MacArthur seeks top four seed

MacArthur is gearing up for the football playoffs that kick off in early November fueled to reach the big stage at Hofstra after a two-year absence.

The Generals, who suffered first-round playoff defeats the past two years, last played on the turf at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium during the 2015 county title run. With one game left against defending Long Island champion Garden City, MacArthur (5-2) is fighting for one of the top four seeds in Conference II that could set up a

first-round home game and make the path to Hempstead Turnpike a potentially smoother one.

“I always tell the kids every year that I’m going to Hofstra no matter what and I’d rather be with them playing there than watching,” longtime head coach Bobby Fehrenbach said. “It’s very exciting to be there and have a huge crowd.”

MacArthur enters its final regular-season game off a heartbreaking 35-34 overtime loss to Mepham last Saturday. A win would have clinched one of the top four seeds, but the Generals can still get a first round home game by upsetting Garden City or getting help from other. The Generals’ lone other defeat came at home against Carey on Oct. 5, 32-7 after the Seahawks pulled away from a close game in the second half.

The Generals have positioned themselves for a high seeding despite playing parts of the season without two key players. Senior receiver Justin DeMaria was out for three games after he stepped up with a huge late 55-yard touchdown reception in MacArthur’s 21-20 win at Calhoun in late September, but returned against Mepham and ran a 65-yard punt back for a score. Senior running back Mike Langelotti has also missed time in the second half of the season.

“Other guys have stepped up and got the job done,” Fehrenbach said. “They are gaining confidence.”

Senior running back Hugh Kelleher took on more of a workload with the absence of Langelotti and came through with 100 yards rushing in MacArthur’s 28-0 win at Herricks on Oct. 13. Sophomore Ryan Isom was also big out of the backfield with 76 yards on the ground while senior quarterback Matt Cummings went 4-for-5 and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Colin Muller.

“A big key for us has been controlling the ball and controlling the clock,” Fehrenbach said. “The fewer possessions the other team has the fewer chances they have to score.”

MacArthur will tackle Garden City and its 31-game winning streak this Friday night at home with kickoff slated for 7 p.m. The stiff test at Garden City along with other results involving Carey and Mepham will determine where the Generals are seeded for their first round playoff matchup the following weekend. A first-round playoff win would land MacArthur a semifinal game at Hofstra.

“This conference has been very competitive,” Fehrenbach said. “We just have to worry about ourselves and take care of our own business.”