Big plays propel Elmont over Long Beach

Big-time athletes make big-time plays, and that was ultimately the deciding factor in Elmont’s 34-28 victory over Long Beach last Saturday in a Nassau Conference II football regular-season finale.

“They have some star athletes, and that’s what it came down to,” Long Beach head coach Scott Martin said. “That's what happens when you play a team like this. They might not strategically beat you throughout the game, but they have the stars to beat you on big chunk plays.”

The first of those big plays came on Elmont’s opening drive of the game. On fourth and long, Nassir Edwards vaulted over a Long Beach defender along the sideline to reel in a one-handed catch for a 31-yard gain and a first down.

“That was ridiculous,” Elmont head coach Tom Innes said. “You don’t coach that. I have a lot of trust in him and a lot of trust throwing him the ball. He's a mismatch nightmare. I'd hate to be on the other side having to defend against that. It's a pleasure having him on my side of the ball because it makes it easy for me to call other plays when I know they're keyed on that.”

After showing his ability as a deep threat, Edwards caught a quick pass from quarterback Aiden Barnes on an out route to put Elmont on the board. With Edwards scoring the game’s opening touchdown, it was only fitting that he scored the one that sealed the victory.

In the fourth quarter, he once again leaped over a defender and took the ball to the house, giving Elmont a two-score lead late in the game. Edwards finished the afternoon with three catches and 74 yards with his two touchdowns.

Isaiah Davis also had two touchdowns for Elmont, with his first being the one that broke the game open. After Long Beach scored on a fourth down conversion, Davis responded by running back the ensuing kickoff. Senior quarterback Luke Hartman had two touchdown runs and a pair of touchdown passes (one each to Shaquile Johnson and Courtney Merchant) for the visitors.

“We had just let up a touchdown on fourth down, and morale was low,” Davis said. “ I put the team on my back and said, ‘Let's go, guys.’ I put it all on the field and made a play. You could see the energy back in everybody.”

Davis had a 59-yard touchdown run in the game, finishing with 154 on 16 carries.

Osagie Ekhator also broke off a huge run to score for Elmont out of the backfield and collected eight tackles on defense. Meanwhile, Vincent Laffey led the Spartans in tackles with 12, and Marquis Robinson snagged an interception.

Leading Elmont’s supporting cast was quarterback Aiden Barnes. With 142 yards passing and two touchdowns, the sophomore displayed traits that will be essential to Elmont’s success in the postseason.

“He showed me toughness,” Innes said. “Calling up a sophomore quarterback, I was definitely worried, but he's a gamer. He's just tough as nails. Throughout the season, he kept proving how tough he actually is.”

With the win, Elmont finished the regular season 5-3 and will host No. 5 New Hyde Park in the opening round of the playoffs. Long Beach (4-4) will match up against second-seeded Carey.