Floyd proves it is a top-notch program
William Floyd's Vantrell Nash reacts after he scores in the second quarter against Farmingdale in the Long Island Class I football championship at Shuart Stadium. (Nov. 29, 2012) Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Even within the walls of Floyd's football monolith, the outside whispers are heard clearly.
Sure, another Suffolk championship is nice, but what about the Long Island title?
Heavy is the head that bears the Class I crown. Hey, four consecutive county titles and four Long Island championships will do that to you.
"My team feels a lot of pressure," Colonials coach Paul Longo said before Thursday night's Long Island Class I championship game against Farmingdale at Hofstra. "It's a good and bad thing -- we're supposed to be in this game. It's almost like being the Yankees. The expectations are so high and we have to win it all or our season fell short. It's a lot of pressure."
But what did all that pressure produce? Another Colonial diamond.
Quarterback A.J. Otranto put forth a sparkling performance and Floyd's underrated defense shined as the Colonials captured a second straight L.I. title, and fifth overall, with a 31-14 win.
With a steady hand, Floyd etched another chapter into its history -- albeit recent history. The Colonials have built a dynasty in a decade. It may be a short story, but this certainly is a storied program.
"Over the last 12 years, we've been in the county final 10 times and we've won nine of them," said Longo, whose program won its first county title in 2001. "Since 2005, we've won four [Long Island championships]. It's taken a lot of hard work from coaches and players, and it's been a phenomenal run, one that we're very proud of."
The Dalers lost quarterback Joe Valente to injury in the first quarter, but take nothing away from Floyd, which contained an offense that entered averaging 32.8 points. Linebacker Miguel Brennin had six tackles and a sack to lead the Colonials, who yielded 256 yards and forced five turnovers. Dylan Cotter recovered a fumble in the fourth, and Billy Kaastra's interception with 2:50 left iced it.
Speaking of pressure, Farmingdale’s vaunted defense brought a lot of it -- the literal kind -- Thursday night. However...
On Floyd's go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter, Otranto was pressured up the middle and rolled left. He threw a perfect pass to Vantrell Nash on a deep corner route that went for 49 yards up the left sideline. And with 3:31 left in a competitive first half, the Colonials had a 14-7 lead and momentum. Otranto was 6-for-10 with 84 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 128 yards and two TDs.
"Even when you put pressure on [Otranto], it doesn't mean you've successfully defended the play," Dalers coach Buddy Krumenacker said before the game. "I think he's great under pressure."
And even with that pressure put on the Colonials, they have successfully defended the title.
"Coming from a great program like William Floyd, if you don't win the LIC, it's a disappointment," Otranto said after the game. "We did feel that pressure and we were able to perform under it."
