Trotta sparks Seaford to 19th straight win

With Seaford's stars limping and in arm slings, it was up to backup quarterback Chris Trotta to preserve the Vikings' four-year conference winning streak.

The junior threw three first-half touchdown passes, but he and the Vikings may have given coach Rob Perpall some extra gray hairs in the second.

Joe Richards intercepted a two-point conversion pass with 7:16 left in the fourth quarter and Seaford up by one, and the Vikings ran out the remaining time on the ensuing possession to hold on for a 21-20 win over visiting Roosevelt on Friday night. It was the last matchup of undefeated teams on Long Island this season.

Seaford has won a Long Island-high 19 straight games. The Vikings also extended their Conference IV winning streak to 39.

Donte Colter's 18-yard touchdown run, his second of the night, cut Roosevelt's deficit to 21-20. Rather than attempt the extra point (Erin Parker hit both his PAT tries earlier), Roosevelt coach Joe Vito opted for the two-point conversion. Parker, a quarterback, attempted a jump throw, but Richards stepped in front to make the interception.

"This was the best win in the history of Seaford football," Perpall told his team after the game and then reiterated to reporters moments later. "I don't know how we did it."

Starting quarterback Joe Kirincic was out with a separated right shoulder, center Matt Knudsen sat with an injured knee, and star tailback Justin Buckley was held to 6 yards on two carries because of a right ankle sprain. So it was up to Trotta and backup running backs Victor Belgiorno and Travis Langan to step up.

SEE PHOTOSSeaford 21, Roosevelt 20

Trotta threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Belgiorno to cap a seven-play, 57-yard drive to open the game, and added touchdown tosses of 27 and 17 yards in the second quarter to Daniel Arena. "It felt great because I knew the team needed me as the second-string guy," said Trotta, who saw his first varsity action just last week. "I was confident I could do it. I just had to keep composure."

Keeping composure was difficult for the Vikings in the second half - they turned the ball over three times (two fumbles and Colter's interception). Two plays after the second Seaford fumble, Colter ran 67 yards to make it 21-14 with 2:09 left in the third quarter.

In the fourth, Seaford tried a fake-punt pass on its own 34-yard line and it fell incomplete. Six plays later, Colter scored on an 18-yard run to make it a one-point game. Colter, Nassau's leading rusher, ran for 133 yards and two TDs on 18 carries.

After the game, Perpall stripped off four layers of shirts before exposing his green Seaford football shirt with the words "Never Quit" on the back. It was a motto every Viking took to heart Friday night.