Seaford rallies to win semifinal

Faced with a deficit for the first time in 2016, top-seeded Seaford dug deep last Saturday afternoon and scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to knock off defending Nassau Conference IV football champion Locust Valley, 28-14, in a semifinal at Hofstra.

Senior cornerback Carter Skretch sparked and secured the Vikings’ come-from-behind victory with a pair of dazzling defensive plays in the end zone in the fourth quarter, including an interception with 1:03 remaining. He also ended Locust Valley’s previous possession by leaping to swat down a pass that could’ve tied the game with 7:36 to go.  

“They weren’t throwing my way except for one curl early in the game, but I knew I had to be ready if they did,” Skretch said. “Every time we play Locust Valley it’s a good game. We battled and showed who we are.”

Senior Danny Roell rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns — he opened and closed the scoring — to lead the offense for Seaford (10-0), which seeks its first county title since 2010 when it takes on No. 2 Carle Place/Wheatley this Saturday at 4 p.m. at Hofstra. 

“We were able to step up and overcome adversity,” Seaford head coach Rob Perpall said. “The kids came alive and so many of them made big plays. Locust Valley is a good team and well-coached. I’m very proud of how our kids responded.”

The teams combined for three touchdowns in a 5-minute span late in the first half, including two scoring passes by Locust Valley quarterback Francesco Anile. The Vikings struck first on Roell’s 1-yard touchdown run, but the sixth-seeded Falcons answered three plays later with Nick Jantzen’s 26-yard touchdown catch. Seaford then fell behind for the first time since last year’s championship game when Anile found Keenan Herlich for a 21-yard score with 38 seconds left in the second quarter.

Seaford’s offense was in business around midfield to start the second half following a 35-yard kickoff return by Roell. The first of two diving catches by senior Kevin Murphy, and the first of two impressive runs by senior Mike Andersen, set up senior quarterback Andrew Cain’s 1-yard touchdown run. Senior kicker Josh Pinnock, who was a perfect 4-for-4 on the day, booted the extra point for a 14-14 tie.

Junior Andrew Chirico foiled Locust Valley’s ensuing possession by batting down a third-and-10 pass to force a punt. Seaford then marched 59 yards, keyed by Murphy’s sliding 23-yard grab, and took the lead for good on junior Nick Calandra’s 1-yard touchdown with 11:10 to go.

“For our kids, this game wasn’t about getting revenge from last year,” Perpall said. “It was about not losing tonight. They didn’t want the season to end.”