Mepham Holds Off New Hyde Park

by Rikki N. Massand, Nassau County Chief Writer/ Editor

Mepham 13, New Hyde Park 7

New Hyde Park, NY - What better than a game hanging in the balance with 20 seconds to go and one fourth down play to decide it? The answer is effort, which was proudly displayed by the two teams who played their hearts out on a cloudy turned rain-drenched day, in front of a divided crowd of Gladiators' home fans and visiting Mepham Pirates supporters.  

It was a shocking series of big plays that set up Mepham for the win-- and although the scoring ended in the second quarter the Mepham defense and New Hyde Park's tenacious attempts kept this game close all the way through. Pirates' Head Coach Anthony Cracco summed up what he saw as his team earned a tough road win that may have lifted the season after their previous two losses.

"The offensive line gave us great pass protection, and I give them credit for that. We did a nice job up front and we saw some things in [New Hyde Park's] secondary. One of the biggest things was the blocking which allowed our quarterback to make a very impressive 60-yard throw" he said.

That pass was actually a 70-yarder, and it would stand as the game-changing play after what looked like a good start for New Hyde Park on its home field. To begin Gladiators' QB Daniel Catapano showed some versatility as ona fake play he spun and found tight end Daniel Gardner for a 17-yard gain up to the 50, creating a potent variety for Mepham to contend with. On the other hand Mepham fed New Hyde Park (NHP) a steady diet of senior HB Kaalen Jackson's running game all day, as they even went for a 4th down and 3 early on. New Hyde Park junior lineman Thomas Campbell stopped Jackson short and the Gladiators took over possession at the Mepham 45.

The Pirates would learn New Hyde Park's identity as a team of 4's....number 44 Chris Ianiro and number 4 Guillermo Dilone, to be exact. Both backs were used interchangeably on the next drive, as Ianiro bowled up the middle and brought his team to the red zone with carries of 13 and 8 yards, respectively. It was then that Mepham's senir LB Dean Avanzato started to read New Hyde Park's running plays as he came over from center all the way right to stop Dilone's progress at the 11-yard line.

Mepham wouldn't be able to shut down the Gladiators yet, as after calling a timeout New Hyde Park tried a long pitch over to Dilone who put his head down and barreled to the 1-yard line. It was too late to stop Park from there as with 5:09 left in the first quarter Chris Ianiro punched it in to put the first points on the board. After a penalty set the extra point kick back, Dilone calmy kicked it through again and the Gladiators were up 7-0 to the delight of the home fans. But Mepham would soon gain their composure and rally like road warriors.

From the ensuing kickoff Mepham tried to get even as WR Anthony Musacchia bursted with speed on the return. He saw an opening up the middle and it looked as though he could have sailed for a score, but Ianiro would save the TD as he got to the returner in time and tripped him up. Mepham continued to feature Jackson's running from there as with 4:54 left in the first he broke tackles and sped past the defense down the right side, which he did several times on Saturday, for a first big gain of 23 yards. Next he took the ball down to the NHP 40.

The Gladiators' sidelines were amped up throughout the game, but their coaches were particularly watching for penalties in the first half. As the coaches screamed for a penalty on the line they caught the referees' attention...but in the wrong way. A penalty was called but it was offsides on New Hyde Park, moving Mepham upfield. Jackson would then run the Pirates to the 30, followed by a short loss, setting up 3rd & 8 at the 33.

Mepham spiced up their offense at this point as QB Nicholas White made a great fake and threw a screen pass to Musacchia, who turned upfield and as a result bobbled the football before gaining control. He then made a play and lunged ahead of NHP's standout soph Nick Dziomba for a first down at the 25. But Mepham would have to face another challenge as they went back to Jackson but NHP's Robert Scattorchio blitzed and dropped him for a loss of 10 yards!  The crowd roared at the play while the Mepham sidelines stood and urged their teammates onward. One more play would change the tide.

With 1:18 left in the first Mepham shocked the NHP defense with Jackson out of the mix, set up to block, and a toss to the left for WR Miquel Lozada, who took advantage of this rare chance and the blocking by his linemen and fellow WR Danny Perlin. Lozada broke to the left sidleline and cut down the field for a gain of 23 yards, close to having the space and momentum to go all the way before NHP would catch up to him. From 1st and 10 at the NHP 12 Jackson took a dive play for three yards to end the 1st quarter. Mepham's cheer team led the battle cry for the endzone.

As NHP Coach Kevin Dolan told his team to keep "coming up and engaging" and acknowledged how hard they fought, Jackson would have a statement play as he went through the middel and right over LB Joseph Weiss and stuck his arm with the football out over the goal line. With 11:52 left in the half Mepham had the 7-7 tie and all the momentum.

Again the Pirates would show their spirit on special teams and defense, playing more focused and forcing NHP into a three & out. With the ball back in QB Nicholas White's hands two minutes later, J.T. Castaldo caought a pass on a roll out for a gain of 26. Jackson established the run again with a 22-yard burst down to the NHP 30 although once there Mepham would not convert on 4th down. It would keep comng though.

New Hyde Park fumbled late in the half but it was recovered by lineman Devin Robinson. Facing 4th & 15 at the 25 the Gladiators punted and Mepham took over ath their own 39 with 1:45 to go in the 2nd. The offense would start shaky as White again found Musacchia ona a roll out play, but this time the NHP sidelines cheered as 2 flags were thrown, both penalties on Mepham. There was a hold on guard Thomas Rappa and also an ineligible receiver downfield (which was declined) and Mepham now faced 1st & 20 at their own 29. This was great luck for them.

White had to l0ok to move the ball downfield quickly and Jackson's running would eat the clock. On a great read of the coverage White floated one up down the right side for Lozada, who used his 160-lb frame break past NHP DB John Havrylkoff, outrunning the defense and past the NHP sidlines... 70 yards later, he was in for the TD!  The extra point was blocked by NHP but Mepham shocked the crowd, and maybe even themselves, with a 13-7 halftime lead and control of the game.

New Hyde Park fought back with a valiant effort in the 2nd half, as they were determined to buck the trend of either winning big or losing big. Coming in they had won a 28-0 shutout over Great Neck South but lost their 2 road games a combined 87-0.

In the 3rd Mepham would begin by moving the ball upfield for an attempt at their third straight score. White converted on a 4th and 5 by running it himself. Mepham faced short yardage, 3rd & 2 at teh NHP 21, but Jackson couldn't get the 1st down coming up inches shy. On a big chance to stay in the game NHP took over the ball. But Mepham's defense would bear the burden for the rest of the game, and they did the job well as Guillermo Dilone was stopped after a first down by CB Trace Agostino and DB Dom Manzella. No extra yardage was allowed for NHP.   

With 7 minutes left in the 3rd Ianiro pummeled his way for two first downs that set up the pass. It wouldn't be a good idea to try the air over the ground, as Catapano completed a pass to Havrylkoff but he was immediately brought down hard by Mepham. With a group tackle and a hard hit, the ball came loose and Mepham recovered, but unfortunately the recevier was injured and medics had to attend him on the field.

Mepham's D was terific the rest of the way as they forced a 3rd & 30 for NHP early in the fourth, downed their own punt at the NHP 2-yard line with 5 minutes left in the game. Catapano would try his best and get a valiant run for 18 yards to keep the final drive of the game alive, running for 18 yards to the Mepham 49 with 3 minutes remaining.

As Mepham's coaches yelled "Thick skin!" the team had just that as they played cover 2 and blanketed the pass. Catapano had the choice of either short drop-off passes or keeping it himself, and every time he ran the clock did too. With Mepham holding Ianiro to no gain on a 3rd & 2 with 1:28 left, Catapano would keep it again and spring ahead, gaining a 1st down at the 35.

Mepham stayed focused despite the brisk rain and the wild cheers from New Hyde Park's fans. With 40 seconds to go tehy held NHP to a 3rd & 4 at the 32. A Pittsburgh Steelers-esque trick play took shapre for NHP but Dilone's pass to the goal line was far off due to the pass coverage. Then, on 4th and 4 with 20.6 seconds left, NHP tried a pass to Alex Bruschi on the right, mud-covered sideline. The football touched his fingertips as he sailed out of bounds and as the receiver and the ball dropped to the ground the Mepham Pirates jumped up on the rainy field and celebrated their defenseive play that preserved the big road win.

A rowdy celebration from the visiting fans and a wet, slippery, stadium-emptying procession followed, but both teams stayed in the moment and met with their teammates and coaches afterward to shake hands, reflect and head on their way. It's the midseason mark and these teams had a great battle Saturday; lots to be proud of.

After witnessing his team's hard-earned commitment to stop New Hyde Park from scoring, Coach Cracco added "I thought we were aggressive to the ball, and our linebackers did a great job."

They did, and the Mepham defense stepped up at just the right moment in the game Saturday.... and perhaps in the season as well.

Next weekend New Hyde Park hosts Long Beach while Mepham will visit the resurgent Great Neck South Rebels, who are on a 2-game winning streak.