Oceanside romps to semifinal win

Top-seeded Oceanside reignited its high-flying ways last Saturday evening, dominating Farmingdale, 42-6, in a Conference I football semifinal showdown at Hofstra after nearly falling to Baldwin in a low-scoring nail-biter to open the postseason.

Senior quarterback Tommy Heuer impressed not only with 18-for-22 passing for 192 yards and one touchdown, but also with an uncharacteristic 20 keepers for 122 yards and two touchdowns. 

Heuer scored first dashing five yards into the end zone, capping a 12-play drive of 74 yards in the opening quarter, and he leaped over Farmingdale’s defensive front and the goal line from three yards out with 5:32 left in the first half to post a 14-0 lead.

“I was kind of excited to run the ball a little bit,” Heuer said. “We knew we weren’t going to do it in the regular season for risk of injury. But it’s playoff time and time to run the rock a little bit.”

Heuer set a school record for single-season touchdown passes at 35 when he zipped the ball across the middle to running back Derek Cruz on a 23-yard play that put the Sailors up 28-0 in the third quarter. Heuer’s brother, Tyler, held the previous record set in 2010.

Cruz’s touchdown reception was one of eight passes the multifaceted senior caught for 75 yards, and he had nine rushes for 52 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw and completed two passes for 30 yards and one touchdown, adding to Oceanside’s 419 total yards. His touchdown toss was an option for 17-yards to senior wideout Bernie Diaz late in the third quarter. 

Diaz led the defense with four tackles, and fellow linebacker Leo Alvarez generated two sacks that helped hold No. 4 Farmingdale to three first downs.

The Dalers’ lone score came on a 46-yard play when senior quarterback Kevin McCormick rolled left and tossed the ball to senior receiver Antonio Smikle, who trotted into the end zone. The Sailors blocked the attempted extra point.

Undefeated Oceanside (10-0) — which outscored opponents 322-129 and averaged 40 points per game during the regular season — entered the semifinal game following a scare from No. 8 Baldwin in the first round. The Sailors were held scoreless deep into the fourth quarter before Cruz and Diaz scored touchdowns to win 14-7.

“Monday it was over and we moved right on,” Oceanside head coach Rob Blount said of his team’s mental approach after the tight game. “We have a veteran group of kids, so they know they almost slipped up. They came out and played today.”

Oceanside will try to win its first county title since 1977 when it faces No. 3 Freeport, the defending champion, at 4 p.m. this Saturday at Hofstra. The Sailors hosted and beat the Red Devils 34-6 on Oct. 7.