Floyd wins battle of unbeatens over Ward Melville in Suffolk I football
Floyd's Ja'Quan Thomas gets around Ward Melville's Joey Karpowicz in the third quarter during a Suffolk Division I football game on Saturday at Floyd. Credit: Bob Sorensen
Takeaways. They are one of the keys to success in high school football.
The Floyd football team, despite having only one takeaway through the first five games of the season, was still undefeated and tied for first place in Suffolk Division I.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Floyd coach Paul Longo said. “Our takeaway ratio was not good. We beat Sachem North in overtime and just got past Longwood. We needed a defensive effort that would make a statement at some point.”
That effort came Saturday against Ward Melville, the highest scoring offense in the division. The Floyd defense forced five turnovers, including three in the fourth quarter to upend previously undefeated Ward Melville, 28-21, in Suffolk I.
The final takeaway came as time expired to seal the win. Ward Melville quarterback Hudson Philbrick completed a 10-yard pass to JJ Alcindor, who tried to lateral it at the Floyd 8-yard line. The ball was fumbled and recovered by senior Evan Commodore. Philbrick, who completed 19 of 30 passes for 251 yards and two scores, was driving the Patriots for the tying touchdown.
“We were really aggressive on defense,” said Commodore, who also had a third quarter interception. “The ball came loose, and I just pounced on it before it rolled out of bounds. I was in the right place at the right time.”
In all, Floyd scored 21 points off takeaways, including Ja'Quan Thomas’ game-winning touchdown run with 3:47 left. That score was set up when Divine Bennett recovered a fumble at the Patriots' 18.
“They have a dynamic offense,” Longo said. “This was our best performance of the season. And we needed it to beat them.”
They also needed a good push from the offensive line and the hard running of Thomas. He had 201 yards on 31 carries and all four of the Colonials touchdowns.
“We circle this game every year on the calendar,” Thomas said. “Ward Melville is the real deal. We must come ready to play. And we did that today -- we came out strong. It’s a big win to set the tone for the playoffs.”
Ward Melville (5-1) opened the scoring when Philbrick drove the Patriots 65 yards in 10 plays. He found JJ Alcindor for 27 yards over the top of the defense for the score. The kick failed and the Patriots led 6-0 with 7:23 left in the first quarter.
Floyd (6-0) took a one-point lead in the second quarter. The Colonials went on a 14-play, 78-yard TD drive that consumed 7:01. Thomas pounded the rock home on a 2-yard run and Isaac Monroy added the kick for a 7-6 lead with 4:25 left in the half.
On the ensuing possession, Ward Melville responded with an eight-play 78-yard march capped by a Philbrick 1-yard run. His 25-yard pass to Joey Karpowicz to the 1-yard line set up the score. Ethan Jargo added the kick to give the Patriots a 13-7 with 1:14 left in the half.
Ward Melville had a golden opportunity to add to the lead. Karpowicz intercepted an underthrown pass at the 49-yard line with 1:01 left. The Patriots went deep into the playbook for a hook-and-ladder call. The pass was completed but the pitch was fumbled and recovered by Floyd’s Derek Glock at Floyd’s 44 with 50 seconds left.
“They were trying to extend the lead,” Longo said. “And our guys came up with a big play.”
On first down, Thomas ran for six yards and then went over the left side, broke three tackles and went down the visitor’s sideline for a 50-yard TD run with 13 seconds left. Monroy’s kick made it 14-13.
Floyd turned the next takeaway into seven points. Philbrick’s pass over the middle was tipped twice and Commodore came up with the interception at the Patriots' 43. The Colonials capitalized with a six-play, 43-yard drive capped by Thomas’ third TD run, this one from 14 yards. Monroy’s kick made it 21-13 with 2:50 left in the third quarter.
Ward Melville came right back. Philbrick drove them 68 yards in nine plays before he found Karpowicz with a 23-yard scoop and score TD pass. Christian Hubbard added the two-point conversion run to tie it at 21.
And the final takeaway allowed Floyd to win.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
