Jimmy Kelleher helps MacArthur topple Carey in Nassau II semifinal
MacArthur quarterback No. 10 Jimmy Kelleher scrambles for a first down before being tackled by Carey No. 20 Angelo Cona during a Nassau County varsity football Conference II semifinal at Hofstra University on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. Credit: James Escher
Carey's magnificent two-year reign is over. The No. 2 Seahawks, who won the last two Nassau II and Long Island Class II championships with undefeated seasons, were upended by No. 3 MacArthur, 29-15, Friday night in a county semifinal at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium.
Jimmy Kelleher completed 14 of 20 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown and added 35 yards rushing for another score for the Generals (8-2), who will face Wantagh for the Nassau II title next Friday at Hofstra at 7 p.m.
MacArthur broke it open with two long second-half drives. The Generals went 79 yards in 11 plays to take a 22-15 lead on Kelleher's 8-yard dash up the middle. They sealed the deal with a brilliant 11-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 5:34 of the fourth quarter and culminated with Vin Martino's 16-yard sweep around right end. Martino was a workhorse with 121 yards on 29 carries and two scores.
Mike Catanese was the offensive show for Carey (7-3) with 137 yards rushing on 20 carries plus two TD passes.
After a scoreless first quarter, the action picked up considerably. Martino scored from 5 yards to cap an 89-yard, 16-play drive, highlighted by Kelleher's 11-yard dart to Matt DeBlaiso on fourth-and-5 from the Carey 17.
Carey wasted little time in answering. The Seahawks needed just two plays to zip 63 yards -- a 15-yard pass from Catanese to Michael Kadnar and a 43-yard TD strike to Anthony Millan. Kicker Tyler DeMeo passed to Kadnar for two points and an 8-7 lead.
Carey expanded that lead moments later after Tommy Cassese forced a fumble on a pass completion and Joseph Sciacca recovered for the Seahawks at the Generals' 47. On the next play, Catanese hit DeMeo for a touchdown deep down the right sideline. DeMeo's kick made it 15-7.
Kelleher guided MacArthur to a 15-all tie at halftime, firing a 19-yard TD pass to Mike Rothberg and hitting DeBlaiso for a two-point conversation. The third quarter was scoreless, but the fourth was all MacArthur's.
