SWR tops Seaford for L.I. crown

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Seaford’s quest for a perfect football season was thwarted by Shoreham-Wading River in the Long Island Class IV title game at Stony Brook University last Sunday afternoon.

The Vikings led early when their game-opening drive produced a field goal, but the Wildcats ripped off 20 straight points on the way to capturing a third straight L.I. championship with a 20-10 victory before a crowd of 1,500.

“The kids really came together and had a great season,” Seaford head coach Rob Perpall said.

Senior tailback Chris Gray rushed for 205 yards on 30 carries and had all three Shoreham-Wading River touchdowns, including a dazzling 24-yard score with 39 seconds remaining in the third quarter to make it 20-3 following junior Tyler McAuley’s extra point.

Seaford’s defense held SWR (10-2) to only 10 first downs, but Gray averaged 6.8 yards per carry and broke a few long ones including a 63-yard scamper in the second quarter to set up his own go-ahead 6-yard touchdown run.

The Vikings (11-1) led 3-0 after senior Josh Pinnock split the uprights on a 20-yard field goal to cap an 11-play, 58-yard opening drive highlighted by a leaping catch by senior Kevin Murphy (10 receptions, 166 yards, one touchdown) inside the 10.

However, Seaford failed to cash in more points on two additional red-zone trips in the first half. One was set up by a fumble recovery by junior Tyler Volpi late in the second quarter, but the Wildcats’ defense held. Another ended with an interception by SWR’s Joe Miller in the end zone.

Shoreham led 7-3 at halftime and extended it on Gray’s second touchdown, a 17-yard scamper with 4:32 remaining in the third quarter. On their ensuing possession, the Vikings gambled on a fourth-and-5 from their own 34 and failed to convert when senior quarterback Andrew Cain (14 of 27, 219 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions) fired the ball off a lineman’s helmet. Five plays later, Gray was back in the end zone and Seaford’s deficit was 17.

The Vikings, who outgained the Wildcats by a 281-246 margin, struck late in the fourth quarter on Murphy’s nifty 18-yard touchdown reception but didn’t regain possession until 29 seconds remained and ran out of time.