Carey's defensive line plays big role in county win
Carey's Thomas Gallant moves in for a sack of Garden City's Tim Schmelzinger during the Nassau II football final on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014 at Hofstra. Credit: James Escher
It's unusual for a high school football program to have separate units for its defensive and offensive lines. Most of the time, a few players go both ways.
For Carey, unusual has bred a county championship.
"All year long, we've been able to be two-platoon up front," Carey coach Mike Stanley said. "It's been a tremendous advantage all year, being able to keep guys not only fresh but keep them healthy for the long run. It's been a difference-maker."
Carey's defensive line is composed of seniors Thomas Gallant, Jorge Cerquera, Casey Kloepfer and John Heyer. As the season has progressed, junior offensive lineman Anthony Catapano has seen occasional snaps on defense.
In Carey's 21-6 win over Garden City in the Nassau II title game Saturday, the Seahawks' D-line overwhelmed Garden City, forcing turnovers and giving the offense favorable field position that translated into points.
"We made big plays all year," Kloepfer said. "I know a lot of the guys on offense get a lot of the highlights and everything, and deservedly so, but we take pride in our defense."
Pressure on quarterback Tim Schmelzinger led to an interception by senior cornerback Thomas Mayer on Garden City's second offensive play of the game. The Seahawks turned that into an 11-play, 54-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Mike Catanese.
"When you get good coverage by the secondary, you get a lot of time in there," Heyer said. "And we're just ferocious. We're just always going after the quarterback."
Two possessions later, Heyer burst through the line, forced a fumble and recovered it. That turnover led to another rushing touchdown by Catanese.
"We just knew coming in that we had to buckle down and do what we've been doing all year. Just making big stops," Gallant said.
Gallant had three sacks and Kloepfer and senior linebacker Conor Colasurdo each had one. Heyer also partially blocked a field-goal attempt.
"They've been outstanding all year. Very disruptive group," Stanley said. "Great takeoffs. Great speed. Basically, what we have come to expect from them."
And each lineman knows what to expect from the player next to him.
"We've been this way all season,'' Heyer said. "Even today, I specifically remember a play where I fell down, and I kind of got shook by the quarterback, and [Gallant] was right there to make the sack. If you mess up on this line, it's not going to look too bad. We all have each other's backs."
