In what could be the best and most-watched playoff game of the weekend, Sachem East will travel to Northport for a Suffolk County Division I quarterfinal on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Instead of watching the NFL, you can watch Steven Casali lead his sixth-seeded Flaming Arrows in battle against the third-seeded Northport Tigers.
Northport has opened many eyes this season, beating perennial favorites Sachem North and William Floyd in the regular season and rattling off six straight victories after starting the season 0-2.
Earlier in the year, Sachem East beat Northport, 41-26. Yes, it’s been that kind of up-and-down season for all of Division I. It’s the most parody in the division for a number of years and makes for an interesting and unique match-up on Sunday in the grassy confines of Northport High.
Northport quarterback Sean Gilroy will look to receivers Ken Raddigan and Jon Benitez and spread the field. Running back John Trainor offers another option out of the back field.
If Sachem East can not defend the pass, it will be a long day. If Northport can not defend Casali in some regard, again, it can be a long day. This game can go either way.
Game info
No. 6 Sachem East (4-4) at No. 3 Northport (6-2)
Game time: 1 p.m.
Location: Northport High School
Division I update
All top seeds have won so far in Division I during the quarterfinals: 1. Connetquot, 2. Sachem North and 4. William Floyd. Connetquot beat Ward Melville, 39-7. Sachem North beat Bay Shore, 28-7. William Floyd beat Commack, 48-28.
-Words and photo by Chris R. Vaccaro