Nick Teresky's 2 TDs help Wantagh roll over Bethpage
Wantagh's Nick Teresky (#21) during game against Bethpage held at Wantagh High School in Wantagh, NY on Saturday, November 3, 2018. Credit: Enrique C. Mendez
Entering Saturday’s playoff matchup, Nick Teresky and the Wantagh football team still had the recent Bethpage disappointment on their minds.
“It was definitely haunting us,” said Teresky, who helped erase those memories with 19 carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns in No. 4 Wantagh’s 31-7 victory over No. 5 Bethpage in the Nassau III quarterfinals.
Bethpage won the previous matchup, 14-7, on October 12 with a dramatic last-minute touchdown from Kyle Gabrinowitz.
“We knew we should’ve won, but we didn’t play to our potential,” Teresky added. “That was just in the back of everyone’s head and on our minds. We just wanted another shot at them.”
“We played four quarters and with energy and intensity,” said Wantagh coach Keith Sachs. “Our attitude was just different from the opening kickoff. These two programs know each other very well and there wasn’t really much to take from the first loss other than them playing more physically than us.”
Wantagh (6-3) entered halftime with a 10-0 lead before Teresky burst forward for a 4-yard touchdown with 9:03 remaining in the third, widening the gap to 17-0. Alex Keener responded for Bethpage (4-5) with an 80-yard kickoff return up the left sideline, bringing the Golden Eagles within 10.
“He just gets the tough yards,” Sachs said of Teresky’s performance. “He wore them down and eventually the small gains became bigger gains.”
Sachs was impressed with his defense’s strong effort, too.
“Everybody stuck to doing their job and didn’t try to do too much,” Sachs said. “Great team tackling and a great team effort.”
Tom Von Bargen, who added seven carries for 59 yards and the opening touchdown with 9:15 left in the first, also played a pivotal role for the Warriors.
“It was a great team win,” said Von Bargen, who cut back to his left and ripped an 11-yard run to the pylon. “Our linemen moved the defensive line. We tried to try to get the linebackers in the middle and stuff the wedge, and it worked out.”
Teresky gave plenty of credit to the offensive line as well.
“The offensive line is everything,” Teresky said. “We don’t do anything without the offensive line moving their men and opening holes for us.”
Despite relying primarily on their running attack, the Warriors also received a passing touchdown with 3:13 left in the third when Peter DelGais found tight end Kyle Graham in the right corner of the end zone. The toss gave Wantagh a three-possession lead at 24-7.
Von Bargen expressed great confidence as Wantagh prepares for the semifinals.
“It doesn’t matter who we play,” Von Bargen said. “Anyone can beat anyone in this conference. As long as we play as a team I feel like we can beat anyone.”
