Carey reaches title game

Seahawks beat spirited Long Beach in semis

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Locked in a tie with upstart Long Beach in the second quarter of last Saturday’s Nassau Conference II football semifinal game, defending champion Carey unlocked the vault for a play senior Conor Colasurdo waited 10 weeks to run.

The Seahawks faked a punt on fourth-and-7, and Colasurdo took a direct snap and rumbled 42 yards for a touchdown to put them ahead for good with 6:59 remaining in the first half of a hard-fought 35-14 victory at Hofstra. Top-seeded Carey (10-0) overcame four turnovers and a spirited opponent to advance to face No. 2 Garden City in the title game this Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

“We’ve been practicing that play since August and waiting for the perfect time to use it,” said Colasurdo, who added an 11-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to give the Seahawks breathing room. “I’m glad it worked.”

It’ll be the seventh time in eight years that Carey and Garden City meet in the postseason. The Seahawks beat the Trojans for last year’s crown, 20-16.

“Ball control will be the first thing we talk about, but it was healthy for us to be tested in a game like this,” Seahawks head coach Mike Stanley said. “Long Beach is a good team and played with a purpose. I thought we stayed poised and played great defense.”  

In winning its 22nd consecutive game dating back to opening day of 2013, Carey rushed for more than 350 yards and averaged better than nine yards per touch. Senior quarterback Mike Catanese had 111 yards and one touchdown on the ground, and also had a passing score.

The sixth-seeded Marines (5-5), making their first appearance in the semifinals since 1989, showed they belonged, and got rushing and passing touchdowns from senior speedster Josh Linster, and strong play on both sides of the ball from sophomore Tyreek Bromley (70 yards rushing, eight tackles).

“I couldn’t be more proud,” said Long Beach head coach Scott Martin, whose team went on the road and upset No. 3 Mepham, 34-27, in a first-round matchup behind senior quarterback Matt Varian’s four touchdowns. “Our confidence grew after we played Carey at their place a month ago,” he added. “We didn’t hang with them on the scoreboard, but physically we were able to hang with them.”

The Marines were close on the scoreboard for much of last Saturday’s rematch despite failing to capitalize on all but one of Carey’s turnovers. Trailing 7-0 after the Seahawks struck on senior Nick Spillane’s 5-yard run late in the first quarter, senior Nick Nigro’s first of two fumble recoveries led to a Linster 10-yard touchdown run.

The ensuing Carey possession appeared to fizzle inside Long Beach territory, but Stanley reached into the playbook for the first fake punt of the year. “I thought it was low-risk,” he said. “When you’ve got Conor running behind Anthony [Catapano] and Jorge [Cerquera], good things tend to happen.”

Catanese hit junior Anthony Millan for a 38-yard touchdown early in the fourth and then answered a Varian-to-Linster 24-yard scoring hookup with an 8-yard touchdown run for the final margin.

“I think everyone in both communities is looking forward to seeing Carey-Garden City again,” Stanley said.