Live In-Game Blog: Sachem North vs. Patchogue-Medford Week 1 Football Action

There has not been this much hype surrounding Sachem North football since before the 2004-05 split, prior to when it had to be called Sachem North. Now seven seasons on the gridiron later, North has regained that coveted No. 1 status and opens the 2010 season at home against local rival Patchogue-Medford.

The Raiders on the other hand, come into the game lacking the luster it had during the early part of the last decade. It's still rebuilding and will have its hands full with a dynamic Sachem group.

Sachem Patch and Patchogue Patch will have complete coverage of the game with photos, video, columns and game stories after the event.

To check out the 2010 Sachem North season preview, click here.

To check out the 2010 Pat-Med season preview, click here.

To check out the Inside the Arrows football blog, click here.

To check out a preview for tonight's game, click here.

Game time: 7 p.m.

Weather: 61 degrees, mostly clear

Venue: Fred Fusaro Alumni Stadium, Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

Interesting Facts

• The all-time record between the teams is 27-17-2. Their first game dates back to 1962, a 21-0 Patchogue win. Sachem was only in its second varsity season ever at that point. 
• Sachem has outscored Pat-Med, 723-682 all-time.
• Their last meeting was in 2008, a 41-0 Sachem win.
• Sachem is 26-24 all-time in Week 1 games. It has won eight of the last nine and four in a row.

Intro by Chris R. Vaccaro; blog by Jonathan Walter

FIRST QUARTER

12:00: Here we go! Sachem will kickoff, Joe Altrui returns the kick for Pat-Med out to about the Pat-Med 41 yard line.

10:48: Pat-Med runs the ball three times for 5 yards bringing up 4th down.

9:39: Kick is returned by Sachem's Dalton Crossan for about 70 yards for a Sachem touchdown! The extra point is good.  Sachem 7, Pat-Med 0

9:33: The kickoff is returned by Pat-Med to its own 36 yard line

8:43: 2nd and 8 for Pat-Med is its first pass of the game, incomplete off of the receiver's finger tips.

8:36: The pass is intercepted by Sachem's Dalton Crossan, but on the Arrow's next play, their own pass is intercepted by the Pat-Med defense on a long pass down the far sidelines.

8:04: Now pinned back at their own 10, Pat-Med is trying to move the ball from deep in their own zone but face a third-and-long situation.

6:49: After only gaining a yard on the play, Pat-Med is forced to punt on 4th down and 4 yards to go.

6:27: A short punt gives Sachem excellent field position, starting at the Pat-Med 26.

6:21: Sachem fumbled the ball on its first play of the drive.  Pat-Med has the ball back at its own 25.

6:13: Pat-Med, after a false start penalty sent them back to their 20 yard line.  Gabe Lijoi launched a deep pass down the sideline but the pass was deflected at the last moment setting up 2nd-and-15. Time 0ut Pat-Med.

5:29: Lijoi's incomplete pass to Connor Coughlin after a short run brings up 4th down and 13.

5:14: After the punt, the Arrows finally get their running game going on a long run to the 3 yard line.

3:38: 3rd and goal from the one: Jesse Scanna carries the ball but can't cross the goal line, setting up a 4th and one carry from 1 which is carried in for a Sachem Touchdown.  The extra point is good.  Sachem 14, Pat-Med 0

2:29: Arrows kick off and  and Pat Med's Jon Hiott takes it to the 43 yard line. On their first carry, Pat-Med's Joe Altrui fumbled the carry, but was recoverd by QB Gabe Lijoi setting up 2nd and 12

1:29: Pass intended for Connor Coughlin is incomplete.  3rd and 12.

1:19: Joe Altrui's carry is good for 6 yards, and Pat Med is going to go for it on 4th down. 

:29: QB Lijoi is forced out of bounds and the ball is turned over on downs at the Pat-Med 44 yard line.  1st and 10 Arrows.

:15: Michael McCarthy has a big run down to about the 20 but the play is called back on a holding call against the Arrows.  It'll be 1st down and16 from the 50 yard line.

0:00: Sachem tailback Dalto Crossan finishes out the quarter with a long down down to the Raider's 21 yard line for a 29 yard gain.

End of First Quarter: Sachem 14, Pat-Med 0

SECOND QUARTER

12:00: To start the second quarter, the Arrows are set up with a 1st and 10 from the 21 yard line.  The ball is carried by Michael Andreassi for 6 yards.  2nd and 4.

11:12: False start Flaming Arrows.  It'll be second down and 9 as the Sachem running game looks like it is finally gaining some steam.

10:48: Touchdown Michael Andreassi on a 20-yard carry.  The extra point is good. Sachem 21, Pat-Med 0

10:22: The Sachem running game is really starting to find a rythym after a slow start. The kickoff is kicked out of bounds for a penalty and the Raiders will start on their own 35 yard line. After a 2 yard carry, it's 2nd and 8 for the Raiders at the 37 yard line.

8:03: 2 carries for 7 yards sets up a 4th and one for the Raiders on the 44 yard line.  The carry is good for 2 yards and a first down, the Raiders first of the evening.

7:00: Altrui carries the ball for 5 yards.  The Raiders ground and pound offense is a far different from the explosive Sachem offense which beats you with big plays. 

5:54:  The Raiders fall short on third and 1 and are forced to go for it once again in a 4th and short situation.

5:28: The Sachem defense makes a decisive stop on 4th and 1 and forced another turnover on downs.

4:37: Dalton Crossan and Michael Andreassi are having a nice evening running the ball as Andreassi follows a 5-yard Crossan run with a 6-yard run of his own to pick up a 1st down. Time out Sachem.

4:08: Trent Crossan carries the ball for 10 yards and another Sachem 1st down.  Enjoying a 21 point lead and a successful rushing attack, Sachem is finding little or no reason to throw the ball at this point.

3:40: Dalton Crossan just rushed the ball 20 yards for another Sachem touchdown.  The extra point attempt was blocked. Sachem 27, Pat-Med 0

3:39: It'll be 1st and 10 Raiders from their own 37 yard line.  Kevin Gerrard carried the ball 2 yards.

2:34: Raiders QB Lijoi's pass to Joe Altrui goes for 18 yards.

2:07: Lijoi's next pass is nearly intercepted as he overthrew his target. 

1:44: Altrui gained seven on the carry, setting up 3rd and 3.  

:18: Lijoi's pass to Sal Columbo gets down to the 22 yard line.  Pat Med has taken a time out.

0:00: After completed another pass, down to the 8 yard line, Lijoi's 2nd down and goal pass is incomplete, bringing up 3rd and goal with .1 second left.  Pat-Med's QB pass is incomplete in the endzone, ending the half.

End of Half: Sachem 27, Pat-Med 0

Third Quarter

12:00: The Raiders kickoff into the back of the endzone and it's 1st down and 10 for the Arrows on the 20 yard line.

11:44: Jesse Scanna carries for 2 yards.

11:22: Dalton Crossan carries the ball for 4 yards.

10:51: Crossan carries the ball 6 yards for a Arrows first down.

9:43: It looks like the Arrows are gonna lean on both Crossan brothers as well as Andreassi and Scanna for the rest of this game as they keep rotating between the backs to start the second half.

8:40: Scanna carries the ball 5 yards for a Sachem first down.

7:30: Dalton Crossan stays hot running the ball, picking up 15 yards and first down.

5:58: 1st and 10 Arrows after Angelo Armine completes a pass to for about 10 yards.

5:38: Dalton Crossan scores on a 14 yard touchdown run.  The extra point kick is blocked. Sachem 33, Pat-Med 0

5:26: A big kick return by Pat-Med's John Hiott sets up the Raiders at their 49 yard line.

4:28: After being stopped on consecutive runs for no gain, QB Gabe Lijoi completed a 51 yard touchdown pass.  The extra point kick is good.  The Raiders get themselves on the board. Sachem 33, Pat-Med 7

After the kickoff, the Arrows will start at their own 27 yard line.

2:50: Jesse Scanna failed to pick up the first down on his 3rd and 2 run. It brings up 4th and 2 and forces a rare Sachem punt.

2:09: The Sachem punt only goes for 10 yards and the Raiders will take over at the Arrow's 42.  The Raiders down to for 18 yards to pick up the first down, one of their biggest runs of the night to keep their drive moving.

56: Kevin Gerrard's pass is intercepted and the Arrows will take over at their own 6 yard line.

0: The Arrows run the ball and in turn run out the 3rd quarter.  They lead 33-7 with one quarter left the play.

End of Third Quarter: Sachem 33, Pat-Med 7

FOURTH QUARTER

12:00: Mike McCarthy runs for a big gain and a first down.  It'll be first and 10 Arrows at their own 49.

11:00: Mike McCarthy gets another run for 9 yards and sets up 3rd and 1 at the Raiders 41.

10:25:  Another run for McCarthy gets the Arrows another solid ten yards and first down at the 31.

10:03:  A fumble by the Arrows on the next play gives the Raiders a first and 10 at their own 35.

8:53: The Arrows continue to run the ball down by 26 points

7:49: The Raiders have taken at timeout looking at a 2nd and 10 situation with the ball on their own 45 yard line.

The Raiders complete an 11 yard pass to Chris Makulik for a first down.

5:36: Joe Altrui keeps a productive Raiders drive by picking up a first down on a 5 yard run.

5:11: Vincent Fragale intercepts the Raider pass, giving the Arrows a first and 10 at their 25 yard line.  Time Out Arrows. It may be too late for the Raiders to mount a serious comeback but they keep manufacturing productive drives that fall apart once they get near the red zone.

3:59: First and 15 for the arrows after a penalty brings back would would have been a run for a first down.

3:43: Vincent Fragale, fresh off of making an interception, runs the ball for 25 yards and an Arrows first down.

2:15: The Raiders have a 4th and inches and can end the game by picking up a first down.

1:57: 1st and 10 for the Arrows as the can take a knee and run out the clock to win the game.

0:00: 33-7 Sachem North is your final score as the Arrows ran all over Patchogue-Medford with their talented tailbacks.

FINAL: Sachem 33, Pat-Med 7

Check Sachem Patch later tonight for a game story, analysis, photos and video.