Titans win football championship thriller

This truly was a season the boys are thankful for and will never forget.”

Brian Marasco Head Coach

The 11-year-old Lynbrook Titans football team won the championship against Garden City on Sunday, Nov. 20.

The game took place on Mitchell Field where the Titans went up against Garden City during the championships for the second year in a row. Garden City beat Lynbrook in the Titan’s second game of the season. However, the Titans won 24 to zero during the championship game with the help of Owen Cegiles who scored three touchdowns.

“The Titans not only came out focused and well prepared, but the players were amped up to get over this Garden City hump and take home a championship,” Head Coach Brian Marasco said. “The game was indicative of the year the boys had and the fight they displayed week in and week out.” Marasco led the team to victory along with Brian Bowes and Mike Lee.

Although the Titans had a huge victory, players went through some challenges during their season. “Injuries at key positions hit the Titans had as they headed into a brutal stretch of their schedule,” Marasco said. The team suffered four straight losses as some players were asked to play out of position.

These injuries did not stop the Titans as some players returned back to health and some key victories at the end of the year propelled the Titans into the playoffs. “Every player has been a contributor. It is a special group of boys that have shown comradery and heart unlike any other I have seen,” Marasco said.

The Titans were an underdog in the first round of the playoffs as they went to Bellmore, but left with a 12-7 victory. Juel Maclaughlin had a touchdown run and also threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Brody Marasco. The defense came up strong in the fourth quarter as the Titans successfully held off Bellmore to preserve victory.

Marasco mentioned other important players that helped the Titans defeat Bellmore’s team. “Evan Fifield and Chris Molinari were solid on the lines as were Mason Davis and Ryan Bowes helping from secondary,” Marasco said. “Mike Pogozelski had some strong runs behind his center, Veer Goel, to close the game out. Andrew Collarossi, filling in for our injured kicker and tackle had kickoffs that continually pinned our opponents deep.”

After this win against Bellmore, the Titans were ready to go up against Garden City one last time this season. Marasco said that Garden City was a team that the Titans were “hungry to get a rematch with.” After the Titans defeated Garden City, Marasco expressed his gratitude for working with the team.

“It was a pleasure to watch them earn that championship after all they persevered throughout the year,” Marasco said. “They proved that focus and hard work, mixed with a dedication and unselfishness for the team, is a combination that makes up the heart of a championship winning team.”