Casali hurt, Sachem East loses to Connetquot

This is not what Sachem East envisioned. The Flaming Arrows entered Friday night’s game against Connetquot ready to upset an undefeated Suffolk County Division I opponent. Instead, what Sachem received was a 47-6 loss and a concussion for star player Steven Casali.

Casali, who recorded 82 rushing yards and scored Sachem’s (3-3) only touchdown of the game in the first half, exited early with a concussion and did not return to the field. He suffered from a concussion late last season in the first round of the playoffs against West Islip as well.

Connetquot’s Ryan Harvey led the Thunderbirds with four touchdowns. He rushed for scores of 2, 5 and 12 yards and also scored on an 84-yard kick return in the first half.

Connetquot, who has scored 40-plus points in five of its six wins, remains the only undefeated team in Division I at 6-0, and with a game against lowly Central Islip next week should be 7-0 heading into their Week 8 showdown against Sachem North (4-1).

Sachem East, who allowed more points against Connetquot than any other opponent this season and scored its fewest in 2012, will host Bay Shore (1-4) next Friday evening for senior night.

Scoring Summary

-C: Harvey, 2 run

-S: Casali, 6 run

-C: Harvey, 84 kick return

-C: Harvey, 5 run

-C: Harvey, 12 run

-C: McKean to Higgins, 15 pass

-C: Gutierrez, 2 run

-C: Ansaldi, 36 run

-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro