L.I. drops Empire Challenge Game

Jordan Rodriguez’s 1-yard touchdown run with 1:41 remaining gave New York City a 15-10 victory over Long Island in a rain-soaked Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge football game on June 22, played before a record crowd of 8,224 at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.

The winning score came one play after NYC’s Devante Wheeler picked off a pass from a scrambling John Kinder at the 7-yard line. Long Island’s final possession ended on downs at the NYC 34.

“It was a bizarre finish,” said Freeport coach Russ Cellan, who served as L.I.’s offensive coordinator. “All we needed was one more first down to run out the clock.”

Long Island was in position to hold on for a 10-9 victory when Kinder, who led Lawrence to the Nassau Conference III championship last fall, had a high snap glance off his fingertips and bounce into the end zone. He was first to the ball and while escaping the grasp of Kwaku Duah and a sure safety, floated a desperation pass that landed in the waiting arms of Wheeler.

“John knew we couldn’t take a safety there,” Cellan said of the Syracuse-bound Kinder, who had 28 of his 45 passing yards in the fourth quarter. “We were in trouble either way,” he added. “You’re allowed two punts in each half, and we already used them.”

Long Island’s roster featured three of Kinder’s teammates—running back Kenny Barnett, center Mike Stanya and offensive tackle Mike Reichling—as well as recently retired Golden Tornadoes coach Lou Andre, who worked with the offensive line. Freeport’s Kevin Allen, Ashanti Foster-Felder and Corey Bateman, Carey’s Mike Lisi, Lynbrook’s Tom DeNapoli, Elmont’s Chris Moore also contributed. East Meadow’s Robert Bright was on the roster but didn’t play due to injury. 

“It’s a lot of fun to be a part of,” Cellan said. “This was the eighth time I’ve coached in this game, and every year it seems to get bigger. It was everyone’s goal to win, but it’s not the Super Bowl. It’s for a great cause.”   

The purpose of the Empire Challenge, in its 15th year, is to raise money and awareness to fight cystic fibrosis and support youth football in the metropolitan area. It was created in 1996 by former NFL quarterback and East Islip product Boomer Esiason as a benefit for his own foundation, as well as the Gunnar H. Esiason Endowment Scholarship Fund at Hofstra and local youth football programs. Gunnar Esiason, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of two, was one of three Long Island quarterbacks in last year’s game. He graduated from Friends Academy in 2009 and currently attends Boston College.

Nassau faced Suffolk in the first two years of the game’s inception (1996-97) before it became a Long Island-New York City showdown starting in 1998. With last week’s loss, Long Island saw its lead over NYC shrink to 7-6. All but two of the games have been close. Long Island rolled to a 44-7 win in 2005 and took last year’s meeting 31-14. Ten of the 13 games have been decided by fewer than eight points, including four by one point.

“Both offenses sputtered at times,” said Cellan, “and I think the weather had a lot to do with it. I can’t remember it raining that hard in a long time.”  

After New York City took a 6-0 lead with 4:39 left in the first quarter on a 7-yard touchdown run by Rodriguez, Long Island responded with a 3-yard scoring plunge by Davon Lawrence of Sachem North. Jesse Signa of St. Anthony’s tacked on the extra point for a 7-6 lead. Holy Trinity’s Anthony Brunetti set up the touchdown with a 23-yard burst.  

The teams traded field goals in the third quarter, with  New York City’s Nick Fiorito hitting from 44 yards and Signa from 30.

With 3:38 to go in the fourth, NYC’s comeback hopes were dealt a blow when JeVahn Cruz of Half Hollow Hills West picked off a pass from Frank Laino inside the Long Island 10. But on a night that belonged to the defenses and Mother Nature, Wheeler made the biggest play of all.