The first quarter of Saturday’s Wantagh Homecoming football game against Westbury turned into the Matt Balzano show.
Balzano returned the opening kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown and the senior running back was just getting started. Balzano also added two rushing touchdowns and a diving catch in the end zone, all in the game’s opening 12 minutes to help the Warriors roll to a 35-0 win.
Wantagh (6-1) has now won five games in a row since falling to Garden City in the second week of the season, .
Balzano was one of many standouts for the Warriors' offense before a packed Homecoming crowd at . Senior quarterback Nick Mullen was a perfect 5-5 for 103 yards and two touchdown tosses, including one to Cody Cornacchio with 7:13 left in the second quarter for a 35-0 Wantagh lead. Wantagh running back Joe Giardina was effective on the ground, rushing for 50 yards in just five carries.
“They really came out from the first play and the entire first quarter and they established themselves,” said Wantagh football head coach Tom Casey. “They established themselves right off the bat.”
A key to Wantagh's successful 2011 season has been the rock solid play of its defense and Saturday against Westbury was no different. The Warriors registered their third shutout of the season led by eight solo tackles from sophomore linebacker Pete Brasile.
“It’s not about one guy, it’s about 11 guys playing together as a unit,” said Coach Casey on the key to his team’s successful defensive play.
Wantagh is next in action this Saturday at Elmont (5-2) for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff in a game that will likely decide who is the number two seed in the Conference II playoffs. The playoffs get underway on Nov. 5.
