Hempstead Tigers End Mustang Seniors Championship Run
11-12-17 –It was a rough weekend for Massapequa football. First, the Massapequa Chiefs High School varsity team was eliminated from their playoff tournament by Freeport at chilly Hofstra Stadium. The next day, the Mustang 12’s were similarly eliminated by Rockville Center. And then a very determined and amped up Hempstead Tiger team arrived at Burns Park to mandate a similar outcome upon the Mustang Seniors. Massapequa had beaten the Tigers twice during the regular season, and as we all know, it is very difficult to beat a talented team three times in the same season. True to that adage, the third time was a charm for the visiting Tigers, and despite an absolute defensive gem by the Mustangs, the Massapequa trifecta for playoff elimination was completed in heartbreaking fashion.
The game began prophetically with Hempstead kicking off and recovering their opening onside kick. And on the very first play from scrimmage, Hempstead’s dangerous #23 bounced one outside and took it 44 yards for a touchdown. The ensuing PAT run was good, and before some people could even find their seats, the Mustangs trailed 7-0. But that would be the last offensive threat Hempstead would muster as the Mustang defense morphed into a virtual wall of denial. It would now be up to QB Ryan Heidrich and crew to take control (as they have done so often during the regular season) and give Massapequa a berth to the Seniors championship game.
Unfortunately, Hempstead arrived with a solid game plan to prevent such a result. Massapequa’s first offensive series ended in a quick 3 &out and, to make matters worse, Jonny Yahner’s punt attempt was blocked, giving the Tigers terrific field position at the Massapequa 32 yard line. But solid tackling by Rino Monteforte and Heidrich (subbing for the injured Mike Valentine) forced Hempstead to go 3 & out as well and to punt the ball back to Massapequa.
The Mustangs once again failed to make a first down, and on the last play of the first quarter, the snap on their punt attempt was boggled and gave the ball right back to Hempstead with great field position again at the Massapequa15 yard line. However, Monteforte was a wrecking crew again, and Jared Howes joined the defensive fun and batted down a 3rd down passing attempt. Mike D’Alessandro then ran down a QB boot on 4th down and the Tigers turned the ball back to Massapequa on downs.
Starting deep in their own territory, the Mustangs were again shut down by Hempstead and were again forced to punt. But suddenly the momentum seemed to be shifting in the home teams favor as Francis Matranga forced a fumble that was recovered by Kyle Tobin. D’Alessandro found his groove and began to wear down the Tiger defense aided by some Heidrich completions to Howes and Tobin. With time dwindling in the first half, the Mustangs drove down to the Tiger 11 yard line, but could not find the end zone and again turned the ball over to Hempstead on downs. The Tigers took a knee and the first half ended with the Mustangs trailing 7-0.
Jared Howes (37) and Vinnie McDermott (9) Shut Down the Hempstead Aerial Attack
Matturro began the second half with a very strong kick off whereby the Tigers began their opening second half offensive series on their own 40 yard line. Great pressure by Monteforte, Tim McGrath and Liam DeVos put Hempstead in a 3rd and long passing situation. As expected, the Tiger QB hauled a deep middle pass that could have been much trouble and possibly game ending. Not so fast. A hustling Kyle Tobin read the play perfectly, intercepted the pass, and retuned the pick to the Hempstead 40 yard line. For the first time all afternoon, the Tigers were on their heels and the Mustangs could taste blood. D’Alessandro pounded his way for chunks of positive yardage, and Heidrich mixed it up with a few Vinnie McDermott completions sprinkled in between. The Hempstead defense was bending and Heidrich saw to it that they would break. And break they did as the Mustang QB connected with McDermott on a beautiful 22 yard strike to the back of the end zone to bring the Mustangs within one point of tying the game. The potential game winning PAT attempt by Matturro was on the line, and you could have heard a pin drop as both teams lined up for the kick. Unfortunately, Hempstead brought the pressure required to foil the attempt and they blocked what could have been the game winning PAT. No fingers could be pointed at any Mustang…this was just a great play by the Tiger defense and credit must be given where credit is due.
Mustangs QB Ryan Heidrich (12) Fires a Bullet to Kyle Tobin (33)
Undaunted, the Massapequa defense summarily shut down the next Tiger drive as the final quarter of the game began. The Mustang season was on the line and the defense refused to let it end. After exchanging a couple of punts, and with the clock becoming a factor, Hempstead took over again at their own 37 yard line to begin what could have been a game winning drive. Tobin would have none of it and, following a huge hit, forced a fumble and it was Massapequa’s ball. Sensing an opportunity to exploit a reeling Tiger defense, Heidrich threw deep down the middle for D’Alessandro. The multi-talented Mustang was interfered with and Massapequa was awarded a gift 15 yards. On the next play, D’Alessandro was victimized by a face mask, allowing the Mustangs to move further into Hempstead territory. Heidrich and D’Alessandro powered the Mustangs inside the Tiger 20 yard line, but once again the visitors rose to the occasion and forced an all or none last ditch 4th & 10 for the Mustangs. Heidrich rolled right and fired a pass for Howes in the end zone. Could this be the Mustang version of the famous Joe Montana-Dwight Clarke catch? Unfortunately not as the pass fell incomplete, thus ending the Mustangs 2017 season.
Hats off to Hempstead. There were many moments in this game where they could have folded. Their defense was bending practically all game but never really broke. This was not the way the Mustang Seniors season was supposed to end but that is sports. But let me be clear…the Mustangs left it all on the field and should be proud to a man of their effort…it just wasn’t meant to be.
As such, it was with a very heavy heart that I wrote this recap. And not because of the game’s outcome but more so because this signified the end of an era for the players and their families. This would be our sons’ final game in a Mustang uniform and in some ways represents another chapter closing on their childhoods. I think I can speak for all involved when I say that the Mustang experience has been an invaluable one. And thoroughly enjoyable. For some of us, our Mustang journey began many years ago when our sons were barely big enough to put on a set of pads. Throughout the years, we watched our sons learn what it means to be a good teammate, sportsman, and literally grow from being boys to fine young men. I personally developed many friendships along the way and will greatly miss those that will move on outside of the Massapequa sports system. But the good memories are many and will be cherished forever. I want to personally thank everyone I met along the way for your friendship, support, and encouragement. I will miss the Mustang family more than any words can describe. Thank you and God bless all!
Acknowledgments:
First and foremost I would like to thank our sons, the players. You have given us more joy than you will ever know and it is impossible to say how proud we are of you. Whether you won or lost was never the most important thing. It was the way you conducted yourselves…the way you gelled as a team, displayed sportsmanship, and gave us a sense of community. That’s what mattered most. And never forget what your teammate Anthony Conetta has taught us…it’s not the size of the dog in the fight that matters, only the size of the fight in the dog. Please take that and all the lessons you have learned along the way and carry that into all aspects of your lives. Your futures are bright and we could not be prouder. Thank you lads!
Special shout out to the walking wounded: Alex Catalano, Mike Maron, Mike Valentine and Anthony Conetta. You were certainly missed and we know how difficult it must have been to watch from the sidelines. But even though you guys were out with injuries, your dedication to the team never wavered and there is a valuable lesson to learn from that. You define the word teammate and we thank you for that gentlemen. Here’s to your speedy recoveries!
Thank you coaches. Your dedication is inspiring and we thank you for taking such good care of our boys and for teaching them life lessons that will stay with them for years to come. You will be missed and we cannot thank you enough.
Thank you to our Team Mom’s: Denise Conetta, Tina Matturro and Trish Rogers. You were the glue that held it together all season. We would have been a rudderless ship had it not been for all your hard work.
Thank you Cheerleaders & Cheer Mom’s. Your enthusiasm and spirit was a big part of the team’s success, and we were completely entertained and motivated by each of you week in and week out. GO MUSTANGS one more time!
To Denise Conetta and Diane McGrath. The pictures you took for each game brought it all to life and have given us memories we can hold onto forever. Your job was not easy and we thank you for all your hard work. Fun fact: between Denise and Diane, over one thousand pictures were snapped for each game. Try editing that and you will understand how difficult their jobs were.
To Anthony Catalano. The Cat Man filmed and commented on every Mustang game as far as I can remember. Like Denise and Diane, you have given us memories that will be enjoyed for years to come. One day our sons will show their kids these films and you cannot put a price tag on that. Thank you Anthony!
To the families. I don’t think we can call everything you do for your kids a sacrifice, because we do it willingly and would do it again no matter what, but one day our sons will realize all the hard work that goes into being the parents of a young athlete. The carpooling, the preparation, and all else that goes into it is nothing short of a monumental act of love. I will miss you all. It has truly been a blast!
Mustangs – 6
Hempstead - 7
FINAL REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 6-2
POST SEASON RECORD: 0-1
* Photos courtesy of Denise Conetta
