The Syosset Braves secured the first Long Island Championship in school history after the varsity football team defeated Suffolk County Champion Lindenhurst 35-13 on Nov. 28.
(Photo by Syosset Schools)
At one point the Braves led 35-0 off the strength of some defensive touchdowns and the solid play of Syosset’s quarterback William Hogan.
“This is amazing,” Hogan said. “It has been 40 years since the district has won a county championship so [the Long Island Championship] is a big deal for the school and the alumni. It feels great to be able to bring it home to all of them.”
The LIC originated in 1992, pitting the Suffolk County champions against the Nassau County champions in their respective divisions. On Nov. 20 Syosset secured its first county title in 40 years with a 26-20 win over Baldwin.
“This was the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication,” said Syosset Coach Paul Rorke. “The coaches and the kids put in a lot of time and effort and this is incredibly gratifying.”
Defensively, the Braves forced five turnovers, including two interception returns for touchdowns: one by Michael Panvini and the other by David Reiter. Offensively, Hogan scrambled for a 1-yard-touchdown run and completed a 39-yard touchdown pass to Michael Elardo. Elardo, who holds the Long Island record for most receiving yards in a single-season, finished the day with four catches for 78 yards. Running back Ian Berg also recorded a touchdown score with a 2-yard scramble.
This season the Braves opened up a sluggish 1-3, but rattled off seven wins in its final eight games to capture the crown.
