By:TONY Bellissimo
The upstart Spartans continued to frustrate opposing defenses en route to improving to an eye-popping 4-1. They rushed for 246 yards and four touchdowns and junior quarterback John Kenny passed for 60 yards and one touchdown. Senior Jason Nappy's two scores in the third quarter sealed the outcome for one of the county's most surprising teams.
"The kids deserve all the credit," Spartan Coach Tom Schiavo said. "I knew we'd be improved from last year, but I didn't know how good we could be. The kids worked hard during the off-season and they're working just as hard now. We're not a sure thing for the playoffs yet, but we're getting closer."
The Spartans, who went 2-6 in 2003 and hadn't won more than two games in a season since 1991, were seeded No. 13 in the 14-team conference, but currently reside in fifth place with two regular-season games remaining. The top eight teams make the playoffs. They have 110.4 power rating points and should qualify - though it's no lock - with a Homecoming win on Saturday against visiting North Shore, or at Seaford in the finale.
"We're pretty happy about things," Schiavo said. "We've always had great kids in the program. The difference between this team and some of the others is speed and depth."
North's deepest position is the backfield. Nappy, Joe Shea, Vincent Del Maestro, Phil Pepe and Antonio Ricotta have combined for 15 touchdowns on the year. The 90 points they've scored are just 24 less than the offense produced all of last year.
"Our offensive line might be small, but those guys are strong and fast," said Schiavo, who singled out senior left tackle David Daniele. "We're only averaging about 190 pounds on the line but you'd never know it by the holes it's opening."
Having an athletic quarterback like Kenny, who can run or pass, allowed the offense to add a few wrinkles. He has thrown a touchdown pass in four of the five games, including last Saturday when he hit Ryan Mastrangelo for a nine-yard score early in the second quarter. "We're far from one-dimensional," Schiavo said.
The most impressive win thus far came Oct. 9 against previously unbeaten Carle Place. The Spartans held a three-point half-time lead thanks to an 11-yard touchdown run by Shea and a 40-yard field goal by Henry Greco, who has established himself as the most accurate kicker in the conference. After the Frogs pulled even early in the third quarter, it was all North. Ricotta, Shea, Nappy and Pepe scored unanswered touchdowns and the team pulled away for a 38-10 decision.
"That was our defining moment," said Nappy, a three-year varsity player. "We knew we were for real after that game. It was their Homecoming and we wore them down in the second half."
The Spartans also bested Malverne, 35-12, and Oyster Bay, 42-20, with Shea (276 total yards, four touchdowns) starring on offense and linebackers Michael D'Ingillo (two interceptions) and Dan Giuliante (20 total tackles) on defense.
"The morale and confidence are pretty high," Nappy said. "The coaches have prepared us well for every game and we've gone out there and executed. It's pretty exciting to be ranked tenth by Newsday among small school teams on Long Island."
