Bates helps rush SWR past Mercy
Shoreham's Dylan Bates (22) breaks the tackle attempt by Mercy's Keith Schroeher (6) for a gain up the middle in the first half. McGann-Mercy High School at Shoreham-Wading River High School football. (Oct. 22, 2011) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Shoreham-Wading River is winning again, and with a top-four finish in sight for the first time in a decade, they aren't letting up.
Shoreham's dream season continued Saturday as the Wildcats downed Mercy, 28-0, on Senior Day in Suffolk IV. The win brought Shoreham's record to 6-1 and put the team in position for a playoff berth, just one year after the team went 0-8.
"It feels good to finally be able to win some games," senior guard Mike Savino said.
The Wildcats relied on their potent three-headed rushing attack to control the game. Senior Dylan Bates ran for a season-high 239 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown dash. Tyler Anderson had two rushing touchdowns, and fullback Joe Longo had a one-yard score.
The secret to Shoreham's success has been getting as many of those guys on the field as possible. Before the season, coach Matt Millheiser moved Bates from wingback to tailback in order to get the sophomore Anderson on the field more often.
The move has paid off. All three backs have carried Shoreham to a success not seen since Millheiser was a Wildcat 12 years ago. "It really helped to spark the team," Bates said.
Mercy managed to keep Shoreham out of the end zone for most of the first quarter. However, with 32 seconds left, Anderson scored on a 41-yard run through the heart of the Mercy defense.
"It's a great confidence boost to know that we can stay with teams and pull out the win," Anderson said.
Mercy found itself driving down the field on the ensuing drive, aided by two pass interference penalties. But Shoreham stopped the Monarchs on fourth down at the Wildcats' 14-yard line, and after a six-yard run Bates broke free up the left side for another Shoreham touchdown with 4:54 left in the half.
"I got a lot of great blocking on that run," said Bates, who also had a sack on defense. "Longo and the line all did a heck of a job."
After a scoreless third quarter, Longo scored on a one-yard dive up the middle with 10:27 left in the game. Anderson's second touchdown of the game, a 15-yard run with 8:58 remaining, finished the scoring.
Millheiser, who is in his second year, said that this year's team is further along than the teams he once played on, both in terms of skill and maturity.
"It's tough when you're 0-8 to keep your heads up," he said. "But these kids stayed focused, and now they're leaving their mark."
A win under the lights at Mount Sinai next week will give Shoreham its first playoff berth since 2001, with the potential for home-field advantage also in the balance.
"It's definitely going to be the biggest game of the year," Longo said. "From how far we've come, with the whole school looking down on us last year, a win will be huge."
