Sports

Glenn Football: Suffolk Champs!

Knights repeat as Suffolk Division IV football champions with 42-30 win over Amityville Thursday.

His teammates nicknamed him “Check Money.” His coach called him a “Big-time quarterback.” By game’s end, it seemed everyone was chanting his name.

On the grand stage of the Suffolk Division IV football championship, senior Rich Czeczotka turned in the type performance you could only dream about. 

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Czeczotka threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as the top-seeded Knights ran past No. 2 Amityville, 42-30, Thursday night before a crowd of 500 at Stony Brook University’s LaValle Stadium. 

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“What a game!” said. “He had his best game on the center stage. 

With the Stony Brook University coaching staff eagerly looking on, Czeczotka capped the game’s opening drive with a 23-yard touchdown strike to Nick Wagner.

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After a three-and-out by Amityville (9-2), the Knights got the ball back at midfield. Czeczotka took advantage of the safety cheating into the box and hit Wagner in stride for a 52-yard bomb. Greg Orkiszewski’s kick put Glenn ahead 14-0 just 4:11 into the game.

“We had an aggressive game plan,” Czeczotka said. “We went out there and attacked the secondary. Nick got open both times. It was awesome!” 

Czeczotka completed 13 of 19 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns. As the ringmaster of the , Czeczotka also ran for 128 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. 

But Amityville did not go quietly. Amityville has played in six Suffolk title games since 1999. In fact, the Warriors beat Glenn in the 2009 final, 17-11. It’s a memory that still haunts many of the Glenn seniors.

That loss popped to the fore after the Warriors came out of intermission and responded with a touchdown drive to cut the deficit to 28-14. Amityville quickly got the ball back and drove to the Glenn 33. Momentum seemed to swing Amityville’s way.

But on fourth-and-3, the Glenn defense rose up and stopped scrambling Amityville quarterback Sean Walters just shy of the marker. It was one of three defensive stops by the Knights in the second half.

“Entirely heart,” said Tom Forsberg, a two way-star. “We had a couple of fourth-and-1 stops. Without that I don’t think we win the game.”

The Knights (10-1) face Nassau champ Roosevelt, a 21-14 winner over East Rockaway, for the Long Island Class IV title game next Friday at noon at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium. Admission is $7.

After losing the first two times it reached the Suffolk title game, in the LI championship. The last fall and won the as Suffolk’s best team.

And the Knights did it by avenging not just the 2009 team, but by sweeping aside the lone foe to beat them during the regular season. Amityville handed Glenn a 42-28 road loss in Week 6.

“This is one of the sweetest victories I’ve ever had,” Shanahan said. “And against a quality club which has a lot of talent and weapons.”

Wagner finished with two interceptions at cornerback and five catches for 111 yards and two scores. 

Forsberg rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown as well as caught five balls for 111 yards and a score.

But everyone knew this win was all about Czeczotka. As his Glenn teammates set up in the end zone for a celebratory group photo, one key piece was missing. 

No one flinched until their quarterback arrived. No one could imagine the night without Czeczotka up front and center.

Suffolk Division IV Football Championship

Teams.............1.....2.....3.....4 – F

Amityville........0.....8.....6...16 – 30

Glenn............14...14.....0...14 – 42

G – Wagner 23 pass from Czeczotka (Orkiszewski kick)

G – Wagner 52 pass from Czeczotka (Orkiszewski kick)

A – Safety (Hatcher tackled Forsberg in end zone)

A – White 2 run (kick failed)

G – Forsberg 63 pass from Czeczotka (Orkiszewski kick)

G – Forsberg 44 run (Orkiszewski kick)

A – Hatcher 15 run (run failed)

G – Czeczotka 6 run (Orkiszewski kick)

A – Palmer 15 run (Hatcher run)

G – Czeczotka 61 run (Orkiszewski kick)

A – Hatcher 7 pass from Walters (Walters run)


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