Thursday, October 1, 2026
MacArthur High School’s football field has been a house of horrors for Elmont in recent years, but Friday night the Spartans played a dominant first half and held on for a 20-13 Conference II victory to exorcise some demons.
“We lost five in a row on this field and four of those were very close, including a playoff game,” Elmont head coach Jay Hegi said. “We couldn’t have played better in the first half, but we had chances to build a bigger lead and it almost came back to haunt us. Credit to MacArthur. Those kids didn’t give up and we were dragging and cramping towards the end.”
MacArthur (2-4) used its patented ground attack to get back in the game following a momentum-turning interception by junior Frank Hespe late in the third quarter. The Generals were marching for the potential game-winning score in the final minute before stalling just inside the red zone.
“That turnover is exactly what we needed and gave us a chance to win,” said MacArthur head coach Bobby Fehrenbach, who was planning on a 2-point conversion try if it got within a point. “We started the season with little experience and we’re battling every week,” he added. “The goal is to be one of the last eight standing when the playoffs get here and go from there.”
The Spartans (3-3) scored all three of their touchdowns within the first 10 minutes and didn’t allow a first down to the Generals until the opening possession of the second half. Senior Kimani Lewis, moved to quarterback just a week earlier, had passing and rushing touchdowns as Elmont put together consecutive wins for the first time.
“I’ve never played quarterback before, but I practice throwing a lot during the summer,” said Lewis, a track star who began the season as a receiver but swapped positions with fellow senior Justus Nathaniel, who caught a 67-yard touchdown pass 1:38 into the game to open the scoring. “We’re a different offense now and just getting started,” Lewis added.
On the third snap of Elmont’s second possession, Lewis turned a broken play into an electrifying 72-yard touchdown run and a 12-0 lead. He rolled out of the pocket looking to pass but after not finding an open receiver, tucked the ball and took off. He made a sharp cut around midfield and was gone.
“We’re a much more dangerous offense the past two weeks,” said Hegi, who will look to earn his 100th coaching victory this Saturday when the Spartans visit Herricks for a 2 p.m. kickoff. “Kimani can really throw the ball and Justus is a dynamic receiver,” he added. “We also have two quality backs who are both juniors.”
Running backs on both sides had impressive games. Elmont’s Nicholi Noble had a 6-yard touchdown run while sharing the workload with Isaiah Davis. MacArthur, with its offensive line back to full strength following injuries to a pair of starters, got a 14-yard touchdown run from senior Joey Forchelli in the third quarter and an 18-yard score from senior Rocco Hogan with 5:47 remaining in the fourth.
“We’ve lost some heartbreakers on this field,” Hegi said. “I was nervous during that last drive.”
