Exhale, and then rejoice, Sachem. It was that type of day.
The Flaming Arrows are headed back to the Suffolk County championship for the fourth time in five years after a riveting semifinal battle at Connetquot.
The Thunderbirds scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and failed on a two-point conversion with 41 seconds left to secure a 14-13 victory for Sachem on Saturday afternoon in the Suffolk County Division I semifinals.
No. 3 Sachem (8-2) will play fourth-seeded William Floyd (8-2) in the Division I championship on Sunday at Stony Brook University. The Flaming Arrows and Colonials have played each other the last four years in the post-season, including three straight in the championship and once in the semifinals.
After starting a drive on their own 10 yard line thanks to a masterful punt by Sachem kicker Bryan Morris, Connetquot drove 90 yards to score with 41 seconds remaining when Ricky Hahn hit receiver Tyler Nason on a 4-yard pass in the end zone. Sachem held on to its one point lead.
Connetquot originally sent its kick team out, called a timeout and came back in a new formation with Michael Grimaldi lined up at the quarterback position and receivers spread out. His pass was thwarted by an incoming Justin Rivera and Michael O’Donnell, who put pressure on a receiver, and the victory was preserved for Sachem.
“It was nerve-wracking,” said Rivera, a stalwart on defense for the Flaming Arrows this season. “At the end of the second half we had to dig down deep. It came down to a couple of plays and defensively we held them. You just have to believe and play together. We had one goal for this game and it was to win and get back to the Brook and we made it.”
The Thunderbirds had scored earlier in the fourth quarter after being held scoreless. Hahn rushed for a 6-yard touchdown. They also kept Sachem in check offensively.
“I knew they were going to make adjustments and we would get a little tired,” said Sachem coach Dave Falco. “Their no-huddle offense forces your defense to be on the field a lot.”
Sachem’s largest offensive production came in the first half. On 4th-and-11, Anthony Service threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Bragaglia to put the Flaming Arrows ahead, 7-0, at 9:29 of the first quarter.
Sachem then finished a 97 yard drive that included a 35-yard pass to Matthew Ward and 30-yard pass to Jake Slater, when Trent Crossan scored on a 2-yard touchdown run at 9:59 of the second quarter.
Coming out with a strong defensive plan, Sachem stopped Connetquot on 4th-and-goal from the three yard line on their first series, then 4th-and-goal from the 9 yard line on the next drive and then forced the Thunderbirds to cough up the ball when Bragaglia intercepted Hahn in the end zone on 3rd-and-11 from the 15 with 1:33 left in the first half.
News & Notes
- Despite losing, Connetquot outgained Sachem in total offensive yards, 276-254.
- Stats: Malik Pierre had 7 carries for 71 yards, Service was 3-for-6 for 91 yards, Crossan had 5 carries for 25 yards and 1 touchdown, Ross had 14 carries and 38 yards and Bragaglia had 5 carries for 25 yards and 1 reception for 26 yards and 1 touchdown.
- Stats: Hahn was 13-for-21, for 170 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Nason had 5 receptions for 77 yards and 1 touchdown.
- Pierre has rushed for 1,010 yards this season, making him the 15th player in Sachem history (53 years) to break the 1,000-mark in a single season.
PHOTOS: See more images from the Division I semifinals
Scoring Breakdown
- S: Service to Bragaglia 26 pass, Morris kick
- S: Crossan 2 run, Morris kick
- C: Hahn 6 run, kick good
- C: Hahn to Nason 4 pass, 2 point no good
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro