Curtis Jenkins carries Farmingdale past Syosset, 28-21, in Nassau I semifinal
Farmingdale's Curtis Jenkins rushes for a gain during the second quarter against Syosset. (Nov. 16, 2013) Credit: James Escher
He's got the moves like Jenkins.
"I can dance a little bit," Farmingdale's stellar running back," Curtis Jenkins said after putting on some dazzling moves Saturday night in leading the Dalers to a difficult but satisfying 28-21 victory over stubborn Syosset in a Nassau I semifinal at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium.
No. 1 Farmingdale (10-0) advances to Saturday's Nassau I final at 4 p.m. at Hofstra against the winner of last night's Oceanside-Massapequa game. No. 6 Farmingdale finished 6-4.
Jenkins was tough and elusive. When he wasn't high-stepping or side-stepping tacklers he was lowering his shoulder and taking them on, moving the pile and the ball as he piled up 187 yards on 22 carries, including a 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that was set up by his 39-yard jaunt.
Jenkins also made a game-high 10 1/2 tackles as the Dalers' defense was dented for the first time this season. Syosset quarterback Hunter Gross completed 20-of-39 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another 68 yards in a brilliant performance.
Farmingdale built a 28-7 lead early in the third quarter, capitalizing on the Braves' third turnover -- an interception by Xavier Sanabria at the Dalers' 27. Vinny Quinn (6-for-11, 195 yards, one TD) hooked up with Tom Kennedy for 36 yards to the Syosset 15 and three players later Styven Hogarth scored from the 1.
"Converting those turnovers was the biggest part of the game," Jenkins said.
Gross hit Anthony Carchietta for a 5-yard TD pass late in the third but despite amassing 447 yards of total offense -- to 427 by Farmingdale -- Syosset could not score again until Gross hit Michael Elardo, who made a spectacular catch-and-run for a 47-yard touchdown in the first quarter, for a 5-yard score with 30 seconds left to make it 28-21. But an onside kick attempt went out of bounds and Farmingdale had secured a victory that was much tougher than its 48-14 victory over the Braves in Week 3.
"We came out flat and they came out with a surge," Quinn said. "Those turnovers were a big momentum changer."
Linebacker Joe Lee recovered a Syosset fumble in the first quarter and Kennedy picked off a pass at the Farmingdale 28 to end a drive late in the second quarter. "It's the old turnover game," Farmingdale coach Buddy Krumenacker said. "Turnovers can change the shape of the field."
For Jenkins, the rectangular-shaped field was the shape of a dance floor. "It's all about setting up my blockers," Jenkins said of his myriad moves. "If you do enough of that, big plays will happen."
And when dancing wasn't an option, Jenkins mixed it up inside. "As a running back, sometimes you have to stick it in there and just drive with your legs," he said.
Krumenacker said Jenkins' biggest asset was not his legs but his eyes. "We talk about windows -- if you see a window you can run through it," the venerable coach said. "He's got all that other stuff -- quickness, speed YAC ability. But he's also got what all the special guys have. He's got great vision."