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A Few Clouds MacArthur halts Carey's amazing run
A bend-but-don’t-break defense over the last 32 minutes along with a pair of long second-half scoring drives allowed MacArthur to put an end to Carey’s remarkable two-year reign atop Nassau County football last Friday night.
Senior quarterback Jimmy Kelleher’s 8-yard touchdown run a minute into the fourth quarter broke a tie and put the Generals ahead for good in their 29-15 Conference II semifinal playoff victory at Hofstra. Kelleher threw for 220 yards and a touchdown, while senior tailback Vin Martino rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns as No. 3 MacArthur (8-2) advanced to face fourth-seeded Wantagh in the title game this Friday at 7 p.m. at Hofstra.
“We just beat a great team and we’re excited for next week,” said Kelleher, who directed scoring drives of 79 and 80 yards over a span of 7:30 in the fourth to bring the Generals within one win of their first county championship in 13 years.
The second-seeded Seahawks (7-3), who entered the season on a 24-game winning streak and with back-to-back Long Island Class II titles and Rutgers Cups, made their ninth consecutive appearance in the semifinals. They led 15-7 with 8:35 remaining in the opening half but were unable to get on the scoreboard thereafter. Senior quarterback Mike Catanese led the effort with 137 rushing yards and two long touchdown passes.
“Our kids battled all night like they did all year,” Carey head coach Mike Stanley said. “I’m so proud of this group for their careers and this season.
“Hats off to MacArthur,” he added. “They played great.”
The Generals, who lost 28-21 at Carey on Oct. 17 on a late touchdown run by Catanese, halted the Seahawks’ game-opening drive last Friday night at the 11 then went 89 yards on 18 plays to take a 7-0 lead with 1:21 elapsed in the second quarter. Kelleher’s fourth-and-5 completion from the Carey 17 to senior Jared Wolfe kept the chains moving, and two plays later Martino ran five yards for a touchdown.
“We really like our balance,” MacArthur head coach Bobby Fehrenbach said. “Our offense has been consistent all year, and our defense has really stepped up.”
