Long Beach gets to .500 mark

After suffering through more than 60 minutes of scoreless football, Long Beach got a special teams touchdown early in the second quarter of last Saturday’s 26-8 Conference II victory over visiting Manhasset to end the drought.

Senior Jaylon Vega recovered a botched punt in the end zone to open the scoring, and junior Norman Wilson had a 22-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth to shut the door on the Indians. Senior quarterback Sam Brown had a pair of touchdown passes to lead the offense for the Marines, who concluded the season’s first half with a record of 2-2.

“We’re a little shorthanded, but the kids played hard and stuck together,” Long Beach head coach Scott Martin said. “We’re at the halfway point and still in a good position. We’ve lost to two teams ranked above us and beaten two teams ranked below us.”

The Marines were minus two-way standout running back/linebacker Tyreek Bromley (foot) and used their fourth different starting offensive line combination in as many weeks, Martin explained. He said Bromley is questionable to play this Saturday at undefeated Garden City but should return to face Mepham on Homecoming the night of Oct. 16.

“Tyreek said he’s feeling good, but he might have to sit out one more week,” Martin said. “It was nice to see other guys pick up the slack and win a game without him.”

Bromley was injured late in the first half of Long Beach’s 27-0 defeat at Wantagh on Sept. 26. Senior Jordan Teemer rushed for 63 yards against Manhasset and also moved to weakside linebacker and made five tackles and forced a fumble. Sophomore Chris Stackhouse played well in Teemer’s vacated spot. “Jordan made three or four monster hits that ignited our defense,” Martin said.

Senior Kipling Johnson had a fumble recovery and helped lead a goal-line stand early in the fourth that kept the Marines ahead by two scores. Both of Brown’s touchdown passes went to junior Vincent Deale. The first was a 17-yard connection in the second quarter, and the next a 30-yard strike in the third that saw Brown (12-for-15, 173 yards) take a big hit on the release.

On a tough night for the passing game, senior Josh Keitz had five receptions for 55 yards. He also had a fake punt for a first down in the first half and a touchdown called back because of a penalty in the second half. “Josh is our best player on the outside as a receiver and cornerback,” Martin said. “He’s got great hands.”

Keitz caught two of Brown’s four touchdown passes in Week 2 when Long Beach knocked off visiting Calhoun, 43-21. Brown also connected with junior Bryant Dingle (76 yards) and fullback Thomas Rutherig (22) for scores. Bromley totaled 202 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yard run in a wild third quarter that saw the teams combine for 35 points.

“We’re dealing with some injuries, but we’re getting better,” Martin said.