Roaming the sidelines before the game, injured Sachem quarterback Trent Crossan was confident Malik Pierre would “go off” for the Flaming Arrows.
And if going off is constituted by 4 touchdowns and 142 rushing yards on 7 carries, then Pierre answered Crossan’s confident statement with ease as Sachem sailed to a 42-12 victory over Northport in the first round of the Suffolk County Division I playoffs Friday night at Fred Fusaro Alumni Stadium.
Sachem advances to the semifinals next week, but its opponent is not yet finalized as there are other games scheduled Saturday that will dictate the outcome.
“We wanted to send a message,” said Pierre. “Northport is a good team and for us to have played like this we had to have played great.”
Pierre continued his mammoth play this season by opening Sachem’s scoring with two separate 45-yard touchdown runs on consecutive drives, giving Sachem a 14-0 lead early.
He’s taken the team on his shoulders in recent weeks as Crossan has battled injuries, but he doesn’t quite see it that way.
“I want to go out and help my team get a victory,” said Pierre, “that’s all.”
Sachem (7-2) scored on five of its first six possessions.
Chris Biryla, who has been flying to the ball and making all the right plays, came up Captain Clutch in the first quarter with a 70-yard punt return off a squib kick.
“He’s doing everything he needs to do to make us win,” said Sachem coach Dave Falco. “He’s a good player. He’s evolved throughout the season and his confidence is through the roof right now.”
Kevin Bragaglia, who totaled 85 yards on 7 carries, scored on an 11-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The Flaming Arrows led 28-6 after the first 12 minutes.
Pierre added two more scores, and was helped along with big runs from the other studs in Sachem’s backfield.
Anthony Ross rushed 30 yards to put Sachem in scoring position before Pierre finished a drive on a 3-yard touchdown run at 8:42 of the second, and Anthony Service rushed twice for 45 yards to give Pierre good field position for a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Northport’s only touchdowns came on a 39-yard rush by James Gerdvil in the first quarter and a 42-yard pass from Connor Quinn to Brian Cannon.
After the game Falco said he was complimented on his team’s play and performance by the Northport coaches and the game officials.
“They said we’re tough and we play with class,” he said. “Tough and class are two things we try to pride ourselves on. It doesn’t always work out, but tonight it did. Our big time players played big again.”
News & Notes
- Sachem’s Bryan Morris was a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points and is now six PATs away from breaking the Long Island career kicking mark for points by a kicker.
- This is the fourth time Sachem has scored 42 points in a playoff game. It’s the second highest total in the post-season behind the program record of 57 achieved against Sachem East in 2011.
- Anthony Service rushed 5 times for 78 yards, and Anthony Ross had 53 yards on 7 carries.
Scoring Breakdown
- S: Pierre 45 run, Morris kick
- S: Pierre 45 run, Morris kick
- N: Gerdvil 39 run, Kick no good
- S: Biryla 70 kick return, Morris kick
- S: Bragaglia 11 run, Kick good
- S: Pierre 3 run, Morris kick
- N: Quinn to Cannon 42 pass, Kick no good
- S: Pierre 2 run, Morris kick
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro