About the game: Farmingdale vs. Floyd
Floyd quarterback A.J. Otranto, right, congratulates Vantrell Nash, middle, after he scored against Sachem East in the Suffolk Division I football final at LaValle Stadium. (Nov. 25, 2012) Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
We go green in this year's Class I championship. The green of Farmingdale and Floyd will be on display in a Long Island title game that promises to be physical and loaded with big plays. If you're following Twitter, both teams believe they have an outstanding shot to win this one.
Both teams have shown they can play rugged defense. Both teams have the propensity to score a lot of points. Both teams have playmakers, game changers. And both teams have classy coaches who are two of the best in the business and will have their teams prepared.
The facts: Floyd, the defending Long Island Class I champion, have made six appearances in the past seven years, winning four titles.
The teams have met for the Long Island Class I crown on two occasions with the Dalers winning in 2001 and Floyd winning in 2007.
The game will be shown live on msgvarsity.com.
How Farmingdale can win: The Dalers (10-1) will need to continue to play a swarming lockdown defense. They can stop the run but can they stop the pass? The secondary is loaded with athletes but they haven't come up against a quarterback like A.J. Otranto. The Floyd senior is as devastating with his running ability as he is with his arm strength. He can spread the field and stretch a defense. The Dalers' secondary will be tested here.
The keys here are defensive ends Chad Tomassetti and Kevin Petit-Frere, who have been excellent through this terrific playoff run. Tomassetti and Petit-Frere can get their hands up and change the throwing lanes for Otranto, pressure him into mistakes and most importantly contain him so he can't wander outside the tackles and throw on the run.
On offense, the Dalers need to punish the Floyd front and methodically move the ball. Clock management and no turnovers are usually keys to success. Don't allow Floyd to crowd the box and make the Colonials respect Joe Valente and the passing game. Win the field-position battle.
How Floyd can win: Force Farmingdale into third and long situations and take them away from the vaunted running game. Force mistakes with linebackers Dashawn Morton, Miguel Brennin, Marc Coles and Chris Faison and make the Dalers play from behind. Contain Petit-Frere and Curtis Jenkins, who are both explosive runners. Give Otranto enough time to find his receivers, Vantrell Nash and Corey Banks. Make sure they catch the football -- they overcame too many drops in prior games -- Farmingdale will make them pay for those mistakes. Get the backfield of Faison and Diamonte Corley in space and let them run.
Get the early lead and don't let Farmingdale get into an offensive rhythm. The Colonials are a big-play team but don't be fooled so is Farmingdale.
