Farmindgale denies Oceanside title

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Two costly Oceanside turnovers and a Hail Mary pass proved the difference last Friday night as No. 2 Farmingdale knocked off the top-seeded Sailors, 34-23, in the Nassau Conference I championship game played before an enthusiastic crowd of 6,000 at Hofstra.

In search of its first title since 1977, Oceanside fumbled away its opening possession and never led in the first county battle between 10-0 teams in 24 years. The Dalers, who advanced to meet Longwood in the Long Island Class I championship game, were sparked by junior Jordan McLune’s 121 yards and three touchdowns and sophomore kicker Briant DeFelice’s two field goals and four extra points.

“We made some mistakes and Farmingdale capitalized on them,” Oceanside head coach Rob Blount said. “It was an outstanding achievement to get to the finals and a learning experience for our program. I can’t say enough about our senior class, and I’d like to think the future is bright with all the sophomores and juniors we had on the field.”

The teams traded scoring drives throughout the first half, which ended in wild fashion. McLune turned senior Bobby Norton’s fumble recovery into a 7-0 Farmingdale lead midway through the first quarter with a 15-yard touchdown run. The Sailors answered, driving 77 yards before setting for a 22-yard field goal off the foot of sophomore Francesco Ancona to get within 7-3.

DeFelice capped Farmingdale’s next drive with a 30-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter. It stayed that way until the final minute of the half when Oceanside pulled even with 17 seconds remaining on senior quarterback Vinny Guarino’s 2-yard touchdown.

Guarino had 215 yards passing and 108 yards rushing, but his counterpart, junior Anthony Burriesci made the play of the game. After McLune’s kickoff return just shy of midfield, Burriesci, who recently replaced injured starter Tommy Donovan, scrambled for 10 yards to the Oceanside 39 with one tick left on the clock. On the final snap of the half, he rolled right and found a leaping Steve Kunz in the end zone and the Dalers took a 17-10 lead into the locker room.

“It was a tremendous play by them,” Blount said. “Our guys were bummed out and it showed early in the third quarter.”

Farmingdale took the second half kickoff and drove 61 yards in 13 plays and led 24-10 after McLune’s 2-yard touchdown run. An interception by senior Christian Hernandez on the ensuing possession deep in Oceanside territory led to McLune’s 1-yard score and a 31-10 advantage.

“The wheels could’ve come off the bus right there, but we stayed calm and found our way back into the game,” Blount said.

The Sailors produced 80- and 75-yard scoring drives to make it a one- possession game. Guarino had a 4-yard touchdown run with 13 seconds left in the third quarter, and a 1-yard touchdown with 7:29 remaining in regulation as the deficit dwindled to 31-23.

However, Farmingdale answered with a drive inside the Oceanside 5 and took a double-digit lead with 2:36 left on DeFelice’s 21-yard field goal.

“It was a tough game, but we came a long way from last year when we were 2-6,” Blount said. “We’re 44-16 in our last 60 games, so I’d like to think Oceanside is a football town now.”