Sayville linebackers Mike Leach and Liam Bailey help defense contain Plainedge QB Davien Kuinlan
Sayville's Mike Leach celebrates a play during the Long Island Class III championship game against Plainedge at Stony Brook on Nov. 29, 2015. Credit: Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara
Sayville's Mike Leach and Liam Bailey clutched their gold trophy. They had the same ferocious expressions on their faces that Plainedge quarterback Davien Kuinlan had to stare down all afternoon.
The two linebackers were key factors in a defense that contained Kuinlan in Sayville's 59-15 victory in the Long Island Class III championship game Sunday at Stony Brook's LaValle Stadium. It had been a long time coming -- since they were 4 years old.
"We've always said to each other since PAL football, one day we're going to get that ring, and we did it," Leach said.
The defense held Kuinlan to 2.7 yards per carry on 32 attempts. Bailey had a sack and an interception and Leach batted down two pass attempts, recovered a fumble and made a sack. The recovery set up a touchdown that put Sayville up 20-7. Together, the defense had four sacks for total losses of 29 yards.
"No one person on the defense is going to win for us," Bailey said. "We have to play as a unit and we have to play together, and that's what we did today."
Sayville came in planning to contain Kuinlan's running game. He's the top rusher on Long Island, finishing with 2,719 yards after Sunday's 87 on the ground. The secondary's play was partially responsible for his containment.
"He was looking downfield," Bailey said. "Our were covering real tight and that allowed us, the linebackers, to get to him. He was scrambling, but he had nowhere to go."
The Golden Flashes had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Nick Casazza had an interception and a fumble recovery. And in the end, a defense that faced a tall order against a proficient running quarterback came out on top.
Said Bailey, "We knew we had to play big."
