BY JIM FURLONG

 

Coaches are always preaching that DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS! Year after year, the defenders for William Floyd typically smother opposing offenses. In their last 46 games -- a 44-2 overall record -- the Colonials have limited their opponents to an average of eight points per game. Only five times, during the last five seasons, has a rival scored more than 14 points.

Long-time defensive coordinator Gil DeCicco has built a reputation for annually teaching and inspiring a rugged, aggressive, alert, quick-reacting defense. William Floyd defenders sparkled again last Saturday afternoon. They shut down the Brentwood offense, led by talented senior quarter Alex Corporan, and claimed a 21-7 victory at Frank Mauro Stadium.

"Floyd's defense is always tough," said Corporan, who was sacked six times. "They always want to hit you, but we should have done much better. We played tough. We showed we could play with tough teams."

The Colonials (2-1) needed a 48-minute battle to beat Brentwood (2-1). Coach Paul Longo's team led 7-0 at halftime and scored the clincher, its third touchdown, with 3:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.

"Our defensive line had a great game rushing (the passer) and our defensive backs were doing the job," said senior end Kevin Hauter, who contributed nine tackles and two sacks.

Long-time Brentwood coach Steve Perretta has often competed against Williams Floyd. His teams have lost the last seven meetings, including two county playoff games, by a combined margin of 210-48. Only once did the Indians score more than eight points.

"I would describe (Floyd's defense) as really tenacious, really fast, really good tacklers," said Perretta. "And, obviously, Gil does a great job."

William Floyd, the top-rated preseason team in Suffolk Division 1, won for the 50th time in its last 51 regular-season games. Bentwood, on its home field, attacked with Corporan operating from the shotgun, and he threw 19 passes in the first half.

"We were expecting that, but we kept trying to put pressure on him," said Floyd senior safety Nick Sidaras. "They have a lot of good athletes (but) our coverage was very good."

Sidaras joined Stacey Bedell, Darryl Moore (a second-half interception), and Jarel Johnson in successfully containing Brentwood's passing. Corporan, a quick scrambler, threw short and deep. The 5-9, 190-pound QB completed 15 of his 34 passes for 225 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

"Our defense stepped up big," said senior wide receiver Rick Stoner.

Longo praised Hauter and Ivy France for their performance on the defensive front.

The Colonials, who did not throw a pass in their previous game, quickly got the Brentwood defense off guard. Moore passed on three of Floyd's first five snaps. He connected with Stoner on a 60-yard TD and Joe Miranda kicked the first of his three extra points.

Versatile Nick Astore gave the Colonials a two-touchdown edge, catching a short scoring pass from Moore with 3:03 remaining in the third quarter.

Brentwood scored on its eighth possession. Darius Allison sped behind the secondary to catch a 49-yard touchdown pass. Floyd's clinching TD came when sturdy Luke Miller powered one-yard with 3:23 left. Moore stopped Brentwood for the last time with an interception. Miranda boomed his second-half kickoffs into the endzone for touchbacks.

The Colonials will host their Homecoming game Saturday afternoon. William Floyd will duel Longwood (0-3) at 2 p.m. In the series between the two close neighbors, the Colonials have won nine of the last 10 games against the Lions.