Nine-year-old Hawks Start 3-0
The 9-year-old Farmingdale Hawks have started their 2014 season by winning their first three games, including victories against the only 2 teams to defeat them last year.
In Game 1, The Hawks edged the Franklin Square Warriors 14-13. After trailing for most of the game, the Hawks’ offensive line, anchored by Chris Bergersen, James Goodrich, Sal DelPesce, Matt Cangelosi, Ricky Folwark, Matt Robinson and Michael Ippolit, took over in the 4th qtr and opened up some running lanes for Jojo Burriesci and Dillon Mehta (2TDs). The Hawks converted both extra points—the first one on a QB bootleg by Brandon Greco, and the second on an inside dive by fullback Joey Bleck with only one minute left in the game. Defensively, the Hawks were led by Matt Kinsley, Michael Craig (interception), Tomaso Ramos, and Jovanni Gully, shutting down the Franklin Square no-huddle offense in the 2nd half.
Game 2 saw the Hawks in a defensive battle versus a Rosedale team that beat them twice in 2013. Nick Weston, Antonio Ianetta, Vinny Grauso, Michael Jankowski, Jake Norton and Santino Rossitto would lead a defense that only allowed 1 first down the entire game to an outstanding Rosedale Jet offense. Ari Chervony, Conor Charleston, and Jonathan Velasquez did a great job of getting into Rosedale’s backfield and disrupting their running backs all game. A last minute replacement at QB, Anthony Licci, did a great job of filling in, and the offense hardly missed a beat. Jojo Burriesci followed up a 40-yard-run of his own with a 3-yard scamper into the endzone for the only TD of the game. Jojo also ran in the extra point to make the final score 7-0. Michael Dematteo, Dean Longo, and Malize Smart led the way on the offensive line—opening up the lanes that enabled the Hawks to improve their record to 2-0.
The Hawks then went on the road for their 3rd game, visiting their longtime rivals, The Massapequa Mustangs. In another hard-fought battle, DJ Connors, Marlon Smart, Matt Robinson, and Sal Delpesce blocked a very physical Mustang defensive line, to the tune of 2 TD runs by Dillon Mehta. The first TD was 32 yards, followed by the 2nd of 35 yds. The Hawks converted their extra point on a nice pass from Anthony Licci to Thomas Keating in the endzone. Giving the Hawks a 13-0 victory. The defense stifled Massapequa for most of the day. Big tackles by Tomaso Ramos, Nick Weston, Joey Bleck, Dylan Charleston and Michael Jankowski held the Mustangs scoreless. An interception by Jojo Burriesci and a strip sack by blitzing LB Jamal Thompson sealed the Hawks 2nd straight shutout and avenged their only other loss from last year. The Hawks (3-0) play Bellmore (2-1) at Newbrigde Field on Oct. 5, seeking 4 straight to start the season.
