After beating Freeport earlier this season 28-7, the Dalers moved into the Nassau County Conference 1 Championship game with good odds for the County Title. The only problem was Freeport’s new quarterback Kevin Allen.
With Freeport’s first drive after the Dalers punted, they put together a nine-play drive to go up 7-0, and then a two-play drive that ended with a 22-yard run for a touchdown. With 4:40 left in the first quarter, the Dalers were down 14-0. Now it was the Dalers turn to put together a few drives.
Quarterback Sal Tuttle would hand off to Kevin Wahl for a 30-yard run to Freeport’s 31-yard line. This would set up a 31-yard pass play from Tuttle to Keith Hadnagy for the Dalers’ first touchdown. This made it 14-7 going into the second quarter.
The Dalers’ defense stopped the Red Devils and put the ball back into Tuttle’s hands. The Dalers drove the ball 42 yards in five plays that would end with a one-yard touchdown run by Kevin Wahl to tie the game 14-14. Freeport came right back with a 66-yard pass play for a score to go up 20-14. Dalers Pat Starke blocked the PAT to keep the Dalers a bit closer. The Dalers fought right back. They would move the ball down field, only to get stuck on the 16-yard line. Coach Krumenacker sent out kicker Keith Hadnagy for a 33-yard field goal attempt. It was up and good. This brought the Dalers a bit closer, 20-17. With 4:38 left in the first half, the Dalers were keeping pace. But Freeport’s Kevin Allen put together his own six-play, 80-yard drive to put Freeport up 26-17. The Dalers tried to get the points back, but the drive ended on an interception on Freeport’s 13-yard line.
The half-time talk on how to control Freeport’s Kevin Allen was a little late. Allen who rushed for 244-yards on 34 carries and had three touchdowns and also was four for six passing for 106-yards and a touchdown was not done at half-time. The Dalers scored first in the third quarter by another 34-yard field goal by Kevin Hadnagy. This would tie a county record for field goals in a playoff game, and bring the Dalers closer 26-20. But, the Red Devils came right back with another touchdown by Allen, a 14 yard run, and a two-point conversion run by Allen to make it 34-20.
In the fourth quarter there was no scoring, but the Dalers did have some opportunities to get back into the game, but were unable to do so. The Dalers ended their season 8-3 this year falling short of the Nassau County Conference 1 title. For more photos go to www.elegantphotos4u.com
