Adrian Leddy's 2 field goals, 2 extra points, 2 INTs lead Lindenhurst
Lindenhurst DB Adrian Leddy grabs his second interception against Floyd in a Suffolk I quarterfinal on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014. Credit: George A. Faella
Senior Adrian Leddy did two of everything Friday night. He nailed two field goals, added two extra-point kicks and grabbed two interceptions in host Lindenhurst's 20-6 win over Floyd in a Suffolk I quarterfinal playoff game.
Leddy's two interceptions halted Floyd drives in Lindenhurst territory and helped the defense smother an offense that managed 172 total yards and turned the ball over six times. Floyd averted the shutout when junior quarterback Brandon Desmond hit junior wide receiver Marc Caraballo for a 2-yard scoring pass with 18 seconds left.
Lindenhurst (7-2), which has allowed a division-low 107 points this year, had lost 12 of the previous 13 meetings. The Bulldogs reached the Suffolk I semifinals for the first time since 2008.
"The defense did the job today," Lindenhurst coach Nick Lombardo said. "We dominated the field position and ran the ball extremely well."
Floyd (5-4) threatened to score on its first possession, driving 48 yards in 15 plays to the Linenhurst 2 before the defense stiffened behind end David Keller and linebacker Jeremy Ruckert and stopped a fourth-and-goal scramble by Desmond.
"That was a huge stop," Bulldogs halfback Joe Barber said. "And then our line took over."
Lindenhurst started at its 2, and buoyed by a 50-yard run by Barber, settled for Leddy's 22-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead with 10:15 left in the half.
The Bulldogs took advantage of another takeaway when Ruckert's fumble recovery set up Barber's 41-yard scoring run for a 10-0 halftime lead. Barber, who had 146 yards on 19 carries, went outside around right end on a fourth-and-1 for the score.
"I appreciate those guys on the line," Barber said. "There was a great block on the end and I followed it and went outside."
In the third quarter, Lindenhurst's Marquise Williams blocked a punt that he recovered at the Floyd 2 and two plays later, Gino Bonagura scored on a 2-yard run for the 17-0 lead. Leddy, who's made four of five field goals this year, drilled a 24-yard field goal with 2:01 left in the third for the 20-0 lead.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
