HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW: SUFFOLK I

Herzog, Bob. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 04 Sep 2011:

Floyd and Sachem North. Stacey Bedell and Dalton Crossan. It will be hard to mention one without the other this season. The two schools recently have formed the league’s best rivalry and are the top two seeds once again. Additionally, they feature two of the most explosive running backs in Suffolk County who very likely will stage a season-long dual for the Hansen Award.

Bedell, a first-team Newsday All-Long Island selection in 2010, leads a skill-filled offense that includes improving quarterback A.J. Otranto and a fleet corps of receivers. Crossan, second-team All-Long Island, will be the featured back for the Flaming Arrows after sharing the load last season in their vaunted three-pronged rushing attack. Both backs can flat-out fly. Bedell was clocked in 4.48 this summer – running on a sprained ankle. Crossan’s best time was 4.52. His brother Trent, a sophomore who will take over at quarterback, is almost as fast.

There will be plenty of big offensive plays for both teams, but they are about much more than just speed. The Colonials have excellent linebackers and a quick-hitting defense. The Arrows have an experienced offensive line.

In 2009 and 2010, Sachem North handed Floyd its only regular-season loss, but the Colonials reversed that in the county championship game.

Can anyone else crash this two-team party? Most definitely. Longwood features a pair of huge and talented two-way linemen in Darius Greene and Omari Palmer and expects to have its veteran running backs healthy for the season opener. They merit mention and attention.

1. FLOYD COLONIALS

(9-3)

COACH: Paul Longo (17th season).

KEY PLAYERS: Stacey Bedell, RB/S (5-10, 175), Sr.; Brandon Winters, OT (6-4, 250), Sr.; A.J. Otranto, QB (5-11, 175), Jr.; Denis Feise, G/DT (6-0, 260), Sr.; Miguel Brennin, FB/LB (6-0, 190), Jr.; Ken Grimm, WR (6-0, 165), Sr.

ABOUT THE COLONIALS: Bedell, an All-Long Island selection who rushed for 1,658 yards and 18 TDs, is the primary star but he’s surrounded by plenty of talent and speed. Otranto is bigger, stronger and more confident running the offense, which features a slew of quick, experienced receivers. An attack defense will showcase linebackers Brennin and Rajiv Heron.

2. SACHEM NORTH FLAMING ARROWS

(10-1)

COACH: Dave Falco (10th season).

KEY PLAYERS: Dalton Crossan, RB/S (5-10, 185); Sr.; Tyler Andreassi, LB/FB (5-10, 190), Jr.; Trent Crossan, QB/LB (5-9, 180), So.; Jacob Starling, OL/DL (6-1, 210), Sr.; Vincent Provanzano, WR/LB (5-11, 180), Sr.; Vincent Juliano, RB/DL (6-1, 220), Sr.

ABOUT THE FLAMING ARROWS: Beware the Crossan brothers. Both have breakaway speed and while young Trent will mostly hand off to dangerous Dalton, Trent will gain plenty of yardage, too. Andreassi is a fierce pass rusher and blocker. Starling anchors an excellent offensive line that may be the team’s strongest suit. Showdown at Floyd on Oct. 15.

3. LONGWOOD LIONS

(7-3)

COACH: John Murphy

(fifth season).

KEY PLAYERS: Darius Greene, OG/DL (6-2, 275), Sr.; Omari Palmer, OT/DL (6-3, 310), Sr.; Kevin Perretta, C/DL (6-0, 245), Sr.; Corry, Wallace LB/FB (5-10, 215), Sr.; Anthony Martaccio, WR/S (5-11, 180), Sr.

ABOUT THE LIONS: Greene and Palmer are huge and talented and may be the best interior line tandem on Long Island. Perretta adds size and power up front, where the Lions have few equals. Veteran running backs Kavaughn Wiggins and Davante Booker are expected to be healthy for opening day, making Longwoodlegit title contenders.

4. NORTHPORT TIGERS

(5-5)

COACH: Kip Lukralle (26th season).

KEY PLAYERS: John Barry, OT/DT (6-1, 270), Sr.; Jake Devenport, OT/DT (6-3, 270), Sr.; Sean Gilroy, QB/DE (6-1, 200), Jr.; Alex Egglinger, G/LB (6-0, 215), Jr.; Ryan Kokell, FB/LB (6-2, 210), Sr.

ABOUT THE TIGERS: Barry and Devenport are the only returning starters on offense and Egglinger and Kokell are the only starters back on defense. So Northport must re-load in a tough conference with new starters at all the skill positions, including quarterback Gilroy. Some promising young players must mature quickly.

Sizing up Longwood

By Bob HerzogSeptember 2, 2011

They form a wall on the right side of the Longwood offensive line, two long-time friends with big-time dreams.

Omari Palmer, 6-3, 310, has a scholarship offer to Syracuse. Darius Greene, 6-2, 275, has drawn interest from Stony Brook among other schools. That’s for 2012 and beyond. Both are more focused on current events – like helping the Lions win the title in highly competitive Suffolk Division I.

“We have a lot of confidence. A lot of people forget about us,” said Greene, a right guard by necessity but a more dominant defensive lineman for Longwood, seeded No. 3 behind Floyd and Sachem North. “Defense, that’s what I love.”

Palmer, a road-grader of a blocker said he prefers offense, though he isn’t sure yet how he’ll be deployed at Syracuse. “I think they will graduate two guards so that might be my best opportunity,” he said.

Palmer is the more outgoing of the two, smiling easily and loudly pumping up his teammates, especially Greene. “I’ve played next to Darius my whole life,” he said. “We know each other’s moves. I can step faster or tighter when I see where he goes.”

At Thursday night’s 3rd Annual Breast Cancer Awareness scrimmage at Bay Shore, Palmer watched with a slightly sprained ankle but Greene was a monster on defense. They’ll be side-by-side again beginning with Monday’s practice, and on opposite sides on defense. “We’ve spent a lot of time together,” Greene said. “It’s a lot of fun to have a buddy with you to go out and dominate.”

Palmer likes to open holes for running backs like Kavaughn Wiggins and Davonte Booker, also expected to return to practice healthy on Monday. “Good old-fashioned Longwood football. We like to run,” Palmer said.

Wiggins prefers being a run-stopper. “I don’t like blocking that much. I like shedding blocks and using my speed to get around people,” he said.

From either side of the ball and either side of the side, Palmer and Greene spell big trouble for opponents.

Longwood 28, Connetquot 6: Cory Wallace had four carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns to lead Longwood (1-0) Friday. Danny Farrell added a 44-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring, connecting with Jordan Wesley. Sept. 11v

L — Parker 33 run (Aponza kick)

L — Wallace 74 run (Aponza kick)

C — Cirrone 1 run (kick failed)

L — Wallace 23 run (kick failed)

L — Safety (ball snapped out of end zone)

L — Wesley 44 pass from Farrell (kick failed)

‘O’ helps give Lions a ‘W’ Massive line allows Longwood to gain 214 yards Last-gasp attempt by top-seeded Floyd falls short

Sarra, Gregg. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 18 Sep 2011:

It was a last-gasp attempt at an unlikely victory. Floyd quarterback AJ Otranto, hoping for a miracle finish, fired a long spiral down the home sideline to a sprinting Stacey Bedell. Longwood defenders Khalik Evans and Anthony Martuccio blanketed Bedell as the three sprinted into the end zone. If anyone could pull out this win for Floyd it would be Bedell, the Colonials’ superman.

But not yesterday. This one belonged to Longwood. 

A battered Bedell couldn’t get his hands on the ball and Otranto’s pass fell incomplete as time expired. As the disappointed Bedell dropped to his knees, the Longwood secondary joined the rest of the Lions coming off the sideline for a wild celebration.

Longwood, behind its massive offensive line, ground out 214 yards and held on for a 14-12 win over top-seeded Floyd in a Suffolk Division I football game in Mastic Beach. It was only the third loss for the Colonials in the past 56 Division I home games since the turn of the century.

“It’s certainly a tough place to win,” Longwood sophomore linebacker Chris Faizon said. “But we were very physical and threw everything we had at them. This is always the battle of the parkway.”

The schools, separated by six miles on the William Floyd Parkway, have had one of Long Island’s hotter rivalries.

“They put seven defenders in the box and we didn’t take advantage of it,” Floyd coach Paul Longo said. “And we were outplayed on special teams. We have plenty of work to do.”

It was the Floyd defense that opened the scoring in a hard-hitting affair that saw seven turnovers. Bedell forced a fumble and returned the ball 14 yards for a touchdown with 9:42 left in the first half. The extra-point kick went awry and the Colonials had a 6-0 lead.

The Lions also capitalized on a turnover for their first score. Jonathan Taylor pounced on a fumble at the Floyd 18 and two plays later Corry Wallace scored on a 7-yard run. Paul Aponza added the kick and Longwood led 7-6 with 5:36 left in the half.

Longwood added to its lead with a four-play, 62-yard third quarter drive. Palmer pancaked the defensive end to clear the way for a 21-yard Faizon run before Davonte Booker scored from five yards out. Aponza’s kick made it 14-6 with 21 seconds left in the third quarter.

“He’s the O-line leader,” said Longwood center Kevin Perretta.

The rest was up to the Longwood defense, which owned the second half as linebackers Faizon and Wallace shut down the Colonials ground game.

“We had guys like Darius Greene and Omari Palmer stuffing the running game,” Wallace said. “And the backers were filling the gaps and not allowing Bedell to get any of those dangerous cutback runs for big yardage.”

Bedell was held to 54 yards on 14 carries. And Otranto completed just six of 25 passes for 84 yards, including one late TD and three interceptions. 

Senior cornerback Dave Bennett, nicknamed Smiley, who had two fourth quarter interceptions, was the beneficiary of a big Faizon hit that jarred the ball from a receiver. Bennett made the pick on the deflection with 7:10 left in the game.

“Right place, right time,” Bennett said. “We were hitting people and making things happen.”

Otranto found Bedell with a 28-yard scoring strike late in the fourth quarter but the ensuing two-point conversion pass was incomplete.

“It’s such a big win” said Bennett, sporting his big smile.

They were all smiling in Longwood yesterday.

SUFFOLK I: Longwood wins

Anonymous. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 25 Sep 2011:

Longwood 33, Patchogue-Medford 6: Kavaugn Wiggins rushed 17 times for 100 yards and one TD and Davonte Booker added a 74-yard touchdown run in the third to lead Longwood (3-0) over Pat-Med (0-3). Danny Farrell was 6-for-9 for 69 yards and two TDs, including a 3-yard pass to Corry Wallace, who added two interceptions.

L — Wallace 3 pass from Farrell (Aponza kick)

L — Wesley 6 pass from Farrell (kick failed)

L — Wiggins 1 run (run failed)

L — Booker 74 run (Aponza kick)

L — Faison 4 run (Aponza kick)

PM — Street 20 run (kick failed)

BLOCK PARTY Longwood lineman Palmer quick on his feet and puts opponents on their back

Herzog, Bob. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 25 Sep 2011

The yellow cushions are placed about a yard apart on the green grass of Longwood‘s practice field. The drill calls for linemen, on coach Joe Peterson’s whistle, to race forward several steps, then backward, zigzagging between the cushions. The idea is to keep your feet moving and never, ever step on the cushions.

Some of the Lions’ linemen take missteps and stumble on the cushions, prompting Peterson, the 65-year-old veteran of 41 years as an assistant coach to crack, “I had my hip replaced and I can move better than some of you guys.”

But his star pupil, 6-3, 310-pound Omari Palmer, isn’t one of them. His footwork is flawless. His feet are quick; his balance is sublime. It’s easy to understand why Syracuse looked beyond the bulk to find something special in the Longwood senior. As an offensive tackle, his preferred position, Palmer is a road grader, leveling everything in sight. As a defensive tackle, he’s a roadblock, immovable, even against double teams.

“I love playing both sides of the ball,” Palmer said this week, several days after the Lions defeated top-seeded Floyd, 14-12, with Palmer leading a defense that held All-Long Island running back Stacey Bedell to 54 yards and anchoring an offensive line that helped produce 214 rushing yards. “I didn’t really get to play much defense last year, but I can do both and I’ll do whatever it takes to help the team win.”

Most of the time, that involves treating opposing defensive linemen like a buffet breakfast – one pancake (block) after another. Against Floyd, Palmer delivered his trademark pancake block on a defensive end, clearing the way for a 21-yard run that set up the eventual winning touchdown.

Tackles and the occasional sack are fine, but what really makes Palmer preen – his infectious ear-to-ear smile flashes as quick as his feet – is when he delivers a block that puts his opponent flat on the ground.

“A pancake block, that’s like pure dominance,” Palmer said, failing to suppress that smile. “You know what I mean. If it’s one on one and I beat you and put you on your back, it pretty much means I’m better than you, and there are no ifs, ands or buts about it.”

His blocks are a product of power, sure. After all, he does weigh more than 300 pounds and is usually the biggest man on the field by far. But there’s skill to his game, as well.

“What’s most impressive, other than his sheer size, is his athletic ability. He’s got great feet,” Longwood coach John Murphy said. “We can pull with him and get him on the perimeter with screens and tosses. He’s just a great athlete for his size.”

Peterson said he delayed his full-time retirement to Florida for one more year just so he could coach Palmer and two other standout Lions on the line – Darius Greene and Kevin Perretta.

“He’s such a good kid. He’s outgoing and the kids love him. Works hard. Very athletic for a person his size,” Peterson said of Palmer. “Good feet. That’s what the colleges like. They can fix his stance to what they want because he’s so coachable. The biggest improvement came on defense since his junior year. His down-the-line pursuit improved tremendously. You could see that he could move and that people weren’t going to move him. Now, he doesn’t like to come off the field.”

Palmer said Syracuse has indicated they view him as an offensive guard, so this is the last season he’s likely to be making any tackles and the last season in which his size will be a distinct advantage.

“I know that in college, I can’t just use brute force,” Palmer said. “There will be other players my size, so I know that technique will matter. The little things are the difference between being a good player and being a great player. Right now, I feel like I’m a good player trying to become great.”

He’s already a great teammate, a Pied Piper to the younger players in practice and a very vocal cheerleader to the veterans during games, when he takes a rare play off. 

“I’m still in high school. College is later. Right now, it’s all about this team,” Palmer said. “I’m a Longwood Lion, not a Syracuse Orange.”

c

Crossan provides own touch Scores TDs on runs of 54, 20, 5 and 56 yards Comforts brother Trent,who was hurt in 3rd quarter

Sarra, Gregg. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 02 Oct 2011:

Dalton Crossan burst through the Longwood defense and bolted down the home sideline for a 56-yard touchdown. It was his fourth TD in 14 carries and with only 1:35 remaining, sealed Sachem North’s 35-27 victory over Longwood in a pivotal Suffolk Division I game last night.

Crossan sprinted through the end zone and as his teammates lined up for the final extra point, he made his way back to the 30-yard line to see how his brother Trent, who was injured and forced out of the game in the third quarter, was doing.

Dalton threw his arm around his little brother and shared a private conversation as their father, Michael, watched from the sideline.

“That just completely tears me up,” Michael Crossan said. “They are so close and I can see Dalton’s concern for his brother.”

Trent Crossan, the junior starting quarterback, stood with the aid of crutches and his right knee in an immobilizer after a freak third-quarter injury. The extent of the injury will not be known until further tests tomorrow.

For Dalton Crossan, this would be a night when he put the Flaming Arrows on his back and led them to victory. He scored on runs of 54, 20, 5 and 56 yards and totaled 157 yards rushing. He also blocked an extra point, recovered an onside kick, returned a punt 43 yards and made nine tackles. That’s doing it all.

“I heard they would shut me down,” Dalton Crossan said. “It motivated me.”

The Longwood defense made a loud statement when they shut down Floyd’s star halfback Stacey Bedell two weeks ago. But they were no match for the speed and power of Dalton Crossan, who came into the game with 11 touchdowns in his first three games.

“Is he something or what?” Sachem North coach Dave Falco said. “He’s dynamite. And I thought our O-line did a great job getting him some room to run.”

The line, led by guard Jacob Starling, tackle Vincent Juliano and junior fullback Tyler Andreassi, cleared the way for Crossan. 

Longwood (3-1) opened the scoring when Davante Booker burst down the middle of the field for a 30-yard touchdown with 1:54 left in the first quarter. Paul Aponta added the kick for the 7-0 Lions lead. Sachem North (4-0) responded on the ensuing drive as the Flaming Arrows marched 80 yards in eight plays, capped by the first of Crossan’s touchdowns. On a third-and-4 play, Crossan took a pitch right and bolted around two defenders for a 54-yard touchdown run. Bryan Morris added the kick to tie the score at 7.

After a short Longwood punt, Crossan found the end zone again. This time, he took another well-timed pitch from Trent Crossan and rumbled 20 yards for the score and a 14-7 lead at the half.

On Sachem’s first possession of the third quarter, the Flaming Arrows drove 64 yards in 11 plays before Crossan went around left end and outran the secondary to the pylon for the 21-7 lead. The scoring march came at a hefty price as Trent Crossan was forced from the game with the injury.

Sophomore Mike O’Donnell came on at quarterback and engineered two touchdown drives.

“He was as cool as a cucumber,” Falco said. “He did a great job.”

The teams traded late fourth-quarter scores before Crossan punctuated his night with a blocked extra point and a recovery on the ensuing onside kick.

This one was very personal for Crossan and he made a loud statement.

Longwood Defeats Brentwood 48-6

Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 08 Oct 2011

Longwood 48, Brentwood 6: Kavaughn Wiggins rushed for 112 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, and Chris Faison had eight carries for 71 yards and a score for Longwood (4-1). Kevin Parker returned an interception 90 yards for a TD in the second quarter to give Longwood a 20-0 lead. Brentwood is 1-4.

SUFFOLK I: Longwood Beats Lindy 28-10

Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 16 Oct 2011:

Longwood 28, Lindenhurst 10: Davonte Booker ran for 95 yards and a TD on 12 carries, Kavaughn Wiggins rushed for 105 yards and Danny Farrell also had a TD to lead Longwood (5-1) over Lindenhurst (4-2).

LW — Faison 72 punt return (Aponza kick)

LI — FG Valela 23

LW — Farrell 2 run (Aponza kick)

LW — Booker 3 run (kick failed)

LW — Bennett 52 interception return (Booker run)

LI — Skonn 12 from Witkowski (Valela kick)

SUFFOLK I: Longwood wins – Runs for 463 Yards

Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 23 Oct 2011:

Longwood 41, Northport 21: Longwood (6-1) scored 35 consecutive points in the second and third quarters to make up a 14-6 first-quarter deficit and take a 41-14 lead entering the fourth. Kavaughn Wiggins had 214 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Longwood had 463 yards of rushing offense. Corry Wallace led Longwood with seven tackles and also rushed for 115 yards on seven carries with one touchdown. Northport is 3-4.

N — Benitez 5 run (Oertel kick)

L — C. Wallace 53 run (kick failed)

N — B. Wallace 25 pass from Gilroy (Oertel kick)

L — Wiggins 7 run (Parker pass from Farrell)

L — Farrell 19 run (Aponza kick)

L — Wiggins 62 run (Aponza kick)

L — Parker 8 run (Aponza kick)

L — Booker 4 run (kick failed)

N — Oertel 5 run (Oertel kick)

Longwood 35, Ward Melville 0: Sophomore Chris Faison rushed for a career-high 168 yards on 15 carries and two TDs for Longwood (7-1). Davonte Booker added 82 yards on nine carries and a touchdown. Ward Melville is 2-6. Oct. 30

L — Faison 1 run (kick failed)

L — Booker 4 run (Booker run)

L — Faison 3 run (Aponza kick)

L — Young 1 run (Aponza kick)

L — Green 2 run (Aponza kick)

WEEK IX FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Sarra, Gregg; Herzog, Bob; Cody Derespina. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 04 Nov 2011

MSG VARSITY GAME OF THE WEEK

Bay Shore (4-4) at Longwood (7-1)

Tonight, 6 p.m.

The football postseason starts tonight with eight games on the schedule. The most interesting may be at No.2 Longwood, where the upstart Marauders of Bay Shore (4-4) come in on the heels of a shocking 24-7 blowout of Floyd in Suffolk I. No.7 Bay Shore relies on a quick defense, featuring linebackers Griffin Rock and Ousmane Camara. Quarterback Lucas Rock, Griffin’s cousin, leads the offense. Mighty Longwood (7-1) stumbled once this season at Sachem North and features one of Long Island’s best offensive lines led by Omari Palmer. The Lions’ defense is patrolled by Darius Greene, Chris Faizon and Corey Wallace.

Faison delivers Sophomore has 77-yard TD run, 65-yard TD throw. Booker has 198 yards, two TDs on ground

Herzog, Bob. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 05 Nov 2011

First, he took a pitch. Then he threw a pitch. Both times, Longwood sophomore Chris Faison delivered a home run.

Faison ran 77 yards with a pitchout for a touchdown and connected with Dave Bennett on a halfback option pass for a 65-yard scoring play as host No. 2 Longwood defeated No. 7 Bay Shore, 28-7, Friday night in a Suffolk I football playoff game.

Faison’s long run came on the first play of the fourth quarter, shortly after Bay Shore had crept to within 14-7 on Matthias Eato’s 22-yard run. Faison took a pitchout, turned the right corner and went the distance. “That play was a little bit of anger,” he said. “I didn’t get as many carries as I thought I would in the first half and I didn’t do much. I was determined. Once I got a shot, I took it.”

Bay Shore (4-5) then drove into Longwood territory, but Anthony Martucci’s interception at the Lions’ 27 ended the Marauders’ last serious scoring bid. Two plays later, Faison struck again. This time, he took a pitch, started around right end, smartly selling the run before pulling up for a well-thrown pass. “I was watching the corner all the way,” he said. “Once he came to me, I let it fly. I gave [Bennett] a good ball and he ran under it.”

That bit of trickery put the game away for Longwood (8-1), which was stout on defense all night. As usual, defensive lineman Darius Greene led the way. He made one crowd-pleasing sack of Lucas Rock when he shot straight through the middle to emphatically dump the quarterback for an 11-yard loss late in the first half that took the Marauders out of scoring range.

Longwood led 7-0 on Davonte Booker’s 51-yard run. Booker also scored on a 7-yard run in the third quarter and was the focal point of the offense, with 27 carries for 198 yards. Booker did most of his damage running behind 310-pound, Syracuse-bound tackle Omari Palmer. “This was the perfect kind of game for us,” Palmer said. “They’re big, but we dominated up front.”

They had just the right pitch.

SCORECARD

LONGWOOD 28

LW — Booker 51 run (Aponza kick)

LW — Booker 7 run (Aponza kick)

BS — Eato 22 run (White kick)

LW — Faison 77 run (Aponza kick)

LW — Bennett 65 pass from Faison (Aponza kick)

Bedell TD gains Floyd a title shot

Herzog, Bob. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 12 Nov 2011

Floyd’s stud running back was corralled by a determined Longwood defense for most of Friday’s Suffolk I football semifinal. But on a play put in just for this game – “slant” – Bedell took a handoff and angled toward the line of scrimmage. He followed the blocks of lineman Brandon Winters and wingback Matt Allen, who was inserted for this play. Allen went in motion, but instead of continuing all the way across the field, he stopped as the ball was snapped and Bedell followed him. To daylight as it turned out.

“Once I saw the opening, I was gone,” said Bedell, who busted through the hole and sprinted 48 yards for the tiebreaking touchdown with 6:11 left that gave Floyd a 19-13 victory over host Longwood. The Colonials (8-2), who lost to the Lions (8-2) in the season opener, will face Sachem North in the final next Sunday at 4 p.m. at Stony Brook’s LaValle Stadium for a third straight year.

“We put in the play because it was away from [Darius] Greene,” Floyd coach Paul Longo said, referring to the Longwood defensive lineman. 

Until that moment, Bedell had totaled only 18 yards, was tackled three times for a loss and lost a fumble. He did have a 21-yard TD run nullified by a holding penalty. “They were banging. It was a physical game,” Bedell said.

A tight one, too. Davonte Booker (94 yards rushing) scored two first-half touchdowns that were countered by 4-yard scoring runs by Bedell and quarterback A.J. Otranto (53 yards rushing, 50 yards passing). It was 13-all at the half.

Floyd’s winning touchdown was set up by Allen’s fumble recovery off a bad exchange that gave the Colonials the ball at the Longwood 43. “When you have an electrifying running back like Stacey,” Otranto said, “You just know he’s going to break one.”

Bedell, who has scored 31 touchdowns this season, had this slant on the story. “I was waiting the whole day for that one chance. I’m just so glad it came when we needed it. It’s one of the biggest touchdown runs I’ve ever had because it gave my team the lead.”

SCORECARD

FLOYD 19

LONGWOOD 13

L — Booker 2 run (Aponza kick)

F — Bedell 4 run (Munster kick)

L — Booker 30 run (kick failed)

F — Otranto 4 run (kick failed)

F — Bedell 48 run (kick failed)

Sachem North 57, Sachem East 6

Lions’ Greene is best lineman

Herzog, Bob. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 06 Dec 2011: 

It could have been the biggest play of Darius Greene’s high school career, but Longwood‘s standout defensive tackle never got a chance to take part.

With Longwood and Floyd tied at 13-13 in the fourth quarter of a Suffolk I football semifinal last month, the Colonials’ Stacey Bedell followed two blockers through the line and broke away for a winning 48-yard touchdown run.

Said Floyd coach Paul Longo, “We put in the play because it was away from Greene.” 

It was sound strategy. “He’s a dominating defensive player,” Longwood coach John Murphy said. “They designed a play to run away from him. I would, too. That’s a compliment.”

Suffolk’s coaches paid Greene another compliment yesterday when they voted him the 2011 Zellner Award as the county’s best lineman. The presentation was made last night at the Suffolk Football Coaches Association dinner at the Hyatt Regency Wind Watch in Hauppauge. Teammate Omari Palmer was second in the voting and Deer Park’s Aaron Thompson was third.

Greene, a 6-2, 275-pound two-way star, also started at guard and was credited with 27 pancake blocks in the Lions’ run-oriented offense. On defense, he made 61 tackles, an impressive 17 for losses. He had five sacks and batted down three passes.

“He’s so quick and powerful, with very good feet for a big kid and good speed,” Murphy said. “He had the kind of motor where he’d run you down. He was a very quiet leader, one of those kids that leads by example.”

Because Greene played alongside Palmer, who is bigger (6-3, 310 pounds), more outgoing and committed to attend Syracuse, Greene often was overshadowed on his own team.

“Omari stole the spotlight, and rightfully so, because of his size, his personality and the fact that he already had a scholarship offer coming into the season,” Murphy said. “Darius was under the radar but drew a lot of respect from his opponents. They were two great players, and fortunately, we had them both.”

Greene is considered a bit undersized for a major-college prospect, although Stony Brook, Buffalo and several Division II schools are showing interest.

“What kills him is that he’s ‘only’ 6-foot-2,” Murphy said. “If he was 6-3 or bigger, he’d have more offers.”