Mike Esposito's punt block key in MacArthur's 7-0 victory over Elmont

Hugh Kelleher tends to find his way into the end zone with regularity. He just had to do it somewhat unconventionally on Saturday.

On a windy afternoon during which neither offense could assert itself, MacArthur and Elmont entered the waning minutes of the fourth quarter in a scoreless tie.

Then, with 1:46 left in regulation, host MacArthur found a way to break through. Elmont’s punt attempt on fourth-and-10 from its own 32-yard line was blocked by Mike Esposito, and Kelleher scooped and scored from 15 yards.

It was the game’s only score as No. 4 MacArthur outlasted No. 5 Elmont, 7-0, in a Nassau Conference II football quarterfinal.

“One of the players came up to me and said, ‘In a million years would you ever predict that ending?’ And I said, ‘No,’ ” MacArthur coach Bobby Fehrenbach said.

There was a look of disbelief on Kelleher’s face, too. He ran 28 times for 190 yards but had several potential game-breaking runs stopped by the defense of Elmont (5-4). Instead of getting discouraged, he said he knew to capitalize when the opportunity presented itself.

“I just pick it up and run,” Kelleher said. “Don’t fall on it because we couldn’t finish before, so I had to get in the end zone.”

An Elmont penalty on the extra point helped Brian Carroll, whose shorter kickoff rolled to Elmont’s 5-yard line. With 1:27 left, Elmont quarterback Jonathan Maldonado was intercepted by Justin DeMaria on the first play of the drive, ending Elmont’s comeback attempt.

The kick by Carroll served as retribution for the placekicker, who missed a 22-yard field goal wide left that would’ve given MacArthur (6-3) a 3-0 lead with 2:35 remaining.

Kelleher, who said it was nice to see Carroll respond positively, said that every unit stepped up its play in the tight contest, especially the defense.

“Our defense played great, and we’re really proud of our ‘D’ this week,” he said.

After a monotonous first half, both teams came out aggressive in the third quarter. MacArthur’s first play from scrimmage in the second half was a 24-yard completion from Matt Cummings to Colin Muller, but that drive stalled when Cummings was picked off by James Pierre four plays later.

Elmont’s first three plays of the third quarter went for 18, 11 and 17 yards, but the Spartans eventually punted after the MacArthur defense buckled down.

It all added up to a nail-biting victory to advance to next weekend’s semifinals at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.

“I told them after the game, ‘You didn’t finish drives, but you finished the game.’ That’s all that matters,” Fehrenbach said. “They were able to find a way to get it done.”

Esposito, who said he was new to the punt-block unit this week because of an injury, made his presence felt. He went between the center and guard and rushed the punter, throwing his body in front so the ball could bounce off his rib cage and trickle toward the end zone.

Kelleher took care of the rest.

Said Esposito: “I knew it right there; we won the game.”