By TONY BELLISSIMO
The Golden Tornadoes, who on Nov. 25 snapped Bellport's 21-game winning streak with a 28-27 victory at Stony Brook to capture their first L.I. crown since 1995, picked up the hardware at the Nassau Football Coaches Association Gridiron Dinner on Dec. 4. They received 27 first-place votes and totaled 117 points. East Meadow, which lost to Floyd in the L.I. Class I title game, was runner-up with 102 points (19 first-place votes) and Roosevelt, the L.I. Class IV champion, was third.
"It's a very special accomplishment," Lawrence coach Lou Andre said. "It's great for the school and important for the community. We felt we deserved it."
Lawrence went 10-1 and won its first county championship in nine years when it defeated three-time defending Conference II champ Garden City. The Trojans handed the Golden Tornadoes their only loss of 2006 in the second game of the season.
"Lou and the rest of the coaching staff and all of the kids worked hard every day since practice began in August," Lawrence Athletic Director Pat Pizzarelli said. "It was a tremendous season that none of us will forget."
Junior P.J. Preziosa picked up the Don Snyder Award as the outstanding quarterback in the county. He accounted for 23 touchdowns (12 passing, 11 rushing) on the season and was one of eight Lawrence players to earn individual honors. He was All-County along with junior running back Travis Kennedy. Senior running back/safety Bryan DiSabato and defensive tackle Malik Crowl received the highest honor as they were chosen to the All-Long Island team. Senior Jerrell Milligan was honorable-mention All-County, while seniors Levy Messinetti and Justin Didier and junior Keith Goodluck were All-Conference.
In addition to his athletic abilities DiSabato was also honored for his work in the classroom with the Nassau County Top Scholar Athlete Award.
