LAST REGULAR SEASON GAME! Battle for 1st Place at Burns Park!
Rosedale Tops Mustang Seniors in Regular Season Finale
11-6-17 – The 6-1 Mustang Seniors hosted the 6-1 Rosedale Jets in a game that had many implications and ramifications for a regular season finale. For one, the game would determine the number one seed going into next week’s first round of the playoffs. Second, it would allow for redemption from the Mustangs point of view as they looked to avenge their only loss of the season at the hands of Rosedale in Week 1. And third, it would establish momentum as well as confidence for the winner, always a good thing to have when entering the playoffs. Clearly the stage had been set for a premier battle between these two elite football organizations, a stage that would require its actors to hunker down in the trenches for a no-holds barred slugfest.
Massapequa won the toss and elected to receive, and began the day on their own 20 yard line thanks to a strong Rosedale kick-off that rolled into the endzone for a touchback, a rare occurrence in this league. The Mustang offense was warned about ball security before they jogged onto the field, and Rosedale validated those warnings from the first play of scrimmage. Mike D’Alessandro gained some tough yardage to put Massapequa in a 3rd & short situation, and Kyle Tobin pounded through for just enough to move the chains for the Mustangs. But it was clear that the Jets were ball hawking and hungry to force a turnover at every chance possible. Undaunted, QB Ryan Heidrich found Jared Howes on the next play for a deep connection down the left sidelines. Howes, always dangerous when he gets some running room, pulled a few nifty moves to find an open lane near the Rosedale 20 yard line. It appeared he might score – or at least get the Mustangs deeper into Rosedale territory – when he was stripped of the ball by a pursuing defender, and the visitors pounced on it for the first key momentum shift of the afternoon.
A personal foul on the turnover forced Rosedale to start at their own 10 yard line, and the Mustang defense came on the field determined to not give Rosedale star half-back Adam Philogene any outside running room. Sensing that strategy, Rosedale came out throwing on two of their first three downs, but thanks to some tight coverage by Vinnie McDermott and Jonny Yahner, the Jets went three & out and were forced to punt from deep in their own territory.
Starting with good field position at the Rosedale 35 yard line, Heidrich found McDermott in the left flats for what appeared to be at least a chain moving gain. But Philogene tracked McDermott down and stripped the ball out of his hands, changed direction, and took the ball 80 yards the other way for a Rosedale touchdown. With momentum shift number two complete, Rosedale uncharacteristically lined up to kick the PAT, but their attempt was blocked by Kyle Tobin, and the Jets lead was limited to a very reachable 6-0 as the first quarter came to a close.
Massapequa regained possession on the ensuing kick-off at their own 16 yard line, and found no running room nor any in the air. Forced to punt, Jonny Yahner’s boot was returned to the Massapequa 20 and the Mustang defense was faced with their first crucial challenge of the game. Despite some tough tackling from Patrick Rogers and Tim McGrath, as well as some big hitting from Rino Monteforte, the Jets drove down to the Massapequa 1 yard line, and ultimately ran it in on a well-executed misdirection play that had the entire Mustang defense flowing away from the ball carrier. Knowing better this time, Rosedale ran the ball in to convert the PAT, and suddenly their reachable lead was beginning to get out of reach. Or so one would have thought.
Thanks to a key block by Harold Cunningham, Howes returned the ensuing Rosedale kick-off to the Massapequa 40 yard line, and Mike D’Alessandro found an outside lane and raced his way down to the Rosedale 18 yard line. On the next play, Heidrich fired a beautiful pass down the middle of the field to Tobin, who hauled it in for the score to keep the game close once again. Anthony Matturro’s successful PAT brought the home crowd back to life as the Mustangs now trailed 13-8.
Howes, McDermott & McGrath celebrate Tobin’s TD v. Rosedale
With the first half dwindling, both teams exchanged a few punts, but Rosedale still managed to drive into Massapequa territory but luckily failed on a deep passing attempt. Their next attempt at filling the air with footballs was foiled by a steamrolling McGrath who jarred the ball loose from the Jets QB, and Monteforte jumped on the loose ball. Unfortunately time ran out before Heidrich & Company could mount a late first half surge, and the score remained 13-8 Rosedale.
The Jets began the second half near mid-field, but the Mustang defense held firm, forcing a key 4th & 9 situation for Rosedale at the Massapequa 38 yard line. Liam DeVos pressured the Jets QB into rolling out of the pocket where he was forced out of bounds by a hustling Francis Matranga, and Rosedale turned the ball over to the Mustangs on downs.
Massapequa had a golden opportunity to swing the momentum their way and take the lead, but the Jets defense denied any such opportunity, forcing a Mustang 3 & out. Yahner’s punt pushed Rosedale to their own 35 yard line, yet the Jets chipped and dipped their way to mid-field as the third quarter ended. Some physical tackling by Tobin and Rogers forced a crucial 4th & 9 for Rosedale from their own 49 yard line, and amazingly the Rosedale QB found a receiver down the middle of the field despite being draped in triple coverage. Equally as amazing, the Jets receiver bounced off the Massapequa defenders and took the pass 49 yards to give Rosedale a back breaking 19-8 lead, a lead that would prove to be unsurmountable for the Mustangs.
This was a frustrating and disappointing loss for the Mustang Seniors and understandably so. But perhaps comfort be taken in the fact that were it not for a few extraordinary - if not freakish - scoring plays by Rosedale, this was in fact a very close game, one that could have gone either way. The Mustangs proved they can go toe-to-toe with any team, and there is a high degree of confidence that, should they be given a third chance at Rosedale redemption, the final and most important outcome will be much different than what was witnessed in this game. Regardless, the Mustangs must regain focus and prepare for next week’s opening playoff round. While their opponent is not yet certain (it will most likely be the revenge seeking Hempstead Tigers), the Mustang Seniors need to get back to work and prepare for whomever they will play. They have no choice. Their swan-song season hangs in the balance.
Final Score
Mustangs – 8
Rosedale - 25
CURRENT RECORD:
6-2
NEXT GAME:
Sunday 11/12 v. TBD;
*Time & Location TBD
** Photos courtesy of Denise Conetta
*** Mike Valentine was forced out of the second quarter with a sprained knee. We wish Mike the best and hope for his speedy return;
**** Alex Catalano (wrist), Anthony Conetta (toe) and Mike Maron (wrist) were sidelined with injuries and did not play.
***** As tempting as it was, I offered no commentary about the games officiating. I could have filled a page, but refs, just like players, have good days and bad. Yesterday was one of those bad days. Nuff said.