Long Island Championships Class I: Freeport’s speed vs. Floyd’s physicality

Floyd’s Michael Bradley came up with a motto this week for the Colonials, who will meet Freeport in the Long Island Class I championship game at noon Friday at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.

Said the senior middle linebacker, “Speed can’t match physicality.”

Speed would be Freeport (10-1), led by talented senior quarterback Rashad Tucker, who can beat an opponent with his arm, his feet and his foot (he’s also the punter). Tucker is the headliner of the Red Devils’ spread offense.

Physicality would be Floyd (10-1), led by a trio of three-year starting linemen in seniors Greg Amato (6-2, 300), Bryan Carney (6-3, 260) and Raquell Davis (6-1, 240). They are “the strength of the team,” according to Floyd coach Paul Longo, whose Colonials utilize a mix of I-formation and wing-T offenses.

Whichever team wins the battle between speed and physicality will be crowned the 2016 Class I champion.

“After watching film, and knowing how big and strong we are,” Bradley said, “I think we can overpower Freeport.”

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The beneficiary of the Colonials’ impressive offensive line is sophomore running back Nick Silva, who has rushed for 1,298 yards and scored 20 touchdowns.

“They have plenty of talent,” Freeport coach Russ Cellan said of Floyd. “You have to buckle it up against them. It’s not fancy what they do, but you have to stop them.”

That’s probably easier said than done.

“Our offensive line is probably the best we’ve ever had,” said Longo, in his 21st season with the Colonials. “We’re able to utilize ball control and keep our opponents’ offenses off the field, which helps our defense.”

Floyd’s defense, which has surrendered an average of 14.1 points per game and starts three sophomores, is a solid unit led by Bradley, who Longo calls “the best linebacker in Suffolk.”

Don’t be surprised to see Bradley also play tight end, as he has the past few weeks. But no matter where he lines up, he knows whom the Colonials have to focus on Friday: Tucker, who has passed for 1,280 yards and 15 touchdowns and run for 985 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“I don’t believe we’ve seen anyone like [Tucker] in Suffolk,” Bradley said. “He’s electric. He makes one move and he’s gone.”

Three other seniors are formidable parts of Freeport’s spread offense, including Elyjah Campbell (team-best 19 touchdowns), Jaelin Hood (16 total TDs) and Jahred Wray (nine TDs). Still, it all starts with Tucker.

“He’s one of, if not the most, electric players on Long Island,” said Cellan, in his 31st season at Freeport. “He’s the most outstanding open-field runner I’ve ever coached. He’s done things we’ve never seen anyone do, and things I’ll probably never see done again.”

The two storied programs have met three times in Class I title games and Freeport — looking for its first crown since 2010 — has won all three meetings.

Floyd, which last won a title in 2012, is 5-4 in the Long Island Championships. Freeport (4-2 in the L.I. title game) enters Friday on a seven-game winning streak.

“We’re on a roll, we’re hot, and we’re ready to go,” Tucker said. “Hopefully, we get one more.”