Sachem East Downs Central Islip in Season Opener (Video/Photos)

Change swept over Sachem East like a tidal wave Friday night.

If it weren't for the new jerseys and helmets, packed stands and new coaching staff, then it was the score flashing on the board in their favor at the end of the game.

It's been 729 days since Sachem East has earned a victory in football, and their 26-8 win over Central Islip at home was worth every bit of the emotional and historic undertones it came with.

The victory marks the first for Sachem head coach Mark Wojciechowski and also breaks a 15-game losing streak, the second longest on Long Island in football.

“They bought in and it paid off in this first step,” said Wojciechowski, who credited his newly formed coaching staff as a major reason in helping bring this program in a new direction.

The other step is the emergence of Steven Casali as a premier back. The junior carried the ball 11 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns and caught one pass for eight yards.

He opened the game’s scoring with a 24-yard scurry to the end zone that sent Farmingville’s noise level to an all-time high as the packed crowd erupted in joy, welcoming a new era of football at Sachem East with 55.6 seconds left in the first quarter.

Had Central Islip not committed an unsportsmanlike penalty giving Sachem a 15-yard advantage on the drive and starting them at the 36-yard line that series, Casali’s momentous touchdown may not have happened.

A play earlier, Sachem quarterback Anthony Riggi hit Brian Balsalmo with a 12-yard pass, bringing the Arrows to the 24-yard line.

“Kids were excited,” Wojciechowski said, “but we can’t be too excited for what it was. It was a touchdown and we have to build from there. We want to play emotionally, but under control. That’s all part of maturity. It’s important to maintain that level of intensity and focus. You have to find a level that you can play at.”

Just when you thought the emotions couldn’t run any higher, Billy Merone picked up a Central Islip fumble with five seconds left in the first quarter and put Sachem up 12-0 when he ran it back 34 yards. Riggi hit Balsalmo with a pass on the two-point conversion to make it 14-0.

In the second quarter, Central Islip continued to make mistakes and punted deep from its own end zone, allowing Sachem to start a series at the opposition's 15-yard line. That eventually led to a 2-yard touchdown run by Joe Ryan with 7:56 left in the first half. Sachem led, 20-0.

Casali scored his second touchdown, a 9-yard rush, at the 3:46 mark of the third quarter to make it 26-0.

Central Islip scored its only touchdown with 5:33 remaining in the contenst when Javon Hawkins hit Ismael Compare in the end zone with a 5-yard pass. They made good on a two-point conversion for the eight points.

“This was probably the biggest game of our lives,” said Casali, who gave all the credit to his offensive line. “We’ll celebrate now, but tomorrow we’ll go right to work. Intensity has to be higher and higher, getting better and better every day.”

Fourth and Long

• Sachem travels to Bay Shore next Saturday for Week 2 action at 2 p.m.
• Sachem's last win came during Week 1 of the 2009 season.
• Central Islip's Greg Dailey led the Muskateers with 15 carries for 44 yards.
• Riggi finished up 5-for-13 passing for 30 yards. 
• Balsalmo caught three passes for 10 yards.
• Sachem out-gained Central Islip in total offensive yardage, 143-65.

                           1          2           3         4          F

Sachem          14          6           6         0         26

Central Islip       0          0           0         8          8

-Sachem: Casali, 24-yard rush at 55.6, first

-Sachem: Merone, 34-yard fumble recovery at :05, first

-Sachem: Ryan, 2-yard rush at 7:56, third

-Sachem: Casali, 9-yard rush at 3:46, third

-Central Islip: Compare from Hawkins, 5 yards at 5:33, fourth