Islip runs its way into Suffolk III semifinals
Carmine Rosselli of Islip, right, bumps helmets with teammate Christrian Orozovich, left, during a Suffolk Division III quarterfinal on Friday at Islip. Credit: Joe Orovitz
Islip football had to flip the script after last season’s quarterfinal loss to East Hampton.
The Buccaneers were a pass-heavy team last year. They knew they needed to be able to run the football this time around in November.
“We need to be a more balanced team when it comes to playoff time because teams were just starting to load up on our pass,” Islip coach Jamie Lynch said. “You can’t just live on throwing the ball every down.”
On a rainy Friday night, that adjustment paid off.
Carmine Rosselli rushed 17 times for 240 yards and three touchdowns and Jack Halpin added 235 yards and three scores on 14 carries as No. 4 Islip defeated No. 5 Hauppauge, 47-26, in a Suffolk Division III quarterfinal. Rosselli also returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown.
“We knew we wanted to put the ball in their two hands and let them kind of take over the game, and they did, both of them,” Lynch said.
The offensive line of Christian Orozovich, Jhon Elmonuce, Anthony DeVita, Ezequiel Lazo and Connor Sepulveda paved the way for 475 rushing yards.
“We have a great group up front. They all work so hard day in and day out,” Halpin said. “The line was the biggest factor of the game. Everyone wanted this one really badly. They led the way for me and Carmine to run. We couldn’t be more thankful for them.”
Islip (6-3) will visit top-seeded Westhampton Beach in the semifinals on Friday night.
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