By Brian Zanzonico
In the conference quarterfinal against No. 7 South Side (Rockville Centre) last Saturday at Carey High School, McLees gave the Cyclones front seven fits with a steady backfield rotation as a new star emerged. Zaffuto (91 yards on 19 carries, 2 touchdowns) and Humrich (13 carries, 65 yards and 2 touchdowns) saw the most action, but 210-pound sophomore battering ram Jamie Spanopoulos was the story. The fullback received his share of touches during the season, but was used sparingly. This was his breakout game, to be sure. Carey's three running backs accounted for all the scoring in the Seahawks 33-0 win to advance to the conference semifinal against No. 3 Elmont on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at James H. Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University.
"South Side gave us a different scheme on defense," Head Coach Matt McLees said, noting that Spanopoulos had 90 yards on 12 carries and touchdown. "In the first game, Zaffuto had three touchdowns. This time, they didn't give us the outside so we had to go between the tackles. Jamie is a traditional fullback, and it worked."
McLees mainly employs a form of the wing-T in the shotgun on offense, but last Saturday incorporated the "Hambone" formation, with double tight ends and a full house backfield - senior quarterback Brian Gottlieb accompanied by three runners.
"You got to give it to the line," Spanopoulos said. "They opened up huge holes for all of us."
Junior left tackle Paul Santasieri, senior left guard Frank Zaffuto, senior center Matt DeBonis, senior right guard Tino Abballe, senior right tackle Keith Eggart, and senior tight end John Chilelli cleared the way for Seahawk runners all day long, providing the push necessary to control the line of scrimmage on short yardage plays. Four of Carey's five touchdowns were punched in from inside the 5-yard line.
But on one play in particular, it was all Spanopoulos. After scoring on a 13-yard touchdown rumble that put Carey up, 26-0, a series earlier, Spanopoulos's number was called on a 4th-and-1 from South Side's 36 yard line. He took the hand-off, charged up the middle and dragged three Cyclones tacklers for a 12-yard gain.
Getting defensive
On the defensive side of the ball, the game plan centered on containing one player.
"We had to stop [South Side senior halfback Bryan] Eason," Humrich said. "That was our game plan, just like the first game [on Sept. 24, a 28-0 Carey win]."
They didn't have to worry about him long. South Side's fate was sealed with 9:30 remaining in the first half. Eason was ejected from the game after being flagged for a second - McLees and several Carey players say it should have been his third - personal foul. After being tossed, an irate Eason pulled his helmet off and slammed it on the ground, causing the ear pads to explode out of the bottom of the helmet. He then stripped off his jersey and shoulder pads and marched away from his team. A coach ran after him and brought him back to a sideline huddle. Eason was replaced at halfback by 140-pound junior halfback
Frank Robustello.
Elmont bests Westbury
Senior tight end/defensive end Brian Millsaps is known for his crushing blocks and devastating hits. Make room on his resume - Millsaps is now a scoring machine.
He hauled in a 10-yard touchdown pass from junior Joel Jackson and added a safety as No. 3 Elmont defeated No. 6 Westbury, 15-7, in a Conference II quarterfinal matchup last Sunday at Elmont High School.
Elmont senior halfback Peter Russell rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown. With the win, Elmont advanced to the conference semifinal against No. 2 Carey on Friday at James H. Shuart Stadium at Hofstra University.
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