Sachem Beats Bay Shore with Four Crossan TDs (Video/Photos)

Despite the point margin and major offensive output from Dalton Crossan, Sachem North’s players and coaches left Saturday’s Week One, 27-13, victory over Bay Shore far from content.

“We have a long way to go,” said Sachem coach Dave Falco.

With Sachem not able to play its annual scrimmage against Bellport this year due to restrictions from Section XI, the Flaming Arrows (1-0), and other schools, were handicapped with seeing limited talent in pre-season action.

And if playing sluggish - fumbles for one - means four Crossan touchdowns and 145 yards on 10 carries, then you’d be pressed to see what he and Sachem can do when they’re really chugging along.

“Special players make special plays,” said Bay Shore coach Jim Giattino. “You could tell he’s trained for a long time.”

Crossan scored on each of his first three carries of 14, 48 and 52 yards, the second of which began on a north-south run down the sideline, but quickly became a highlight reel segment when he cut across field and beat all of Bay Shore’s defenders in the secondary.

 “That cut back run is one of the best runs I’ve seen in years,” said Giattino.

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Crossan, who scored his fourth and final touchdown on a 24-yard rush in the fourth quarter, finished with 222 total yards, including 77 yards on two special teams returns. The four touchdowns tie a career record (scored four against Northport in 2010 county semifinals). Even he wasn’t satisfied with the outcome of the victory.

“We kind of got a little complacent, a little soft, in the middle of the game,” he said. “We have to pick that up and be a four-quarter team, but we got a win in Week 1, which is the most important thing.”

Considering Crossan injured his knee last June and has taken it slow during the pre-season, this was his first hard live action and he came through with flying colors, igniting what should be a season-long battle between William Floyd’s Stacey Bedell for the Hansen Award given annually to Suffolk County’s top football player.

“I still think he’s only scratching the surface,” Falco said. “He’s one of the best players on the island, if not the best.”

His brother, sophomore Trent Crossan, made his debut at quarterback, rushing 13 times for 66 yards and missing his only pass attempt. The Crossan brothers combined for 211 of Sachem’s 285 total offensive yards.

Trent also recorded one of Sachem's two interceptions (Vincent Provenzen had the other) on defense, running nearly 80 yards, but fumbled in the end zone during the third quarter.

Defensively, Sachem held Bay Shore (0-1) to one touchdown the entire game until the final second when Lucas Rock completed a 1-yard pass to Lucas Encarnacion as the game clock expired. Their other touchdown was a 1-yard dive play in the second quarter.

Fourth and Long

• Sachem hosts Northport next Friday night for its home opener at 7 p.m.
• Sachem out-gained Bay Shore, 285-186, in total offensive yards
• Other stat lines: Tyler Andreassi rushed for 19 yards on five carries, Anthony Ross rushed for 38 yards on four carries and Vinny Fragale rushed three times for 17 yards.
• Sachem alum and pro football receiver Chris Manno was on the sidelines to support his alma matter. Manno was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs in training camp last month and continues to pursue playing in the NFL.
• Check Sachem Patch Sunday for football history notebooks, and athletes of the week columns and other football related content all week long.

                           1           2         3        4            F

Sachem             14          7         0         6           27   

Bay Shore            0          7         0          6          13

-S: Crossan, 14 yards at 9:38 in first; Morris XP

-S: Crossan, 48 yards at 5:41 in first; Morris XP

-S: Crossan, 52 yards at 11:26 in second; Morris XP

-B: Rock, 1 yard at 4:15 in second; White XP

-S: Crossan, 24 yards at :46.1 in fourth; Morris missed XP

-B: Rock to Encarnacion at :01 in fourth; No XP