Danny Roell, Seaford roll to semifinal win
Seaford's Frank Lauretti, center, celebrates with teammates Danny Roell, left, and Jack Lasher after Roell ran for a touchdown in the second quarter of a Nassau IV semifinal against Clarke at Hofstra University on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015. Credit: James Escher
At 5-9 and 165 pounds, Seaford running back Danny Roell frequently is the lightest player on the field. But when it comes to performance, Roell is a real heavyweight.
Roell gained 204 of his 213 rushing yards in the first half, when he scored four touchdowns as No. 2 Seaford crushed No. 3 Clarke, 49-14, Thursday night in a Nassau IV semifinal at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium.
"He's a real pit bull. He really loves to play football," Seaford coach Rob Perpall said.
Games like last night must be especially enjoyable. The Vikings, who will face No. 1 Locust Valley for the county championship next Thursday at 7 p.m. at Hofstra, scored on their first four possessions.
Roell got it rolling with a 25-yard dash to cap the game's first drive. After Kevin Digney recovered a Clarke fumble at the Rams' 31, Frank Lauretti powered in from the 1. Seaford held on downs and Lauretti capped another scoring drive with an 8-yard run. It was 21-0 after one.
But not for long. Carter Skretch recovered an onside kick -- Seaford's modus operandi regardless of score -- and the Vikings quickly capitalized. Roell, on a slick cutback, scored from 15 yards out for a 28-0 lead.
Roell added a 7-yard run in the final minute of the first half as Seaford led 42-0 at the break. He carried only four more times in the second half. For the season, Roell has 1,980 yards and 27 touchdowns. He moved past Plainedge's Davien Kuinlan (1,929 yards) as Long Island's leading rusher, but Kuinlan plays Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against Roosevelt in a Nassau III semifinal.
"My fullback and my line were firing out all night," Roell said. "I look for my blocks and then I make my cuts."
The Vikings' offensive line of Jack Lasher, Peter Couvaris, Nick Kocienda, James Poole and Kevin Digney helped produce 399 yards on the ground.
Clarke's top player, running back Aaron Dawson, rushed for 121 yards on 12 carries, including a 72-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. He finished the season with 1,815 yards and 22 touchdowns. Justin Brister broke loose for an 84-yard TD run in the fourth quarter for the Rams. Both scores came against Seaford's reserves.
"We've had a lot of great running backs at Seaford," Roell said. "Especially in the last 10 years. I'm just trying to do my part."
