Two Hawks Teams Bring Home Championships
The Farmingdale Hawks completed their 2009 season with two teams, the 10’s & 11’s, completing championship seasons at Mitchell Field in Uniondale. The 11-year-old Hawks survived an early scare as the Bellmore Braves jumped out to a 6-0 lead on their first drive after turning the Farmingdale over on downs to start the game. The Hawk defense, not happy about giving up the drive, responded quickly with a lot of pressure as Myles Mills blocked the PAT. As is so often the case, the missed extra point would loom large.
The Hawks accomplished offensively what they sought out to do in the first half, sustaining drives and eating up the clock as they tried to compensate for the loss of starters Kyle Mastrelli, Michael Arpaio and Max Schall to assorted injuries and illness. Dashea Edwards did an outstanding job in his first start on the offensive line and Charlie Tomassetti completed two passes to Steven Kunz to keep drives alive, but ultimately all drives stalled before reaching pay dirt. Bellmore received to start the second half and started a drive that could have put the Hawks down two scores, but the Farmingdale defense answered again, turning the Braves over on downs inside the Hawk 20 yard line. Keyshawn Petit, Matt Kleinhans and TJ Greco took away Bellmore’s outside running game while Taj Penn, Steven Dentato, Kunz and Devante Penn took away the inside.
Midway through the fourth and final quarter of the season, the Hawk offense found its stride with Brandon Bustamante, Devin Selitti, Steven Dentato, Vincent Calderon and Kenneth Mott providing the blocking up front. After four first downs the Hawks faced a 4th and 8 from the Brave 40 yard line. With just seven minutes left in the season Farmingdale went for it rather than punting. Tomasetti completed a pass to Sean McCormick on a 6-yard hook route and it appeared that Bellmore would hold until McCormick pitched to Devante Penn running full speed at him on the Hook and Ladder play. The connection was made and the Hawks had their first down at the 15-yard line going in. Devante Penn scored on the next play, running through several would-be tacklers to tie the game at 6 and ran in the extra point to give Farmingdale a 7-6 lead with just under six minutes remaining.
After the kickoff Bellmore took over at its own 39-yard line. Albert Sippel, John Fullam and Dadriene Richards helped snuff out the final Brave possession and Tahleek Brown and Myles Mills made open field tackles to turn Bellmore over on downs.
A first down by the offense would secure the championship and after Petite ran twice into the teeth of the defense and pounded into the line as a blocker on third down, Farmingdale faced 4th and less than one. During Bellmore’s final timeout with a minute remaining in the game the Hawks pleaded with their coaches for the opportunity to win the game with a first down rather than punting to pin Bellmore deep. All the hard work the boys have put in since August 1st paid off as they made the first down on a quarterback sneak and started their championship celebration that ended with a team party later that night.
The Hawks beat a strong Hicksville team, 18-14 at Mitchel Field this past Sunday.
The Hawks were led by great offensive blocking: Kyle Nusio, Justin Petzold, Tyler Frigerio, Jimmy Hickey, Joey Quinn, Anthony Albero, Steven Beseler, Bobby Mullane and Jake Heuskin.
Kevin Eversley, Michael Manetta, and Anthony Burriesci scored touchdowns. Great blocking and hard running came from Darrin Simons. Great defensive playing from Jack Rosen, Matt Fierst, Nicolas Luc, Ryan Charleston, Joe Virgilio, Tim Leighton, Billy Thomson, Mitchell Grossman, Michael Gunther, Nilson Fuentes, Zach Giancola and support from injured player Connor Doran help lead the Hawks to their Victory.
The Hawks first touchdown was scored on a 35-yard run from Michael Manetta to put the Hawks up 6-0. Then Hicksville scored to take a 7-6 lead.
The Hawks would answer with another touchdown and a beautiful screen pass from Anthony Burriesci to Michael Manetta with great downfield blocking by Bobby Mullane, Joe Quinn and Steven Beseler. This put the Hawks up 12-7 at the half.
The Hawks would get the ball to start the second half and go on a 60 yard drive led by powerful running from Kevin Eversley putting the Hawks up 18-7. The Hawks Defense came up big to hold Hicksville on the final drive.
Congratulations to the Hawks for all their hard work and success this season!
