It’s finally Friday and Sachem is finally playing William Floyd yet again in the Suffolk County Division I playoffs.
This time, however, the rivals meet in the semifinals, at Sachem North. Stony Brook is only big enough for one. Winner advances to the county championship game next weekend.
Multiple Sachem players are still listed as day-to-day, including Tyler Andreassi and Anthony Ross, and Sachem coach Dave Falco did tell Newsday that Andreassi could make an appearance.
Having lost to Floyd pretty handedly during the regular season – remember Sachem lost nine players that week due to injury – you can expect a different game on Friday.
This is a Sachem team who pulverized Connetquot during Week 8 and held Bay Shore’s potent offense in check during the quarterfinals a week ago in a 24-7 victory.
Floyd does have the best offensive balance in the division. Quarterback A.J. Otranto is poised and proven. Longwood transfer Chris Faison is a gifted back with a powerful punch. Vontrel Nash, and a couple of other receivers, can all bring down passes.
Sachem North’s line has received some praise as of late and rightfully so. Steve Mills, Nick DiRosse and Bryan Gresalfi have been the faces of the line and made a strong impact. They’ve lead the way for a handful of Sachem running backs and full backs, all of which will have to be on their A-game Friday. It’s all hands on deck for Malik Pierre, Kevin Bragaglia and Kevin Lathan.
I hate to be redundant with editorial themes, but like I said before the Connetquot and Bay Shore victories, this game has the promise to be memorable.
Other game notes
- Sachem kicker Bryan Morris is three PATs away from setting the Long Island record (122). He is slotted to pass East Islip alum Sean Moller, who had 121.
- Game time weather: 42 degrees, partly cloudy
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro