By Brian Zanzonico
With workhorse All County running back Peter Russell lost to graduation, Elmont High School Head Coach Jay Hegi had to find a way to mount an offense. Vowing in the preseason to open up the offense and establish a passing attack, it was the Russell-like work of a pair of running backs that gave the Spartans a win in their home opener against a longtime rival with designs on a county title.
No. 5 Elmont (Conference II) overcame a 13-0 halftime deficit to stun No. 2 Carey (Conference II), 20-13, last Saturday. Senior Fenelon Guillaume, a 5-foot-5, 145-pound scat back, and Fabrice Narcisse, a bruising 185-pound back, combined for 273 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.
Carey opened the scoring in the second quarter with a one-yard touchdown run by Jamie Spanopolous, followed by a point after by junior Steven Jacob. Before the half, the Seahawks extended their lead when senior defensive back Matt Zaffuto, who McLees called the best defensive player he's seen since starting at Carey in 1991, intercepted senior quarterback Joel Jackson at the Carey 25 yard line and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown. Jacob missed the extra point and Carey had a 13-0 lead at the half.
"We really couldn't key on one guy," McLees said. "They ran inside, outside, they threw it."
In the third quarter, senior quarterback Joel Jackson hooked up with senior wide receiver Onyema Oweazim on a 35-yard touchdown strike to put Elmont on the board. The extra point attempt failed and Carey maintained a 13-6 lead.
With Carey deep in their own zone with less than 11 minutes left in the game, a bad snap by junior center Marc Pesa was recovered by linebacker Guillaume. On the ensuing drive, Guillaume broke through for a one-yard score. Jackson snuck in on the two-point conversion and Elmont led for the first time, 14-13.
The Spartans added to their lead on an 82-yard touchdown run by Narcisse. The Seahawks threatened in the final minutes of the game, driving to the Elmont 30. On 4th and 10, with 1:50 on the clock, junior linebacker Andrew Prosper sacked Carey junior quarterback Sal Intagliata to secure the win.
McLees said the third quarter turnover and penalties did in the Seahawks, and warned that he would make personnel changes if the fouls didn't cease. He also credited Elmont for staying in the game after the early deficit.
"I want to congratulate the Elmont coaching staff and players for playing hard for four quarters and never giving up," McLees said.
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