This Week in Sachem Football: Suffolk County Division I Quarterfinals

Every week I breakdown each game and measure what it means from a historical perspective in the football programs at Sachem North and East. Here's the information from Friday's Suffolk County quarterfinals:



Playoff data

• The 42 points Sachem scored against Brentwood ties the program record for most points in a playoff game. Sachem set that record last season after a 42-6 win over the Indians in the Suffolk County Division I semifinals.
• 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 less points in 27 of its 46 playoff appearances.
• In even number years, Sachem is 14-8 in playoff games.
• In first round playoff games, the Arrows are 19-8. Note: In many situations, the county title game was the first and only playoff game Sachem played in that given year. For this statistic, it still applies.
• In the playoffs, Sachem is 3-2 against Brentwood. They played in 1996 (34-7 Sachem win), 1997 (19-7 Brentwood win), 2006 (46-26 Brentwood win), 2009 (42-6 Sachem win), and 2010 (42-14 Sachem win).
• In the 46 post-season games Sachem has played, only four actually featured scores of 40 points or more, and three were against Brentwood: (2002) 48-20 loss to Patchogue-Medford (Fred Fusaro's final game), (2006) 46-26 loss to Brentwood, (2009) 42-6 win over Brentwood and (2010) 42-14 win over Brentwood.

Season historical notes

• Sachem has started a season off 9-0 only two other times since the program began (49 seasons). This is the second consecutive season to accomplish this feat. The other years were 1996 and 2009.
• Dating back to the final game of the 2008 season, North has won 20 of its last 21 games.
• Sachem has scored 346 points this season. Next up is the record set by last year's 2009 group, which scored 358 points.
• Sachem has scored 40-plus points in five of its nine games this season and no fewer than 28 in a game. The 40-plus points in five breaks the 2009 team's record for most 40-plus point games in a season.
• Sachem is 31-15-1 all-time against Brentwood. Their playing history dates back to 1972 when Brentwood opened the rivalry with a 35-6 win. For a stretch from 1973-1979, Sachem played both Brentwood Ross and Brentwood Sonderling during the regular season.
• Sachem has outscored Brentwood, 997-743, all-time.
• They met twice last year and both games had historic value: In the regular season, Sachem won, 42-41, making for the highest combined points (83) in a game in program history. 
• Sachem is the only undefeated team in Division I. The other Suffolk County schools without a loss: Glenn (Division IV), which is coached by Sachem alum Dave Shanahan and assistant Fred Fusaro. Nassau's undefeated schools: Oceanside and Carey.
• The Andreassi File: With his 11 carries and 153 yards against Brentwood, he is still in 8th on Sachem's career rushing list. He has 1,851 yards on 279 career carries and 23 touchdowns. Next up: Anthony Quezada (1,967, 2007-08).
• The Scanna File: For his four-year career at Sachem, he has 155 carries, 1,384 yards and 15 touchdowns (rushing). Scanna is the 11th all-time leading rusher in Sachem history. Next up: Walter Carey (1,539: 1981-1982). On defense, Scanna has over 300 career tackles, which is a Sachem record. (Final defensive stats will be reported at the end of the season.)
• The Armine File: The three-year varsity player has compiled some impressive career stats. Even though he has limited throwing attempts because of Sachem's ground attack, he is 35-for-63 and has thrown for 600 yards. He also has tossed eight touchdown passes, which is one away from tying him with two others for fourth all-time in Sachem history and two away from tying him with two others for third all-time. He has also rushed for 667 yards on 102 carries and scored 10 touchdowns on the ground (7 in 2009).

Stats at a glance (through nine weeks)

-Bonifacio Aguila: 7 catches, 120 yards, 17.1 avg., 2 touchdowns

-Michael Andreassi: 127 carries, 920  yards, 7.24 avg., 14 touchdowns/ 2 reception for 27 yards

-Angelo Armine: 32 carries, 306 yards, 9.56 avg., and 14-of-22 passing for 304 yards and 4 touchdowns, 3 rushing touchdowns

-Davon Christopher: 17 carries, 114 yards, 6.71 avg., 2 touchdowns

-Dalton Crossan: 63 carries, 711 yards, 11.29 avg., 1 catch for 59 yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 2 return touchdowns, 1 receiving touchdown, 2 interception touchdowns

-Trent Crossan: 20 carries, 176 yards, 8.80 avg., 1 touchdown (INT)

-Mike McCarthy: 22 carries, 143 yards, 6.50 avg., 1 touchdown and 2-of-5 passing for 58 yards and one touchdown

-Bryan Morris: Converted 32 of 41 point after attempts

-Jesse Scanna: 62 carries, 681 yards, 10.99 avg., 10 rushing touchdowns/ 4 receptions for 58 yards and 1 receiving touchdown … 1 fumble recovery for a touchdown

Points by quarter

78

Interesting Facts

-Total offense gained: 3,488 yards (2,942 rushing / 362 passing)

-Total offense allowed: 1,603 yards (922 rushing / 684 passing)

-Total rushing touchdowns: 40

-Total passing touchdowns: 5

-First half points: 226

-Second half points: 120

-First half points allowed: 25

-Second half points allowed: 52

-Most points for: Week 3 vs. Brentwood ... 48

-Least points for: Week 5 vs. Northport ... 28

-Least points against: Week 4 vs. Connetquot ... 0

-Most points against: Week 2 vs. Lindenhurst ... 15

-Most touchdowns in a game by one player: Jesse Scanna ... 3, three times … Dalton Crossan and Michael Andreassi have both scored three in one day as well

-Most carries in a game by one player: Michael Andreassi ... 22 vs. Lindenhurst

-Most rushing yards in a game by one player: Scanna 173 vs. Connetquot

-Longest rush of the season: Jesse Scanna, 81 yards vs. Floyd

-Longest pass of the season: Armine to Crossan, 59 yards vs. Longwood

-Longest run against: Karl Allison - Bay Shore, 54 yards

-Longest pass against: Pat-Med, 51 yards

-Most total offensive yards in one game: 513 vs. Connetquot

-Longest kick return: 85 yards, Dalton Crossan vs. Floyd

Fun Facts from Previous Games

• Sachem's win over Connetquot marked the first time Sachem has scored 45 or more points in back-to-back weeks in program history. 
• The shutout over Connetquot was the 59th shutout in program history.
• This season is the first time Sachem has scored 33 or more points per game in the first four games of the year.
• If you're wondering, the fewest points allowed in a Sachem season was 35 in 1977. For this year's Sachem team to be in the top five in program history, it would need to stay within the 50 point range: 1980 (38), 1986 (44), 1961 (46), 1983 (56) and 1978 (59). It has allowed 57 points in seven games.
• The 20 points Sachem scored in the first quarter of Week 6 were more than Floyd allowed in any previous quarter this season.
• This is the first time since 2002 that William Floyd has lost back-to-back games.
• Floyd has not allowed more than 28 points in any games dating back to 2004.
• Bay Shore, Sachem's Week 8 opponent, has outscored the Arrows, 181-154. It is the only other school besides William Floyd to have outscored Sachem in its history. 
• Sachem head coach Dave Falco played on the 1983 team that started 7-0-1 and assistant coach Dave Caputo played on the 1995 team, Sachem's last to win a county title and only group to appear in the Long Island Championship.

New York State Sportswriters Association Ranking: 3 ... Though it's not the final ranking of the season, it is the highest ranking Sachem has ever achieved from the NYSSWA. The organization has been ranking teams in New York since 1969. Sachem has been ranked in the top 25, 12 times … its highest spot ever was 6 in 1979.

Next up: No. 1 Sachem will host No. 5 Northport in the Division I semifinals next Friday at 7 p.m.