On November 1st, the Carey Seahawks traveled to Bethpage to take on the Golden Eagles for their last game of the season a day after Halloween. Last week, the 6-1 Seahawks suffered a tough 41-23 loss to the Wantagh Warriors on senior night, their first loss since November 18th, 2023, when they lost to the Garden City Trojans in the Long Island Championship. Meanwhile, the 6-1 Bethpage Golden Eagles were riding high after shutting out the Mineola Mustangs 42-0, a week after they also suffered a loss to Wantagh. With all these factors adding up, this was shaping up to be a thrilling season finale.
Carey elected to defend at the start of the game, where Bethpage’s kick returner took the ball up to the 19 yard line, but a false start penalty on their first snap moved them back to the 14 yard line. Because of this setback and a Theodoros Andrikopoulos tackle for loss, the Eagles wouldn’t be able to get any first downs, forcing them to punt, but a short punt gave the Seahawks great field position on Bethpage’s 25 yard line. But the Seahawks ended up not capitalizing on their opportunity, giving the ball back to Bethpage on a turnover on downs at the 19 yard line without getting a first down. The Eagles would get four first downs, including a big 33 yard run, ending the drive on a one yard rushing touchdown, followed by an extra point, to put them up 7-0 at the end of the 1st quarter.
Carey returned the Eagles’ kick up to the 26 yard line to start the 2nd quarter, getting a first down on their drive but punting it back to the Eagles, bringing them up to the 31 yard line. Bethpage would reach the first down marker four times, getting into the end zone again for a touchdown, followed by an extra point to extend their lead 14-0. A touchback on the kickoff brought Carey up to the 20 yard line to start their drive. Carey would get a first down on their drive, but Bethpage would take the ball back on an interception at midfield, bringing them up to the 43 yard line with a minute and 26 seconds left in the half, but a quick set of downs gave the ball back to Carey with 50 seconds left at midfield after a bad snap to the punter. Carey would get two first downs plus an extra 15 yards after a penalty for a late hit out of bounds, but a Bethpage interception would end the quarter, with the Golden Eagles leading 14-0.
Carey return the ball up to Bethpage’s 33 yard line to start the 2nd half. On their drive, Carey would get a first down on their drive, followed by a rushing touchdown by James McGrath to put on the board with a 14-7 score after an extra point by Michael Lombardi. Bethpage failed to reach the first down marker on their first drive of the half, giving the ball back to Carey at midfield. Carey reached the first down marker, with help from a big 36 yard reception by Jayden Radow, ending the drive with a rushing touchdown by James McGrath, followed by an extra point by Michael Lombardi, to tie the game at 14-14. Bethpage would carry the Seahawks’ kick up to the 28 yard line, getting a first down, ending the quarter with possession.
Bethpage would start the 4th quarter with a bang, getting a big rush for their second first down of the drive, followed by another big rush for their third, getting into the end zone to extend their lead to 21-14. On the kickoff, Bethpage kicked the ball into the end zone, putting the Seahawks at the 20 yard line with a touchback. However, on the drive, Bethpage would get a strip sack and recover the fumble, putting them at the 17 yard line. On their drive, Bethpage reached the end zone with a receiving touchdown to make the score 28-14. Bethpage attempted an onside kick on their kickoff, but Carey jumped on the football to put them at the 48 yard line. They reached the first down marker, but turned over the ball on a turnover on downs, giving Bethpage the ball at the 34 yard line. Bethpage would get 3 first downs, ending the game with a score of 28-14 in their season finale.
