East Meadow powers into title game

Behind Robbie Healy, Billy Andrle and its stout offensive line, second-seeded East Meadow plowed into the Nassau Conference I championship game with a convincing 55-21 semifinal victory over No. 5 Massapequa last Saturday at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.

Healy (five touchdowns), a senior, and Andrle (two), a sophomore, dominated with 172 rushing yards apiece as the Jets (9-1) piled up 530 yards on the ground on the way to earning their first title game appearance since 2006 when they edged Freeport in a thriller, 35-34. They’ll battle the three-time defending county champion Red Devils for the crown again this Saturday at 4 p.m.

“This is where we wanted to be,” said East Meadow tackle Dom Morales, who anchors a beefy and talented line that includes fellow seniors Chris Zitz and Joe Callan, and juniors Giancarlo Carvalho and Rich Renkl. “We’ve been playing great football and we’re hoping to beat Freeport when it really counts,” Morales added.

The Jets, who average a Long Island-best 45 points per game, have scored 120 in two playoff wins without the benefit of a completed pass. Against Massapequa, they didn’t attempt a single throw although Healy came close in the second quarter on a halfback option but couldn’t find anyone downfield. 

However he sure knows how to find the end zone. Healy had 23 regular-season touchdowns and has added 10 in the playoffs so far. “I owe it all to the line,” he said. “I love running behind those guys.”

Healy had all four East Meadow touchdowns — three rushing and the other on a 19-yard pass from senior quarterback Dylan Curry — in its 44-29 defeat at Freeport in Week 7. Head coach Vinny Mascia noted five turnovers that day — three giveaways and two drives stalled on downs — as the biggest reason why the Jets came up short.

“We’ve been very consistent offensively and need to protect the football against Freeport better than we did the first time,” Mascia said. “We’ve got a great line coached by Justin Szwejkowski, who in my opinion is the best line coach on the Island, and everyone works their butts off.”