RUTGERS CUP
As the Nassau football coaches placed their ballots at
last night's Nassau County Football Coaches Association Awards banquet, there
was a strong sense that this would be one of the tightest votes ever for the
Rutgers Cup.
"I believe this is one of those years where teams had outstanding regular
seasons and the cup could go to anyone of them." Freeport coach Russ Cellan
said.
Farmingdale ripped off 10 straight wins to claim this year's Nassau
Conference I crown. Lawrence, Long Island's defending Class II champion, also
won 10 straight on its way to a second straight Conference II title. Seaford
rolled through Conference IV by posting eight shutouts in 10 games.
With no clear cut favorite and three teams that posted 10-0 records prior
to the Long Island Championship games, even Bethpage, which knocked off
top-seeded Wantagh for the Conference III championship, had a shot at the 78th
Rutgers Cup. The award is given to the most outstanding football team in Nassau
County.
For the seventh time since 1937, Farmingdale took home the Rutgers Cup as
the Dalers accumulated 118 points, including 29 first place votes. Farmingdale
(10-1) last earned the cup in 1991 after winning it five times in the 70's.
"It is an absolute honor to win the Rutgers Cup," Farmingdale coach Buddy
Krumenacker said. "Our kids are very excited to be recognized with this award."
The Rutgers Cup win is the fifth for Krumenaker. He won it as the coach of
Hempstead from 1984-86 and 1988
Lawrence (10-1), which took home the Rutgers Cup last year after winning
the Long Island Class II title, finished second with 87 points, including 12
first place votes. Bethpage (9-2) was third with 49 points and Seaford (10-1)
was fourth with 37 points.
