BY JUSTIN GRANT
After clinching the Nassau County Championship—their second title overall, with their first title coming in 2002—the MacArthur Generals were ready to take on the Newfield Wolverines for the Long Island Class II Championship.
In this controlled-effort game that took place at Hofstra University’s James M. Shuart Stadium on Friday, Nov. 20, the Generals pulled out all the stops, but Newfield “sealed the deal” when senior Elijah Riley (#8) retrieved the onside kick and sprinted down the sideline to lead the Wolverines to its first ever undefeated season (12-0) in its history, and a 41-33 victory to take another Long Island Class II Championship.
“I felt like I had to be lights out to pull out this victory; MacArthur is such a great team,” Newfield quarterback senior Ryan Klemm said. “We knew we had to bring our A game.”
Klemm said it was the Wolverines resilience that was a key factor in their success.
“We got a little close there by being up only one point, but we fought the adversity to win this game,” he said. “We were definitely trying to control the clock in the second half. The motto for today’s game was: ‘Go Out and Finish.’”
MacArthur had come back from playoff deficits in the previous two games, so the Wolverines knew they had to finish in the second half, even though they were up by three touchdowns.
Klemm (#5) had three key touchdowns to Jelani Green (#15), Denzel Williams (#12) and Austin Gubelman (#32); notching 31 touchdown passes throughout his senior year. He totaled 2,392 passing yards. Klemm completed his finale game going 13-of-18 by overpowering MacArthur quarterback senior Jimmy Kelleher (#10) completing just 13-of-37 attempts, while the team being within one point at the 2:04 mark of the third quarter.
Scoring the first points of the game was MacArthur’s powerhouse running-back senior Vin Martino (#28), leading his squad to a 7-0 lead, doing what he does best. However, the Wolverines responded with a commanding 27-7 lead at halftime along with Riley’s six-yard touchdown run to run away with the game.
It wasn’t over yet.
The Generals fought back to regain momentum on their side of the field. Starting with an unexpected onside kick of the third quarter, recovered by MacArthur’s Jared Wolfe (#15), setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by Martino, who continued his night with a 2-yard run as the Generals inched closer to the Wolverines deficit.
The Generals halted the Wolverines on three downs, forcing them to punt the ball. Shortly after, MacArthur’s Kelleher, found Wolfe for a 38-yard touchdown, although the extra-point was no good.
The Wolverines upheld the lead going into the fourth quarter, until Riley added another 14 points for his team. The Wolverines would put the final touches on the game with Klemm’s final kneel on the field.
Celebrating on the field was Newfield offensive linebacker Josh Rubbo (#30) with his teammates and coaching staff.
“Our team faced some adversity today but it came out and did what we had to do to get the win,” said Rubbo. “This game means a lot, it shows that we are hardworking, and that we were able to get the job done as a team.”
Klemm and his teammates took the field following their victory and, with the trophy in hand, held it up high for the fans to see.
“Even though I graduate this year, Newfield Wolverines will have three great running backs next season so it will be ground and pound,” he said.
Head coach Joe Piccininni was soaking in his first-ever undefeated season in program history and winning the Long Island Class II Championship game for the second time in his career. Piccininni said everything was going through his mind when the score was 27-26. He knew MacArthur was a second half team, and that they had a victory of coming back strong.
“Everything MacArthur Generals did, they did it really well; their executions, their fundamentals, and their sound in their principles—we knew it was going to be a tough game and we had to stop some things,” he said. ““Next season, our team has a lot to improve on. We will be in the weight room starting Monday.”
But Piccininni’s thoughts also went beyond next season and even beyond football.
“The best thing about both teams is that they have heart,” he said. “They are able to take the character that they developed as young men and carry it with them through life. It was just great watching these young guys play the game.”
