Probst wins Snyder as Nassau's best QB

BY ADAM RONIS | adam.ronis@newsday.com

December 5, 2007

Steve Probst experienced a foreign feeling against Baldwin on Oct. 20. The Farmingdale senior quarterback injured his right ankle early in the second quarter. Probst had never been hurt in a football game. Being carried off the field or limping off was something he couldn't do.

"I was in excruciating pain," Probst said. "I shrugged it off and finished the game. I didn't say anything. I didn't want to come out."

The injury turned out to be a fractured right tibia and a high ankle sprain. Probst missed the next three games, but returned for the Nassau Conference I championship game as Farmingdale beat Baldwin, 21-14.

Tuesday night, Probst received the Snyder Award, given to Nassau's most outstanding quarterback, for his achievements this season. Probst passed for 860 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 702 yards with 10 touchdowns in eight games.

"It's a great honor," the Hofstra-bound Probst said. "I owe it to everyone on the team."

Farmingdale (10-1), which lost in the Long Island Championship to Floyd, learned how much Probst meant to its offense in the semifinal when it edged East Meadow, 3-0, while he sat out.

Probst passed for 113 yards and gained 29 yards on six carries, including a 7-yard run in the Nassau final.

"It affected me a lot," he said of the injuries. "I couldn't run the ball. I was 70 percent. I didn't care how I played as long as we won. If I would have thrown 16 interceptions, I wouldn't care if we won."

Probst just wanted to play. Watching from the sideline and analyzing tape while undergoing physical therapy for almost a month was disheartening.

"It was probably the worst three weeks of my life," he said. "Missing what I love to do was the worst thing."

Farmingdale coach Buddy Krumenacker lauded the career of Probst.

"He's the most complete quarterback I have ever coached," Krumenacker said. "He has great skills and command of the offense. He's a great leader. He brings a great maturation to the game. He's like having another coach. We thought he had the potential to be good. He exceeded our expectations."