Commack savoring its unbelievable overtime win over Sachem North

They will look back on Friday night's win in Lake Ronkonkoma and be able to savor the special moments. The Commack football team pulled off one of this season's biggest upsets knocking off Sachem North, 31-28, in an unforgettable three overtime thriller.

One would expect the bus to be filled with celebration and chatter after Billy Holscher kicked a 32-yard field goal to win it.

"We were excited but we were completely exhausted," Commack coach Joe Reggio said. "The bus ride was fun and the guys felt satisfied that they'd taken a big step forward. But we were spent."

Commack (5-0) had applied the brakes to one of the most potent offenses on Long Island for 48 minutes and outlasted top-seeded Sachem North in the overtime periods.

Sachem North (4-1), no stranger to multiple overtime periods, had beaten Bay Shore in three overtimes, 63-62, last season. This one was going to turn out different.

"It was an emotional roller coaster," Reggio said. "But we have a quarterback in Rob Paccione who has a gunslinger's attitude and a bunch of players who believe they can beat anyone."

The teams traded touchdowns and extra points on each of their first two overtime possessions, ratcheting up the tension and the noise.

But Commack finally turned the Flaming Arrows over on downs, aided by an offensive holding penalty, and the door was open for Commack to earn its biggest win since the program won the Suffolk I title in 2000.

"Once we stopped them on fourth down, we do have a good kicker and I wanted to make sure we gave him a chance," Reggio said of his strategy on the final drive.

Halfback Willy Monroy (76 yards rushing) ran for 2 yards on first down from the Sachem 20, then Paccione (11-for-21, 152 yards) threw incomplete into the end zone. On third-and-8, fullback Jesse Kilmetis burrowed ahead for a mere 3 yards to the 15, but kept the ball in the middle of the field. "I was kind of being conservative there," Reggio said.

Holscher delivered and the Cougars had the biggest victory in Reggio's eight seasons. "Definitely a huge program-booster," Reggio said. "But I told the kids it's only midseason and I have a feeling we're going to see them again."

Sachem North which had been averaging 44 points a game, was mostly thwarted by the stingy Cougars' defense, led by transfer middle linebacker Josh Valentin who was especially dominant in the second half. "He's been tremendous. We rely on him to stuff the middle and that allows everyone else to just do their jobs," Reggio said.

Among those doing their jobs were linemen Kyle Prpich and Kevan Scott, Monroy (a 64-yard interception return to set up the game's first touchdown) and sophomore cornerback Augie Contressa, who twice upended Malik Pierre for 5-yard losses. "Augie hits like a truck," Reggio said. "We're already working on our game plan for Lindenhurst. You can't look past anyone."With Gregg Sarra