Wantagh continues winning ways

Wantagh’s been nearly flawless in its return to Nassau Conference III football and cruised to a fifth straight victory last Saturday, knocking off visiting Lawrence, 31-6, in a battle of undefeated teams.

Only time will tell if the top-ranked Warriors can write a perfect ending, but they’ve been nothing short of dominant so far after playing for the Conference II title last season. Junior quarterback Jake Castellano threw for 151 yards and two touchdowns in what was only the second all-time meeting between the programs. The Golden Tornadoes avoided a shutout on the final snap of the game on junior NJ Serrette’s 3-yard touchdown run.

“We returned a lot of key guys defensively and we’re just looking to get better every week,” Wantagh head coach Keith Sachs said. “They’re doing a great job preparing and executing. They make the right reads and really trust each other and the scheme.”

Lawrence, which averaged 38.2 points over its first four games while matching last year’s win total, had an impressive opening drive covering 70 yards and nearly half of the quarter but stalled at Wantagh’s 5-yard line and missed a field-goal attempt. The Golden Tornadoes were unable to get back into the red zone until the closing minute.

“We missed a lot of opportunities and made some mental mistakes,” Lawrence head coach Joe Martillotti said. “They were better than us today. But if we can get healthy for the playoffs , we can see them again.”

The Warriors, who rank atop all of Long Island defensively with only 20 points allowed through five games, and a margin of victory pushing 30, marched 80 yards on six plays to take a 7-0 lead. Junior Tommy Rohan broke a 44-yard run on their first offensive snap, and the drive was kept alive on Castellano’s 15-yard completion to senior Jimmy Joyce on fourth-and-9. Rohan rumbled 20 yards for a touchdown with 2:01 remaining in the quarter.

An interception by Joyce on Lawrence’s first play on the ensuing possession put Wantagh’s offense back in business at midfield, and the hosts wasted no time getting back in the end zone. Junior Gavin Casey took a short screen pass from Castellano and raced along the home sideline for a 50-yard score to make it 14-0.

“Today was a big step for Jake,” Sachs said of Castellano, who attempted only three passes a week earlier against Division. “He hit the play action passes and threw the ball out of bounds when nothing was there. He looked confident and I’m very pleased with how he ran the offense.”

Castellano hooked up with junior Anthony D’Onofrio for a 25-yard touchdown with 3:17 left in the first half to increase the lead to 21-0. Lawrence, which returns home to face Bethpage this Friday at 7 p.m., got an interception from junior Christian Rodas in the closing seconds of the half to avoid a deeper hole.

Wantagh, which hosts Hewlett this Saturday at 2 p.m., tacked on a 27-yard field goal by senior Michael Piergiovanni in the third quarter and a 1-yard touchdown run by Casey in the fourth. Senior linemen Joe Valenti and Jack LaVache led the defensive push up front.