Those left in attendance let out a collective exhale, then cheered. It was that kind of night.
After leading by as much as 14 points with seven minutes left, Sachem North’s fate changed drastically as Bay Shore went on the offensive and made Friday night’s home opener an instant Long Island football classic at Fred Fusaro Alumni Stadium.
After recovering an onside kick with 24.7 seconds left, Ryan Mazzie’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Joel Nunez as time expired in regulation allowed the air at the stadium to dissipate for Sachem and its fans. Bay Shore had done the unthinkable. The score somehow through an offensive shootout was 55-55 heading into overtime after Derek Jenkins nailed the extra point kick.
Sachem junior quarterback Trent Crossan, already with seven touchdowns in regulation, scored his eighth and most thrilling six points of the night on a 15-yard carry that saw him dip, shake and juke through every gap imaginable in the south end zone. Bay Shore still led, 62-61.
Without hesitation, Sachem coach Dave Falco raised his fingers and called for two, as in the two-point conversion that would give Sachem a miraculous, yet daunting and emotional victory in Lake Ronkonkoma. Crossan carried the ball again, this time to the promise land, and on to victory the Flaming Arrows marched.
“Two really good teams battling,” Falco said. “I’m proud of both teams. Great high school football game. I’m sure the fans got their money’s worth. We’re happy we’re on the winning side.”
PHOTOS: View an image gallery from Friday’s Sachem victory
Crossan shattered the Sachem single-game rushing record with eight touchdowns. The previous mark of five was set by his older brother Dalton twice in 2011 and James O’Neal twice in 1994 and 1995. Only five other players in the history of Long Island high school football have scored that many touchdowns in a game dating back to 1884. He also accounted for 50 points, good enough for third all time in Long Island history. To say Friday night was historic for Sachem is an understatement.
“We knew we were coming into a tough game,” said Crossan, who finished with 22 carries for 237 yards, both career highs. “We knew it would be a four-quarter game, turned out to be a five-quarter game. I did what I always do and tried to make plays.”
“Big time player in a big time spot,” Falco said of his quarterback. “He refused to come out of the game on both sides of the ball. He’s a great kid, one of our leaders. If anybody deserves to get eight, it’s him.”
HISTORY: Read up on the historical notes from Sachem’s big night
Most figured the game would have two of Suffolk’s top offensive powers colliding for four quarters, but a combined 17 touchdowns, 1,014 yards and 125 points instantly put this game into legendary status for both programs.
After trailing 26-21 with 1:22 left in the first half, Bay Shore quarterback Jake Sheets threw an interception to Sachem’s Kevin Bragaglia at the 46-yard line, which he fumbled and gave back to the Marauders, who were in prime field position to air it out and try to take a late first half lead. Sure enough, Sheets hit McKinnley Skinner with a 30-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the second quarter to take a 27-26 lead. Their two-point conversion attempt failed.
Sachem (2-0) opened the third quarter with three straight Crossan touchdowns in consecutive offensive series, taking a 48-34 lead. Crossan rushed for scores of 36, 41 and 59 yards, among other lower gains, in the victory.
Things got interesting when Bay Shore recovered an onside kick with 24.7 seconds left. Three pass attempts later, Mazzie hit Nunez for the game-tying score and collectively raised the blood pressure of everyone in attendance. Mazzie was again on his mark when he threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Mike Duquette in overtime. Shortly after, Crossan sent everyone home.
“I was so proud of them,” said Bay Shore coach Jim Giattino. “As a father I want my son to stand up, pick himself up off the ground and fight and that’s what my guys did. I’d rather win, but I’m beyond proud of them. We fought until the end. We scored 62 points against Sachem North at Sachem North, that’s just unheard of. Unfortunately we gave up one more point.”
Crossan was also without the aid of teammates Anthony Ross and Tyler Andreassi in the backfield during overtime. They were both out with ankle and foot issues.
“I knew we had to come out strong,” Crossan said. “I knew if we scored we’d have to go for two. I knew [coach Falco] was calling the same play again, even before he called it. I’m always confident. I think I can make the play every time I get the ball. But it was a team effort today, it wasn’t just me.”
News & Notes
- Both teams combined for 17 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards of offense.
- Sachem’s Tyler Andreassi had another strong performance, rushing 24 times for 164 yards and 1 touchdown.
- Sachem out gained Bay Shore, 509-504, in total offensive yards.
- Mazzie and Sheets combined stats: 24-for-46, 364 yards, 7 touchdowns, 1 interception.
- Mazzie solo stats: 13-for-25, 181 yards and 5 touchdowns. Sheets solo stats: 11-for-21, 183 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.
- While there are no official records at Sachem for length in time of a game, at four hours, this was easily one of the longest games in program history.
Box Score
- S, T. Crossan, 1 run, kick no good
- B, Eato, 7 run, Jenkins kick
- S, T. Crossan, 1 run, Morris kick
- B, Sheets to Nunez, 30 pass, Jenkins kick
- S, T. Crossan, 29 run, Morris kick
- B, Sheets to Skinner, 64 pass, Jenkins kick
- S, T. Andreassi, 13 run, kick no good
- B, Mazzie to Skinner, 30 pass, two-pt no good
- S, T. Crossan, 36 run, Andreassi two-pt good
- S, T. Crossan, 41 run, Morris kick
- B, Mazzie to Skinner, 38 pass, Morris kick
- S, T. Crossan, 10 run, Morris kick
- B, Eato, 3 run, Jenkins kick
- S, T. Crossan, 59 run, Morris kick
- B, Mazzie to Diercks, 7 pass, Jenkins kick
- B, Mazzie to Nunez, 6 pass, Jenkins kick
- B, Mazzie to Duquette, 13 pass, Jenkins kick
- S, T. Crossan, 15 run, two-pt good
Check Sachem Report for other stories breaking down the statistics and history of this game throughout the weekend.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro / Photos by Vaccaro and Ray Nelson