It seems like yesterday Trent Crossan and his brother Dalton arrived at Sachem. It’s hard to believe four years have gone by so fast.
It’s already been two years since Dalton’s Hansen Award winning senior season and in the blink of an eye Trent’s high school career came to an end Saturday as Sachem captured its first Long Island championship in program history.
Dalton played earlier in the day and helped New Hampshire to a 45-7 FCS playoff victory, recording 131 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, including a 17-yard catch and a 56-yard run.
More than anyone, Dalton was pulling for his younger brother as Sachem took on Farmingdale. Joined by his mom, Sue, a Sachem alum, and some UNH teammates, they were able to catch the live broadcast on MSG Varsity and watch Trent score two touchdowns also, including a 15-yard go-ahead score that will now be marked as one of the most important touchdowns ever scored in Black & Gold.
It’s been a long road for Trent through knee, hamstring and ankle injuries over the last three years. Still, like his brother, anytime he touches the ball there’s a level of excitement and playmaking capability that only exists in upper echelon athletes. They just have it.
On offense they’re a threat to score on every play. Both Crossan boys played quarterback, were used as tailbacks and caught passes. On defense they were equally as dangerous, always being in the right spot at the right time.
Against Farmingdale, Trent stepped into the linebacker roll from his defensive back position once teammate Anthony Ross went down with a knee injury. The switch was flawless and he helped shutdown the Dalers in the second half.
“I’m just so proud of him and all the other guys,” said Dalton. “He has been through a lot and he has worked so hard to get back. I think everyone knows that if he had stayed healthy his whole high school career he’d have every single Sachem record and possibly some Long Island records. He knows that and doesn’t care about it now because he is a Long Island champion and that’s something that has eluded so many great players in Sachem history, including myself.”
Trent has been a warrior this season. He opened the year healthy until tweaking his ankle against Longwood and aggravating it more against Commack. It was up-and-down for him and the team as he worked through his injury.
Week-by-week his ankle improved. In the Suffolk County championship he scored on a 44-yard touchdown run that helped Sachem beat rival William Floyd. Against Farmingdale it was fitting that the team’s four-year varsity member, captain and all around good guy would be so integral in the final minutes.
“He looked real good and he still wasn’t 100 percent,” Dalton said. “I think once he gets this time off and gets used to playing a full season of football again wherever he goes next year, after that he will have an unbelievable college career. He’s been through a lot and he over came it and now he has scored the most important touchdown in sachem history. I’m extremely proud of all he has accomplished and will continue to accomplish.”
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro