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E. Islip's Calabrese repeats as Boomer Award winner

BY ADAM RONIS | adam.ronis@newsday.com

December 4, 2007

Rob Calabrese certainly knows how to appease the right people. All the East Islip quarterback does is praise his offensive line. "They did a great job," he said. "I was only sacked twice all season. I had all day to throw. That's where all my success came from."

Calabrese plans on taking them out to dinner this weekend, but before you feel sorry for him taking on such a big tab, don't worry. He's taking them to a buffet. "They can all clear it out," he said.

Then maybe they can help carry Calabrese's trophies to Central Florida, where he'll be playing next season. Calabrese won the Boomer Award, given to the most outstanding quarterback in Suffolk, Monday night for the second consecutive season. "Winning it two times in a row is an honor," he said.

But Calabrese's main focus was to win a Long Island championship, and he helped East Islip (11-0) capture its first title with a 35-7 win over Lawrence in the Class II final. The 6-3, 205-pounder rushed for 104 yards on 15 carries and a score, completed 6 of 10 passes for 82 yards with two touchdowns and added five tackles and an interception.

When the game ended, he received a congratulatory hug from former NFL quarterback and East Islip alumnus Boomer Esiason. "It means a lot for him to take the time and watch us play," Calabrese said.

For his career, the three-year starter ran for 1,427 yards with 18 touchdowns and passed for 3,811 yards and 34 TDs.

"The only thing important to him all year was winning," East Islip coach Sal J. Ciampi said. "Most kids in high school in that position get full of themselves. You would never know he's a Division I kid."

Until you watch him play. He ran for a 1-yard touchdown to give East Islip a 13-7 lead against Lawrence and threw two TD passes to make it 28-7 at halftime. He also picked up 25 yards on a third-and-20 to set up a score.

"I knew he would have that big moment for people to remember him in the Long Island championship game," Ciampi said. "College coaches told me he looked like a man among boys. Great players step up and deliver. He's going to be a great one."