Tom Talenti leads Locust Valley to first Nassau title since 1987
Locust Valley No. 22 Tom Talenti rushes a long gain and first down in the third quarter of the Nassau County varsity football Conference IV final against Seaford at Hofstra University on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015. Credit: James Escher
For the Locust Valley football team, this was the year of the lopsided win.
A machine-like rushing attack turned in blowouts and a lock-down defense led to no-doubt victories. On game days, Falcons fans were allowed to sit back and get cozy, with no threat of having to move to the edge of their seats.
Except for that game in Week 6, that is.
Before Thursday night, Locust Valley's 13-point win over Seaford during the regular season represented the only time the Falcons had failed to beat an opponent by at least three touchdowns. They knew what was in store for them in a rematch in the Nassau IV title game at Hofstra.
Enter senior fullback Tom Talenti, who played the starring role in taking a one-point game at halftime and turning it into a 20-6 win for No. 1 Locust Valley over No. 2 Seaford.
Talenti ran for 198 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.
"The offensive line was moving people once again like they've been doing all year," said Talenti, who had four carries of at least 40 yards, "and I was just hitting the holes hard."
Locust Valley (11-0), which advanced to its first Long Island championship game, will face Shoreham-Wading River for the LI Class IV title at noon next Friday at Hofstra.
"We've been playing together since we were 5 years old. The kids on my team are my brothers," senior defensive back Owen Trepeta said. "It's been a long road. But this is the season we've been waiting for."
Locust Valley won Nassau titles in 1985 and 1987, coach Matt McFarland said, but there was no Long Island championship game then.
"The last time LV won it was back in '87 when my dad was in high school," Talenti said, "so it's a special moment for us."
On Locust Valley's second play from scrimmage, Talenti's 46-yard touchdown run -- he weaved through the line of scrimmage, cut to the right and darted up the sideline -- put the Falcons up 7-0.
"When Tommy gets going, he's got a burst," McFarland said. "When he gets to the open field, no one's stopping him."
Danny Roell's 57-yard run brought Seaford (9-2) to within 7-6 with 3:14 left in the half.
Talenti's 47-yard touchdown run extended Locust Valley's lead to 14-6 with 10:18 remaining in the third quarter. Three minutes later, John Pedranghelu's 2-yard touchdown run served as the game's final blow.
Pedranghelu ran 18 times for 35 yards and also had an interception.
"To have another guy who is a number one runner is a luxury," McFarland said. "He grinded out the tough yards. Sometimes Johnny's the one getting the long runs and the other guys are getting the grind-it-out yards."
After the Locust Valley players rushed to the stands to rejoice with their fans -- a celebration 28 years in the making -- McFarland called them over to the end zone, where they took a knee.
"No one's ever taking this moment away from you," he told his players. "You've earned this. It's yours forever."
But then there was a reminder: There's still one game standing between the Falcons and perfection.
"All year long, we talked about 12," McFarland said. "Eleven's nice. But we talked about 12."
