Mike DeLeo jump-starts Carey win with TD on opening kickoff
Carey running back Michael DeLeo returns the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown during a Nassau II varsity football game against host Westbury on Friday, Oct. 10, 2014. Credit: James Escher
Another special season is unfolding for Carey.
The Seahawks, defending Long Island Class II champions and Rutgers Cup winners, extended their winning streak to 17 games with a 47-12 victory over host Westbury Friday night in a Nassau II contest that began with something pretty special.
Senior Mike DeLeo returned the opening kickoff 88 yards, untouched, for a touchdown that jump-started a Carey team that rarely needs the extra boost.
"I just ran it pretty much up the gut and everybody played their roles well," DeLeo said. "I give credit to my blockers. Nobody touched me. That's a great way to start the game. Everybody is hugging in the end zone, then you're pumped up to go out on defense."
The Seahawks (5-0) forced a punt on Westbury's first possession and again struck quickly. Junior quarterback Mike Catanese, looking very comfortable as the guy who replaced Ray Catapano, last year's Thorp Award winner, connected with the wide-open Brett Campos deep down the middle for a 52-yard gain to the Dragons' 20.
Campos then showed the long sprint didn't tire him out. He carried for 13 yards on the next play and finished the drive with a 7-yard run for a 13-0 lead.
Then it was DeLeo who grabbed center stage in this star-studded offense with runs of 11, 10 and 18 yards, the latter for a touchdown and a 19-0 lead with 4:21 left in the first quarter. The fire was out for the Dragons (3-2).
Catanese kept the heat on with two more scoring drives in the first half that produced a 33-6 lead, which the Seahawks would have been glad to take into the halftime break.
Late in the second quarter, Casey Kloepfer broke through to block a Westbury punt and Paul Koprowski, who also kicked five extra points, rumbled 30 yards for a touchdown.
"It was great to see," Carey coach Mike Stanley said. "We needed to get better in special teams and we got two scores on specials that were huge."
Catanese, who was removed along with the other Carey starters midway through the third quarter, had an efficient night, completing 9 of 12 for 195 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Six Seahawks caught at least one pass. Nikolas Spillane added two rushing touchdowns.
"This offense is so much fun to play in," Catanese said. "We have guys who can run and we have great receivers."
And don't forget those special teams.
