The Mineola Mustangs varsity football team fell to the Seaford Vikings last week 27-21, missing their chance to tie the top seeds Locust Valley and Roosevelt’s 6-1 Nassau conference IV record.
After tying the game in the second half and having the opportunity to capitalize on Seaford’s failed extra-point kick on their final touchdown, the Viking’s senior wide receiver/defensive back Bobby Buell knocked away a pass from Mineola senior quarterback James Gerstner to senior wide receiver Brian Smith in the end-zone with 57 seconds left.
“We turned the ball over four times an they didn’t turn it over once,” Mustangs head coach Dan Guido said. “We just gave them too many plays big plays on third-and-long and fourth-and-long.”
Seaford racked up a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. The Mustangs then opened up the second strong, with Gerstner running 33 yards to the one-yard line, taking in a touchdown in with 11:15 left.
Following another Vikings touchdown at 1:17, now leading 21-7, the Mustangs struck back 36 seconds later, as Gerstner connected with Smith in a 36-yard pass for a score.
After a fumble in the third, the Mustangs got the ball back on the 49 yard-line, and tied the Vikings 21-21 at 5:53 with a six-yard pass to Smith from Gerstner. Mineola tightened their defense and prevented Seaford from scoring in the third and most of the fourth quarter. The Vikings secured their final touchdown with 3:20 remaining.
Now the third seed at 5-2, along with Seaford, the Mustangs will play against Carle Place/Wheatley (4-3) in their final season game on Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.
Mineola defeated Roosevelt 47-28 last month, and lost to Locust Valley 24-21 on Oct. 2. The Mustangs made it to the quarterfinals last year, loosing 34-6 to West Hempstead Rams, but beat them this year in the homecoming game, 15-14.
