By Tom Jordan
"We had a big crowd and getting the win made it a perfect day," coach Mike Jonosko said. "We'd been playing well leading up to this one and it was good to get that first win."
It didn't look good early for the Sailors, who allowed a touchdown on East Meadow's first possession. Just minutes into the game, East Meadow's Joe Flynn broke free for a 24-yard scoring run. The extra-point attempt missed, but Oceanside was down 6-0 early.
That's the way it stayed past halftime and late into the third quarter. While the Sailors tightened on defense, they were having trouble mounting any offense.
Late in the quarter the Sailors established some momentum with a couple of drives into East Meadow territory. They didn't produce any points, but they changed the game by giving Oceanside favorable field position.
"We wanted to be patient on offense and do the things we do well," Jonosko said.
Mike Calderazzo, Tom Daddino and Matt Wynn all picked up key first downs to set the tone. It turns out, the Sailors' offense was setting up its defense.
With a minute left to play in the third, senior linebacker Anthony Rodriguez stripped Flynn at his own 15-yard line. Another senior, Goddi Goren, picked up the loose ball and raced into the end zone. Kicker Dan Goosk nailed the extra-point and the Sailors were ahead.
After four straight losses to start the season, the Sailors were not about to cough up a late lead. East Meadow drove into Oceanside territory late in the fourth, but a desperation field-goal try came up short. The Sailors had shut out East Meadow for four quarters, minus the opening drive, and were 7-6 winners.
Joe Migliano and John Nitti had six tackles apiece.
"We needed the win after the heartbreakers we've played," Jonosko said. "It's a big win."
The Sailors kept getting closer and kept coming up just short. In their previous two games they lost to Valley Stream Central 9-6 and Plainview JFK 20-14. They had their chances to win both, had the momentum and the ball in opponents' territory late in the fourth quarter each time. Instead they came away with a pair of losses by a combined total of nine points.
"We're disappointed," coach Mike Jonosko said after the loss to Plainview JFK. "We hurt ourselves with some mistakes and a couple of bounces didn't go our way, but we're making progress and doing the thinge we need to do. We'll get there."
Maybe what they needed was some inspiration.
Enter the 1977 Nassau County Champion Sailors, who came out and were treated with a victory.
Oceanside will play at Elmont next. They finish the regular season with home games against Syosset and Long Beach Nov. 2 and 9, respectively.
