In sportswriting, a game story usually captures only the key moments as space and time restraints put a hold on mentioning every instance worth writing about.
Since the final few minutes of the Suffolk County Division I semifinal were packed with more memorable plays and moments than you can count on two hands, it’s worth retracing just how Sachem East was able to walk away with a 33-28 improbable victory on the road at Connetquot High School.
Let’s pick it up with 9:19 left in the fourth quarter …
*Sachem East on offense: 4th and 10, 9:19 left: Trailing 21-14, Sachem East had the ball on Connetquot’s 20-yard line. Danny Wolff scrambled, looked to his left, found an open David Foster, who sprinted for a touchdown. Steve Puangco hit the extra point and the game was tied, 21-21.
*Connetquot on offense: 3rd and 2, 5:19 left: Connetquot having to convert on third down, handed the ball to Ryan Harvey, who scored his third touchdown of the game. It was a 51-yard burst up the middle that put Connetquot ahead, 28-21. Harvey finished with 24 carries, 172 yards and 3 touchdowns.
*Sachem East on offense: 1st and 10, 5:14 left: On the first play of this series, Casali rushed 19 yards to the 49 yard line.
*Sachem East on offense: 4th and 1, 3:29 left: From Connetquot’s 41 yard line, Sachem East again had to convert on fourth down to keep the game alive. Casali picked up four yards and moved East to the 37 yard line.
*Sachem East on offense: 4th and 1, 1:39 left: From Connetquot’s 27 yard line, Casali came up big on this conversion, bursting through for 14 yards and a shot inside the red zone as time continued to tick away.
*Sachem East on offense: 1st and 10, 1:36 left: Casali rushed 8 yards from the 13 to the 5 yard line. Mike Marchello cleared the way on the line.
*Sachem East on offense: 2nd and 2, 0:56 left: Casali ran a quick dive for a 5-yard touchdown run. Sachem East trailed, 28-27. It was a 9-play, 68-yard drive that took 4:27.
*Sachem East on offense: 2-PT Conversion attempt, 0:51 left: Sachem East assistants ran down to ask Fred Fusaro his advice. He said kick. Mark Wojciehowski said go for two. Casali, who told his teammates he would score, got the ball and was stuffed on the goal line. Connetquot still lead, 28-27.
*Sachem East on special teams: Onside kick, 0:51: Hand raised, eyeing the shadows created by his teammates on the sideline, Puangco lined up to perform the most precision and clutch kick he’ll ever make. He converted perfectly on the onside kick. Casali blocked and used his physical style of play to clear the way for Brian Balsamo, who recovered the ball about 11 yards from the kicking tee. A deafening roar bellowed through the complex, at least from 1,500 of the 3,000 fans in attendance It’s as if they practiced it every day for months. In fact, they do practice that exact play every Monday and Friday. Sachem East ball on the 49-yard line.
*Sachem East on offense: 2nd and 10, 0:48 left: Wolff hit Balsamo with a 13-yard pass, bringing the Arrows to the 36-yard line.
*Sachem East on offense: 1st and 10, 0:32 left: Wolff eyed Balsamo down field, tossed the ball up in double coverage. Flag thrown. Connetquot is called for defensive pass interference, moving Sachem East up 15 yards on the penalty.
*Sachem East on offense: 1st and 10, 0:25: Casali carried the ball six yards from the 21 yard line to the 15 yard line.
*Sachem East on offense: 2nd and 4, 0:20: Sachem East lined up, called for false start and received 5-yard penalty moving the ball back to 20 yard line.
*Sachem East on offense: 3rd and 9, 0:11: The play heard around Suffolk County began by Wolff rolling out of the pocket to his right. He saw Ryan Dippel approaching the end zone and Balsamo not far away near the sideline at the 15 yard line. Dippel saw the ball, and so did three Connetquot defenders around him in the end zone. And then the miracle happened … Dippel went up and landed with the ball in his hands. Game over. Sachem East won. Half of the stadium rejoiced, as the other half sat stunned.
RELATED: Read the official Sachem Report game story again
RELATED: Watch video of the game on MSG Varsity
-Words and photo by Chris R. Vaccaro