Sean Smith's 2 TD passes, run game carry Bethpage into semifinals
Bethpage's No. 31 Anthony Cucurullo rushes passed Valley Stream North's defense to score a touchdown during the Nassau Conference III quarterfinal playoff game between Bethpage and Valley Stream North on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021 in Bethpage. Credit: Howard Schnapp
Bethpage is running something special on offense.
"We kind of run, run, run," coach Roddy McCoy said, "and then when we have to pass, it’s always good to have an accurate quarterback."
Luke Galgano got crunched to the Bethpage turf Friday on the first play of the second quarter in his first game back from a broken clavicle. The senior quarterback didn’t pop right back up and sat from there for what McCoy said were "precautionary reasons." So Sean Smith, who had started the previous four, took back the keys in the Nassau III quarterfinal.
The junior proceeded to go 2-for-2 passing in third-seeded Bethpage’s 35-0 win over No. 6 Valley Stream North — both perfect touchdown tosses to Conor Burns.
That went with a superb running attack paced by Anthony Cucurullo’s 123 yards and a touchdown on six carries and a dominant defense that got two interceptions from Justin Crumb.
"I thought I just had to step up one more time … and I just knew my boys had my back," Smith said after the Golden Eagles (7-2) won their fourth straight.
Next up: Second-seeded Wantagh (8-1) in the semifinals Thursday at Hofstra.
Bethpage trailed Wantagh by one point in the fourth before losing, 20-13, in Week 2. McCoy wasn’t sure who his quarterback will be in the rematch. But Smith thinks his team has "a better chance" this time.
"Our linemen have progressed and we’ve progressed as a family and progressed as a team," Smith said.
In this latest victory, Brian Luzzi added 85 yards and a TD rushing. Michael Corbo ran for 49 yards and a score.
"I think a lot of our success has to do with our four captains — Luzzi, Corbo, Galgano and James David," McCoy said. "They’ve been good leaders."
Luzzi capped the opening drive with 6-yard touchdown run. Cucurullo broke free for a 71-yard scoring run in the second quarter. Then Smith found Burns for a 20-yard TD. It was 21-0 at halftime.
Corbo raced 36 yards for six in the third.
And Smith hit Burns on a post pattern for a 28-yard score early in the fourth.
It left the senior-heavy Spartans with a 4-5 season.
"It was very successful," coach Mike Paolillo said. "We finished in sixth place. We were seeded eighth [in the preseason]. We had a very tough schedule … They played hard."
