Wantagh beats East Islip for L.I. title

Posted

Surrendering its first points of the postseason and falling behind for the first time in 2016, Wantagh did anything but panic against East Islip in Saturday’s Long Island Class III football championship game in front of more than 5,000 spectators at Hofstra.

“It was reassuring,” Warriors senior linebacker Sean Colbert said of the defense cracking for the first time in a month. “We weren’t in the right spots and came out flat,” he added. “But after that first drive, we adjusted and clicked like every other game.”

The Warriors, who posted three straight playoff shutouts to win the Nassau Conference III title, scored on their first three possessions against East Islip and didn’t allow a point in the second half on the way to a 21-14 victory and their first L.I. crown since 2001.

Colbert’s interception a few yards from the end zone thwarted a potential game-tying drive by the Redmen late in the third quarter to preserve the lead for Wantagh, which needed three more defensive stands in the fourth to complete a perfect 12-0 campaign.

“Our defense had to step up and make plays a bunch of times in the second half,” said Colbert, who added a team-best seven tackles.

Junior Tommy Rohan had rushing and receiving touchdowns, and junior Gavin Casey added a touchdown run to lead Wantagh’s offense. Junior quarterback Jake Castellano went 5-for-7 with no turnovers and no sacks. Colbert and classmates Nolan Foley and Michael Kessler led the way up front.

“Our defense played great again after the opening drive, and our offense looked like a machine in the first half,” Wantagh head coach Keith Sachs said. “Most people don’t notice the offense, but those guys did what they did all year. The linemen opened holes, Tommy and Gavin [Casey] made some big plays on the ground, and Jake completed a couple of outstanding passes.”