Mickey Hopkins and Blue senior all-stars shut out White all-stars
Mickey Hopkins runs for a touchdown as Steve Anacreon gives chase during the Suffolk County High School All Star Football game at Sachem North High School on Nov. 25, 2015. Credit: Richard T. Slattery
It is every defensive player's dream. Pick up a fumble and run for the score.
Kings Park linebacker Mickey Hopkins lived the dream Wednesday night in the 43rd Annual Police Athletic League senior all-star game before 700 fans at Sachem North High School in Lake Ronkonkoma.
Kings Park defensive end Nick Ciavoleila forced a fumble that bounced directly toward Hopkins, who scooped it up and raced 43 yards for the second quarter score. The Blue all-stars comprised of Suffolk's Division II and III shut out the White all-stars (I and IV), 21-0.
"First time I was able to pick one up and run with it," said Hopkins, who recovered two fumbles during the season. "Usually I just jump on a fumble and that's it. This one bounced right in front of me and it was a clean hop."
Spoken like a true infielder. Hopkins, a first and third baseman at Kings Park, used those baseball skills to give the Blue a lead it would never relinquish. He was named the Blue defensive MVP.
Matt McDonnell of Smithtown West added the extra-point kick to make it 7-0 and the rest was up to the Blue defensive unit that held the White stars to 141 yards of total offense. Rocky Point defensive back Paul Dominguez slapped away a potential touchdown pass in the end zone with 1:48 remaining on a fourth-down throw.
Eastport-South Manor halfback Nick Garone and quarterback Matt Kane hooked up for the first offensive touchdown of the game in the third quarter. Garone, who helped the Sharks to a 7-0 start this season, worked his way open in the secondary as Kane scrambled left and away from the pressure on a second down and 7 play. Kane found Garone on a 15-yard touchdown strike with 6:43 left and McDonnell added the extra point to make it 14-0.
The catch capped a nine-play, 77-yard drive. Garone carried four times for 36 yards and Eric Davis of Half Hollow Hills East added a 10-yard reception. "I knew he was in trouble and kept working my way across the field," said Garone, who was named the Blue offensive MVP. "I just kept doing zigzags trying to get open and then Matt saw me. It felt great to score in the all-star game."
Kane did a nice job squaring his hips and throwing a strike.
"He hit me with three touchdown passes during the season," Garone said.
The White stars had a few chances to score. The defense forced and recovered three fumbles but couldn't convert those turnovers into points. Brentwood teammates Alexander Ventura and David Piasencia and Sachem North's Dylan Rodriguez all were credited with fumble recoveries.
Northport halfback Dan Preston was the White offensive MVP after his 63-yard kickoff return. The White defensive MVP was Justin Ortega of Bay Shore, who had eight tackles.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
