RSS Feed
 |
|
||||||||||||||||
Amityville Warriors defy the odds and capture L.I. title
"We really didn't pay attention to [the underdog talk] too much," Amityville head coach Chris Taylor said. "Both teams had great years to get to this point and I don't see anyone as an underdog or favorite in a game like this." Seaford's (10-1) defense was supposed to be one of the fiercest on Long Island, a true test for any offense to match up against, but it seemed rather weak against the Warriors (9- 2), who won, 28-0, Friday at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium. It was Amityville's first Long Island title since 1999. Amityville quarterback Marcus Gardner ran the ball 26 times for 216 yards and halfback Tyler Heller ran 11 times for 107 yards. Gardner put the Warriors on the board on their first drive of the game, which ended in a 9-yard touchdown run and Heller scored on 39-yard run three minutes into the second quarter.
Gardner hit Steve Medard in the chest with a 23-yard touchdown pass with 11:51 remaining in the contest and scored on a 43-yard run to finish the game. Most, if not all, gave the credit to the Warrior's offensive line, which allowed Gardner to pass when necessary and have successful gains on all his carries. "I said it all year that Marcus is getting all the credit, but people don't realize our offensive line has been blocking for two 1,000-yard backs," said Taylor, who was referring to Heller and Carnell Warrick. "So, it wasn't just a one man show out there." Seniors Reggie Robinson, Rance Sinclair, Kevin Roberson, Lamar Thompson and Rockens Dajuste were the main linemen.
"It puts them in company with some great teams," Taylor said. "There is almost 75 years of tradition here and we are a part of that forever now."
|
for larger version       |
|||||||||||||||
)
