Long Beach's Home Sweet Homecoming

Long Beach capped off their homecoming celebration with a 34-7 victory over Bellmore-JFK in a Conference II match up Friday at the Middle School, marking the third consecutive game the Marines (2-1) held their opponents to eight points or less.

Long Beach’s defensive backs Chris Parler, Lorenzo Torres and Jake Brown each had an interception, and linebackers Matt Firpo and Peter Amabile racked up a collective sixteen tackles to compliment their high-scoring offense, lead by quarterback Tom Rowley. In addition to his 8 of 13 passing for 147 yards and two touchdowns, Rowley rushed for 56 yards and a score. When Amabile was handed the ball, he spearheaded the rushing attack with 78 yards and a touchdown on three carries.

Due to a torrential downpour, officials called the game with 4:41 left in the fourth quarter, deciding that it was best to stop the blowout rather than risk anyone getting hurt on the slick field.

Long Beach essentially won the game in the first quarter, scoring 22 unanswered points, staring with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Rowley to John Delahanty, who made the catch despite being bumped by Kennedy defenders.

The Marines followed with an onside kick that they converted, taking over on the Kennedy 31. Rowley then tossed another touchdown pass, a 22-yarder to Mattheew Firpo. On their next possession, Amabile, found a hole on the left side and ran 67 yards for the score.

Kennedy (0-3) finally got something going in the middle of the third quarter. Quarterback Chris Racalbuto hit Ralph Faiella on a 33-yard-pass, followed by another pass from nine yards out for the only Cougar touchdown, making it 28-7.

As the rain got heavier at the start of the fourth quarter, Amabile scored again from one yard out to make it 34-7. Kennedy's Robert VanNess broke a big run deep into Marine territory, but Racalbuto was picked off in the endzone by Parlor, who returned it to the 42.

As the Marines were driving again in the rain when the game was called.

On Saturday, Long Beach will host Garden City for a 3 p.m. game at the Middle School.

                                        1           2        3        4         F

Long Beach                   22            6        6        0      34
Bellmore-JFK                  0            0        7        0        7