Sports

Playoff Preview: Semifinals, No. 1 Sachem vs. No. 5 Northport

Winner moves onto the Suffolk County Championship next weekend.

Sachem and Northport, who meet Friday night in the Suffolk County Division I semifinals, have played once before this season and it was the most uncharacteristic game the Arrows have played all year.

Five fumbles and a season-low 28 points and Sachem still walked away with a 28-7 win. Because of the poor showing, Northport head coach Kip Lukralle says his Tiger team has as good a chance as anyone to knock of Long Island's toughest group.

"We've developed a gritty, physical attitude as a team," Lukralle told Northport Patch last week. "We've played the toughest schedule in Conference I and today we showed our mettle. We've learned to deal with adverse situations and move on and create positive situations. It's a testament to the character of our team that we play for each other and we haven't lost sight of the big picture. We are as good as anyone in the county."

Find out what's happening in Sachemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For Sachem, that's bulletin board material. The Arrows are clearly the favorite in this game, as they have been all year.

"We really try and focus on our own team and what we do as Sachem," said Dave Falco, Sachem's head coach. "What they said is right. If Northport doesn't turn the ball over and Northport is more physical than us, then I think we're going to be in some trouble. But our thing is play hard, play smart and play together and never be less physical than our opponents."

Find out what's happening in Sachemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Last week's 42-14 win over Brentwood, which tied a school record for most points in a playoff game, was evidence that Sachem hasn't skipped a beat with its offensive attack.

The Arrows are only 13 points away from breaking the school record for most points in a season (358 set in 2009) and with a win will tie the school record for wins in a season, also set last year.

Northport comes into the game having upset No. 4 Connetquot, 28-14, in the Suffolk quarterfinals.

"Northport is a much improved team and that's what we're looking for," Falco said.

Match-up: Division I: No. 1 Sachem (9-0) vs. No. 5 Northport (5-4)

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

Game time: Nov. 12, 7 p.m.

In-game battles: It'll be about Sachem's offensive line as always: Tim Lang, James Thompson, Nick Teta, Tom Mignano and Jacob Starling. Nicholas Simoniello and Tyler Andreassi also fill in the gaps at tight end. They all create the holes and running room for Michael Andreassi, Jesse Scanna and Dalton Crossan.

Northport passes the ball more than Sachem. John Laurine was 3-of-7 last week against Connetquot for 60 yards. Donovan Devaney and Jack Delahunty are the Tigers' threats out of the backfield.

Interesting Facts

  • Sachem is 15-3-2 all-time against Northport. Their first meeting was in 1977, and resulted in the biggest win in Sachem's history, a 55-0 drubbing. The Arrows went on to win the Rutger's Trophy that year and Brian Dehler won the Hansen Award. Northport did not win a game against Sachem until 1991.
  • Sachem has played Northport twice in the playoffs: a 27-24 win in 1989 and a 35-0 loss in 1991.
  • Of the 15 wins against the Tigers, Sachem has scored 28 or more points against Northport six times.
  • Sachem leads in all-time scoring against the Tigers, 498-237.
  • Sachem is 26-20 in the playoffs, all-time.
  • In playoff games, Sachem leads all opponents, 845-739, in scoring.
  • Sachem has allowed 14 or fewer points in 27 of its 46 playoff appearances.

See what North head coach Dave Falco had to say about the quarterfinal win over Brentwood and the playoff battle coming up.

What's next: With a win, Sachem will play in the Division I Suffolk County title game for the second consecutive year against the winner of the No. 2 William Floyd-No. 3 Longwood contest. The county final will be played at Stony Brook University, Friday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.

*After this week's game there will be a game story, photo gallery, video highlight and Saturday there will be the "This Week in Sachem Football" column


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