Some of it was nervousness…but when you put so many good players on the field at the same time, sparks are going to fly,” he said.

There were sparks aplenty for the more than 9300 fans who braved the threat of thunderstorms to enjoy a night of football and a post-game fireworks show. Boomer Esiason credited both teams with playing hard throughout the game, even as the score got out of hand. “Without a doubt this was the hardest-hitting game we’ve ever had,” he said. “Right to the end, both teams were throwing their bodies around. You couldn’t ask for more than that.”

            Indeed, New York’s three fumbles were the result of aggressive tackling from Long Island’s defensive linemen and linebackers, and several big hits by both teams’ defensive backs set the crowd stomping on the metal bleachers.

 Big First Quarter Sets Tempo for Long Island

            Actually, New York’s defense began the night with a bang. On the third play from scrimmage, Long Island wide receiver Thomas Marino (Garden City) caught a short pass, headed upfield, and then fumbled when hit hard from behind by linebacker Rich Williams (Bishop Ford). Donta Jackson (New Dorp) grabbed the fumble for NYC, and the team started its first possession at its own 45.

            Things continued to go NYC’s way, as on its first play quarterback Frank Messina (Tottenville) connected with James Romain (Far Rockaway) down the left side for a 37-yard gain. Romain, who was named the player of the game for NYC, came back on the underthrown pass and outjumped cornerback Daryle McClenic (Roosevelt) to make the catch. Romain would finish the game with 5 catches for 132 yards.

However, as would be the situation all night, NYC couldn’t take advantage of its opportunity, and its drive stalled. On 4^th down, Mike Durkan’s (Holy Cross) field goal attempt was blocked. McClenic earned some redemption when he returned the block 25 yards to set up Long Island in good field position for its second possession.

Before the game, Long Island’s running backs coach, Jay Hegi (Elmont) promised that the team would open up its offense. “It’s my first year at the Empire Challenge, but I know that Boomer wants more offense. So we’re going to have a different plan than in the past. We will try screens and draws, and really use our skill players,” he said.

            That was in evidence on Long Island’s second drive of the game, a beautiful 10-play, 72-yard march that ended in a touchdown. Rahoo Walker (Hempstead) and Brett Wilson (Longwood) each had two carries, and QB Eric Caracappa (Wantagh) connected with regular-season teammate Anthony Muscarella (Wantagh) for the biggest play, a 32-yard pass on a perfectly executed hitch pattern. Long Island Head Coach Rob Hoss also showed creativity by switching QBs from Caracappa to the more elusive Kevin Hennessy (West Babylon) deep in NYC territory. On 4^th and 1 from the 13 yard line, Hennessy faked a handoff up the middle and raced around the left side to the 1 yard line. Only a huge hit by Matthew Grant (South Shore) stopped Hennessy short of the end zone. Ultimately, it didn’t matter, as John DeLuca (Sayville) ran off right tackle for a TD on the next play.

            Behind only 7-0 and with one good drive in the bank, NYC undoubtedly felt that it could get right back in the game. But on its first play after the kickoff, Messina badly underthrew a wide-open Romain, and LI co-captain Alton Lucas (West Babylon) picked off the pass.

            Long Island defensive coordinator Adam DeWitt (Longwood) said that he was not surprised that his players had 3 interceptions in the game. “All week the defense practiced real hard…and then they played exactly like they practiced,” he said. “These kids are so athletic. On our side, we didn’t even consider them a first team and second team; we just called one the Blue Team and the other the White Team.”

After the interception, it took Long Island only 3 plays to get into the end zone. On first down, Hennessy overthrew Kevin Dooley (Chaminade), who survived a vicious hit from Donta Jackson. On second down, Rahoo got nowhere off left tackle. But on third down, Hennessy threw a ball up for grabs for Muscarella, who made a juggling catch while turning 180 degrees, and jogged into the end zone for a 42-yard TD reception. Typical of the evening for NYC, defensive back Adekunle Akingba (Sheepshead Bay) was in great position to deflect the ball, but he went for the interception, jumped too soon, and didn’t get enough of it to keep it away from Muscarella.

            The acrobatics of the touchdown catch and a total of 5 receptions for 106 yards earned Muscarella the Timothy O’Brien Most Valuable Player of the Game. “That catch was talent, not coaching,” said Coach Hoss.

            New York City turned the ball over on its next drive, when Peter Mombrun (Bayside) ran up the middle and was hit by Joseph Akabalu (Brentwood) and teammates. Lucas recovered the fumble on the NYC 31. From there, New York’s defensive line showed determination and versatility in stopping a run, snuffing out a screen pass, and then forcing an incompletion on third down with a big rush from linemen William Boone (Moore Catholic) and Bobby Holness (Sheepshead Bay). But Max Seibold (Hewlett) came in to kick a 44-yard field goal to make it 17-0 with 30 seconds left in the first quarter.

NYC Starts 2^nd Quarter Strongly, Ends Badly

            New York looked like it could still make a game of it in the second quarter, as it moved 77 yards in 8 plays to get its first touchdown. Running back P.J. Hill (Poly Prep), probably the most heralded player in the game, accounted for most of the drive with a pair of runs for 52 yards. His 39-yarder was electrifying, as he went off-tackle to the left, then jumped outside and raced down the left sideline to the Long Island 35. A facemask penalty on the tackle brought the ball to the Long Island 20, and from there quarterback Chris App (New Dorp) took charge with two short passes to Percell Dugger (Fort Hamilton) and a 9-yard TD throw to Lamont Downing (Sheepshead Bay). Mike Durkan’s (Holy Cross) extra point made it 17-7.

            Despite New York’s drive, Long Island’s players felt good at that point, said offensive lineman James Mignone (Sachem East). “We knew the New York City kids were good, and some of us had played with them in another all-star game,” said Mignone. “We were nervous at the start, but when we got the early lead we knew we were in control.”

            Long Island looked like it might immediately get another touchdown, as it moved downfield easily. First, wide receiver Austin Walker (Half Hollow Hills West) took a lateral from Hennessy, and then threw for 21 yards to Muscarella. Then DeLuca gained a first down on a pair of runs. Hennessy’s next completion to Rahoo Walker brought Long Island to the NYC 23. But consecutive sacks by Perry Myers (Cardinal Hayes) and Holness knocked NYC out of field goal range, and Seibald made the first punt of the game.

            Going a quarter and half without a punt was a change from last year’s contest, which included 11 punts and barely 400 yards of total offense combined for the two teams. “We opened it up, and the teams responded well,” said Esiason, who was pleased that the teams compiled nearly 700 yards of offense.

            Getting the ball back at its own 20 with just over 6 minutes left in the 1^st half, New York had a chance to get right back in the game if it could put together another long touchdown drive. Instead, the next few minutes turned out to be a disaster for the City boys.

            New York failed to get a first down, and a short punt by Durkan gave Long Island the ball on the NYC 40. Caracappa misfired on first and second down, but on third down, Long Island’s used another trick play. Caracappa threw a short pass to Muscarella, who lateraled it to Rahoo Walker; the throw-and-pitch play got Long Island 11 yards and a first down. Two plays later Caracappa connected with Casey Mack (Elmont) in the front right corner of the end zone for a 24-7 lead.

            Seibald’s excellent kickoff pinned New York on its 16 yard line, and on the first play, Messina’s pass over the middle was intercepted by Tim Bolden (North Babylon). Bolden saw ahead of him every defensive lineman’s dream - an open lane to the goal line - and he raced in with a 16-yard TD interception return. Score: 31-7, and the competitive part of the night was over.

Second Half: Missed Opportunities for NYC

            New York City continued to move the ball in the 2^nd half, but it committed turnovers or untimely mistakes to kill drives. On the team’s first possession, App moved the team to midfield on two first downs, but then his pass over the middle was intercepted by linebacker Andrew Lipski (Miller Place), who went 52 yards for another touchdown.

            App took the team right down the field on the next possession, highlighted by a 47-yard completion to Romain. But on 2^nd and goal from the Long Island 6, Neil Lewis (Abraham Lincoln) was double-teamed by Lucas and Alton, and he fumbled. Terence Hartigan (Garden City) recovered at the Long Island 3 yard line.

            After forcing a Long Island punt and getting a great Romain return of 40 yards that brought the crowd to its feet, New York City was again undone by a fumble. This time it was P.J. Hill’s miscue on 2^nd and goal at the 8 yard line, and Lipski recovered.

            Long Island then marched 90 yards in 10 plays to use up the end of the third quarter and nearly half of the fourth to take a 44-7 lead. QB Hennessy had 2 carries for 32 yards and completed passes to Rahoo Walker, DeLuca, and Mack on the drive. Brett Wilson (Longwood) got the TD on a dive from 2 yards.

            New York kept competing, and Messina and App led the team to first downs on its last two drives of the game. But another interception by Messina killed on drive, and the clock ran out on NYC on the game’s last possession.

            With the victory, Long Island moved to a 5-3 all-time edge in the series.

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