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Sports

Wantagh Football Punches Ticket to Hofstra

Warriors advance to Conference II semifinals with 35-3 first round playoff win over Long Beach.

The football team gave its fans a thrill Saturday in the first round of the playoffs, and earned a trip to Hofstra for the Nassau County Conference II semifinals with a 35-3 thumping of visiting Long Beach.

The win came as the third-seeded Warriors' running back duo of John Reicherter (four touchdowns) and Michael Scully, galloped for 137 and 155 yards respectively.

Wantagh scored early and often, getting on the board on their first possession on a nine play drive that was capped by an eight yard scamper by Reicherter into the end zone at the 5:25 mark.

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Long Beach managed a field goal early in the second quarter, but – a week after letting an opponent nearly sneak up on them after going ahead three touchdowns – Wantagh this time got right back on top of things.

In their next possession, the Warriors once again marched to pay dirt – this time from their own 31 – on four plays, including big gainers from Reicherter and Scully, and a spectacular 35 yard-recpetion by tight end Ryan Walsh from quarterback Nick Mullen, capped by Reicherter's second of four runs into the end zone.

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 "After last week's game against Calhoun, we talked about staying focused throughout the game," said assistant coach Jim Morrow. "This was our last time on our home field this year, and we wanted everyone's mind on the field."

In the second quarter, the Warriors did just that. After a credible drive was thwarted – temporarily – by a Long Beach interception on double coverage, hauled in by Lorenzo Torres, Wantagh's John Ingrilli returned the favor, snaring a Tom Rowley pass inside the Mariners' thirty.

It took two plays to get Reicherter back into the end zone and give Wantagh the 21-3 lead going into the half.

The third quarter was all about another dominating Warriors offense. First came a 66 yard drive, – most of which came from a single run all the way to the end zone from the line of scrimmage by Scully. A penalty brought the ball back to the 17, but two plays later, the Warriors executed a little razzle-dazzle play, snapping the ball to a running back as Mullen went out into the flat for a short flare pass.

Mullen blinked once, looked into the end zone, and hit wide receiver Ryan Sliwak for the Warriors' fourth touchdown of the day.

To its credit, there was no quit in Long Beach. On the ensuing kickoff, the compact Mariner fullback Hunter O'Neill fought his way down to the Wantagh 32, and five plays later, found themselves facing fourth and 1 at the twelve yard line. But the Warriors' Nick Frendo stood O'Neill up at the line of scrimmage and Wantagh took over on downs.

The Warrior's final touchdown drive came with 7:25 in the third quarter from their own six (after a five yard penalty), on two run plays – Scully for 61 yards and Reicherter for 35 yards touchdown. The drive proved to be the last nail in Long Beach's coffin.

With their backs to the wall down by 32 points, Long Beach came right back and tried all over again, mounting a decent drive that looked to have some potential. Looked that way, that is, until Mike Games hauled in an errant Long Beach pass for an interception to put the game on ice for Wantagh.

"We knew we'd have to be perfect today to have a chance," said Long Beach coach Scott Martin after the game. "They have those great runners, and we needed big plays of our own. We did throw downfield a couple of times. We had our shot -- but Wantagh is a real good team."

Wantagh will next face second-seeded Garden City at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium on Saturday.Garden City Wantagh 31-14 on Oct. 23 and advanced to the semifinals with a 29-7 win over Calhoun.

"They earned the win today, and the right to go to Hofstra," said Morrow. "Now we'll start preparing for Garden City."

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