Miller's 3 TDs, key sack help Floyd top Longwood
Floyd running back Luke Miller goes all the way for the game-winning TD against Longwood in the 4th quarter of the Suffolk Division I semifinals. (Nov. 13, 2010) Credit: George A. Faella
When Floyd needed an inch on fourth down, Luke Miller got 55 yards. When the Colonials needed a stop late in the game, Miller got a sack. And when Longwood needed some love after another tough loss at Floyd, Miller provided it.
For the third time in the last four years, Longwood's season ended at Floyd, this time with a 26-22 decision in a Division I semifinal Saturday.
Miller rushed for 95 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries, and also had a sack and recovered a fumble as No. 2 Floyd (8-2) advanced to the county final for the seventh time in eight years. Undefeated Sachem North awaits Friday night at Stony Brook.
"Right now, we're going to let this one soak in," Miller said. "It's going to be a tough test. [Sachem North] blew us out the first time we played [40-6 in Week 6]."
Floyd coach Paul Longo said he'd celebrate this win "for about two hours" before firing up the video machine in preparation for the machine that is Sachem North.
Miller got the Colonials past the No. 3 Lions (7-3) with an extraordinary all-around effort. Floyd held a 20-15 lead with seven minutes to play, facing fourth-and-inches on its own 45. Miller took a handoff off-tackle right and bolted 55 yards down the sideline for the touchdown to make it 26-15. It was Miller's third TD of the game after a pair of 1-yard scores.
"He's a great short-yardage back," Longo said about calling Miller's number on fourth down. "He's not going down unless there's three guys in the backfield. The touchdown's a nice bonus."
On the ensuing kickoff, Miller made a touchdown-saving tackle on Dave Bennett. But it didn't take Longwood long to score regardless. The Lions drove 56 yards in 1:09 with Kavaughn Wiggins (188 yards on 34 carries) taking it the final 7 yards for his second touchdown.
Longwood regained possession with 3:41 to play down four. But consecutive sacks by Miller and Anthony Tavarone brought up a fourth-and-27, which the Lions couldn't convert. Will Brooks, who had an interception, said, "It was basically a war out there."
A gentlemanly war at that. On the handshake line after the game, Miller, the last player on Floyd's line, hugged each Longwood player. Miller took so long, he nearly missed Longo praising him during the postgame speech. "When you play a great team like Longwood, it's a battle to the last minute," Miller said. "It's kind of sad we'll never play our rivals again."
Miller, one of only 14 seniors on the Floyd roster, won't play on his home field again. Not included in that group is sophomore quarterback A.J. Otranto, who was 9-for-12 for 119 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Grimm to put Floyd up for good, 13-9, with 5:07 left in the third quarter. Miller took control from there.
"The adrenaline was kicking in during the game, but right now, I'm starting to feel it," Miller said before walking off the field (the last Floyd player to do so) with a big smile. "I'm overwhelmed."
