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Northport Football Falls In Playoffs To Sachem North, 42-21

Tigers score three times against top-seeded Sachem North, but bow out in Suffolk Division I semifinals.

Entering the semifinal round of the football playoffs for the first time in nearly two decades, fifth-seeded clawed its way . It gave the Tigers confidence as they prepared to face previously unbeaten Sachem North.

The run ended for Northport on Friday night, but not before putting a scare into No. 1 Sachem North in a 42-21 loss in a Suffolk Division I semifinal at Lake Ronkonkoma. The Tigers (5-5) had won four in a row.

The Flaming Arrows (10-0) seized the initiative early when Dalton Crossan took a 55-yard carry for the opening score and kicker Bryan Morris sealed it for seven less than two minutes in.

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Northport came back swinging on the next drive with a sack by Sean Gilroy, signaling some trouble for the Arrows. The Tigers lunged ahead to a more favorable field position in five plays that allowed Ryan Kokell (16 carries for 55 yards) to light up the board for Northport on a 5-yard scamper with 4:24 remaining in the quarter to forge a tie at 7.

Sachem North's Jesse Scanna scored a 50-yard run before the quarter's end. The fleet-footed Crossan continued to pose a threat to Northport in the second (this time for 46 yards at 6:40 left), and in the third quarter (23 yards and 10 yards, respectively) to total four touchdowns that stretched Sachem's lead ever wider.  

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Northport regrouped for an impressive strike back: Quarterback John Laurine first found the pocket, then found receiver Tom Cordts in the end zone on a 32-yard hook-up to close the gap to 28-14 with 8:05 left in the third. 

Both teams scored in the fourth. Crossan's brother Trent scored on an explosive 84-yard run down the right side to al but put the game away for Sachem North. Running back John Benitez (6 carries for 19 yards) responded with a 5-yard touchdown run on third-down for Northport, making it 42-21 with 5:05 left.

Heroes: Northport fared best with Laurine throwing the ball. He completed 9 of 14 passes for 184 yards. The Tigers put up 312 yards on offense.   Donovan Devaney had 10 carries over 43 yards. On special teams, kicker Pat Oertel went 3-for-3 on extra points.

Turning Point: Sachem North junior running back Dalton Crossan's four near-consecutive touchdown runs -- none of which was less than 10 yards -- undeniably changed the tenor of the game. Crossan finished with 170 yards on 10 carries as Sachem North totaled 465 offensive yards. 

Quotable: "We weren't physical enough," said visibly disappointed senior receiver Jack Delahunty, who had 5 catches for 66 yards.  

Bottom Line: Though they didn't emerge the winner, the Tigers were undoubtedly a tough competitor for Sachem North. After all, Northport also . This time the Tigers waged a much more intense battle and Arrows coach Dave Falco did not hesitate to give them their due.

Key Stat: Laurine beat Sachem through the air, completing 9 of-14 passes for 184 yards, including a third-quarter touchdown pass and an interception.

 

1 2 3 4 F Northport 7 0 7 7 21 Sachem North 14 7 14 7 42

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