On Sunday, November 16th, the Carey Seahawks traveled to James M. Shuart Stadium, the home of the Hofstra Pride, to continue their playoff run, going against the Wantagh Warriors. Last Saturday, Carey defeated the Valley Stream South Falcons 36-8, but this game was looking to be a much tougher matchup. Earlier in the year, the Carey Seahawks lost to Wantagh at home 41-23. Now, they were looking to get their revenge on Wantagh.
Carey received the ball to start the game, with the return reaching the 30 yard line. Carey ended up converting 4 first downs, with James McGrath getting a big truck on a Wantagh defender and ending the drive with a 4 yard rushing touchdown, followed by an extra point by Michael Lombardi to give the Seahawks an early 7-0 lead. Wantagh returned Carey’s kickoff up to the 31 yard line. However, thanks to a tackle for loss by Matthew Lemite, Wantagh failed to reach the first down, punting it back to the Seahawks, with the return getting up to the 39 yard line. They ended up getting a first down, but Wantagh’s defense forced them to punt it away, giving them the ball at the 18 yard line. On Wantagh’s next drive, they would get a first down, ending their drive with a huge 73 yard passing touchdown, tying the game at 7-7 to end the first quarter.
Carey started the second quarter with the ball on the 39 yard line. They got 2 first downs, but a controversial fumble call gave Wantagh the ball on the 38 yard line. They would get 2 first downs, but a turnover on downs brought the ball right back to Carey on the 27 yard line. The Seahawks got 3 first downs, ending the drive with a 4 yard rushing touchdown by James McGrath for his second of the day, followed by an extra point by Michael Lombardi to put Carey up 14-0. Wantagh started their drive on the 18 yard line after a great kickoff, getting 3 first downs and reaching the 21. However cornerback Dean Martucci would pick off their quarterback in the end zone to put Carey on the 20 yard line after a touchback. The Seahawks ran out the clock to go into halftime.
Wantagh returned the ball up to the 32 yard line to start the third quarter. They ended up getting 3 first downs, with Justin DiPietro, Logan Alvizures, and James McGrath getting a tackle-for-loss each. However, the Warriors would end their drive with an 8 yard rushing touchdown to tie up the game at 14-14, with James McGrath getting a hand on the ball. Carey’s return on the kickoff reached the 33 yard line, but Wantagh’s defense forced them to punt it back to Wantagh, giving them the ball at the 43. However, thanks to tackles for losses by Christian Anaya and Mathew Lemite, Wantagh punted the ball back to Carey, with the return going up to the 27. Carey would get 2 first downs, with a big 42 yard run by Justin DiPietro, but a fumble gave the Warriors the ball at the 23 yard line at the end of the 3rd quarter.
To start the 4th quarter, Wantagh got a first down after a huge passing play them at the 31 yard line, followed by another first down to put them at the 11. However, a holding call pushed them back 10 yards, backing them up to the 21 yard line, but they would still be able to get into the end zone with a 4 yard passing touchdown to get their first lead of the game at 21-14 with 9:18 left in the game. They started their drive in the 47 yard line, but the Warriors defense forced them to punt it again, putting them on the 9 yard line after a great punt. The Warriors got 3 first downs, but a big tackle for loss by Christian Anaya forced them into a turnover on downs, giving Carey the ball at the 23 yard line with 2:37 left in the game. Carey got a first down on their drive, but an interception by Wantagh would give them the ball back, sealing the game and ending the Seahawks’ season.
Photos by Vincent Farina
