Seahawks fly into title game

The Carey football program last celebrated a championship at the varsity level in 1978. Since then, just 2.3 miles up the road in Garden City, the Trojans have brought home 16 Nassau County titles and four Long Island championships.

The top-ranked Seahawks (10-0) will try to knock off the defending champs when they meet No .2 Garden City (9-1) in the Conference II title game this Saturday at 12:30 pm at Hofstra.

Senior quarterback Kyle Zahradka threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns, and Carey amassed 222 yards on the ground, as the Seahawks routed Mepham, 45-7, in a Conference II semifinal last Saturday at Hofstra. Stephen Marino had four receptions for 133 yards and three touchdowns, and also kicked a field goal and three extra points. 

Carey head coach Mike Stanley was complimentary of his team’s approach. “The boys have done a terrific job of taking things one step at a time,” Stanley said. “Each week is another short-term goal for us. They came out today and got the job done.”

After the teams exchanged turnovers on back-to-back plays, Carey’s offense got on track. Zahradka found Marino in the right corner of the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown pass. The extra point attempt failed.

Mepham went three-and-out, but there was a bit of controversy on the fourth down. The Mepham punt rolled along the sideline and hit a Carey player. However, officials ruled the Carey player was not only out of bounds, but had been pushed into the ball. 

The Seahawks took over at their own 19-yard line, and on the first play from scrimmage Guiliano Bove took a handoff and went 60 yards. Bove finished the drive off with a three-yard plunge for a touchdown. Zahradka ran in the two-point conversion to give Carey a 14-0 lead.

Carey’s defense forced another three-and-out and the offense quickly hit pay dirt. Zahradka hooked up with Marino for a score, this time from 55 yards out. Marino’s kick made it 21-0 late in the opening quarter.

The Seahawks had their first sustained drive of the half and increased the lead to 28-0. John Daddino’s three-yard run capped off a 10-play, 50-yard drive. Marino’s 27-yard field goal gave Carey a commanding 31-0 lead.

A 45-yard touchdown pass from Zahradka to Marino, and a 22-yard run for a score by Rob Annunziata accounted for the rest of Carey’s points. Zahradka has 18 touchdown passes in 2010. Bove had four carries for 70 yards. 

The Carey defense was led by six tackles from Daddino, and five apiece by Rob Miotto and Ron Blanc. Rob Zorn and four tackles and recovered a fumble. Mepham finished at 7-3.

Stanley is excited for a chance at the title. The Seahawks defeated Garden City, 26-14, when the teams met Sept. 25. “This is the long-term goal that we’ve worked so hard for,” Stanley said. “There’s no surprise here. The boys know what Garden City represents and what’s at stake.”