Jacobi's late TD pass lifts Locust Valley
First TD pass by Locust Valley's Joe Jacobi to Alex Rawa during the Nassau High School Conference IV football game where Locust Valley pulled off a last second win over Roosevelt 19 to 12. (Oct. 6, 2011) Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
The losing culture at Locust Valley has been changed. Now the question is: Will the Falcons find themselves back at Hofstra for the playoffs in late November?
Joe Jacobi capped a string of remarkable plays when he found Tom Nastasi in the end zone from 3 yards with three seconds to play in Locust Valley's 19-12 win over Roosevelt in Nassau IV Thursday at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium. The Falcons, who were 2-6 last year, are 5-0. Roosevelt is 4-1.
"I was one-on-one on the outside, I made a hard move to the outside and I knew Joe would put the ball in the perfect spot,'' Nastasi said of the winning play, a slant to the left side.
Jacobi completed 14 of 22 for 149 yards and three TDs, by far the best game of his career. "It's easy to throw it up to my receivers and let them go get it. With this guy,'' Jacobi said, pointing at Alex Rawa, "anything's possible.''
Rawa set up the TD pass in stunning fashion, catching Jacobi's deep fade down the right sideline for 28 yards to convert a third-and-26 from Roosevelt's 31 with 11 seconds left.
"I was just thinking don't get jammed on the line and make sure to get my feet inbounds,'' Rawa said. He got both inbounds, although one is the standard in high school.
Jacobi also made impressive moves with his feet on the final drive, eluding two defenders in the backfield and scrambling 21 yards to the 15. But two sacks and a holding penalty pushed them back to the 31.
Earlier in the 14-play, 60-yard march, Jacobi hit Rawa for 9 yards on third-and-7. Rawa had eight catches for 94 yards, including an 18-yard TD on fourth-and-8 to open the scoring in the second quarter, while Nastasi had five receptions for 47 yards.
Tom McNamara's one-handed grab with 51 seconds left in the half gave LV a 12-6 lead. But Erin Parker (170 yards on 17 carries) answered with his second touchdown, a 42-yarder, to tie it at 12. Parker also scored from 73 yards in the first quarter.
Locust Valley will visit West Hempstead (5-0) next Saturday. Said Jacobi: "We're starting a new tradition.''
