Armine's passing another option in Sachem North's win

The halftime music program included this classic oldie from Bill Haley and the Comets: "Shake, Rattle and Roll." That pretty much described the Sachem North offense.

The Flaming Arrows, Newsday's No. 1-ranked team in the Big 10, shook off tacklers, rattled the opposition into mistakes and rolled to their seventh straight victory, 41-14, over Longwood in a Division I game Friday night at Sachem North.

The offense, as usual, featured what coach Dave Falco likes to call "the three-headed monster" of running backs Mike Andreassi, Jesse Scanna and Dalton Crossan. But there was a wrinkle Friday night: Quarterback Angelo Armine actually threw several passes.

In fact, on the game's first play from scrimmage - after a motion penalty - Armine hit Crossan on a deep slant for a 59-yard touchdown pass. "It was something we saw on film that we thought could work," Falco said. "A man in motion like when we run, but a straight drop-back pass."

Given that Sachem North's rushing offense is its bread and butter, having an effective passing game is like having dessert before dinner. Armine (5-for-7) served up another tasty offering later in the first quarter - a 32-yard pass to Tyler Andreassi that set up Armine's 1-yard sneak for a 20-0 lead.

It was a first-half offensive feast for the Flaming Arrows (7-0) who rolled up 191 of their 271 yards by intermission and a surprising 95 of their 120 yards passing in building up a 34-7 lead. Andreassi had 63 yards in that first half and scored on three short runs.

"That's as balanced as we've been all year, in the first half," Falco said. "That was a goal. Teams are loading up on the run. It's a lesson we learned last year that we have to have the threat of a pass."

SEE PHOTOSSachem North 41, Longwood 14

Longwood (5-2) had a solution to stopping the Sachem North offense in the second half: Keep the ball away. The Lions, with Kavaughn Wiggins shouldering most of the load, controlled the ball for 7:25 on the first possession of the third quarter. But the drive stalled at the Sachem North 29.

After the Arrows' first punt of the game, Longwood mounted another long drive from its own 10. But on a third-and-7, Crossan intercepted an overthrown deep pass down the middle and turned upfield. The junior used his exceptional speed to cut to the right sideline and went all the way for a 65-yard touchdown that made it 41-7.

Longwood showed off an impressive rushing attack of its own. Davonte Booker's 57-yard burst set up a 4-yard run by Wiggins, who finished with 123 yards. Booker had 92.

But the main dish all night was Sachem North's offense, a nice mix of rock and roll.