Paul Dilena forces fumble, Chris Bacotti recovers to save Massapequa
Massapequa's Paul Dilena looks to keep Farmingdale's Steve Kunz away as he powers upfield during the Nassau I quarterfinal playoff game on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014. Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
This one was a gripping -- and ripping -- drama.
Just as Farmingdale was about to score the touchdown that likely would have won the game, Massapequa middle linebacker Paul Dilena ripped the ball loose. Chris Bacotti pounced on the ball in the end zone and wouldn't let go.
"I wasn't letting anybody else get it!" an excited Bacotti shouted moments after his dramatic fumble recovery with 49 seconds left preserved No. 7 Massapequa's 20-14 victory over No. 2 Farmingdale on Friday in a Nassau I quarterfinal at the Dalers' field. "We knew we had to make a stop. We understood what was at stake. Paul stripped it and I jumped on it."
The Dalers seemed poised to grab a one-point lead, taking advantage of a strong wind at their back to march from their 33 to the Chiefs' 1. Michael Scheuer completed passes of 14 and 17 yards on the drive and also ran the quarterback draw for gains of 8 and 9 yards.
But then Dilena dislodged the ball at the last possible instant, allowing Massapequa (5-4) to advance to Thursday's Nassau I semifinal at Hofstra against No. 6 Syosset. Farmingdale finished 7-2.
Dilena was in the middle of everything. The 6-2, 245-pound bruiser made up for an earlier fumble by scoring on a 1-yard plunge that, combined with a two-point conversion pass, tied the score at 14 with 1:46 left in the third quarter. Dilena kept that drive alive with a slick pass to Anthony White off a fake punt for a first down.
The Chiefs then took the lead for good when Griffin Barnathan made a fantastic one-handed catch on the run on a pass from Joe Butterworth for a 48-yard touchdown.
But the extra point failed, opening the door for the Dalers and their reliable kicker, Zach Kolodny, who beat Massapequa with a field goal on the final play of last year's county final.
"I was having flashbacks," Barnathan said.
But Dilena and Bacotti had other ideas . . . and a good grip on the situation.
