Sachem East Improves to 2-0 with Win Over Bay Shore (Video/Photos)

If last week's victory was just an appetizer, then Saturday's Week 2 win over Bay Shore was Sachem East's first big bite in Suffolk County Division I action.

On the road, the Arrows improved to 2-0 with a 26-18 victory over Bay Shore, winning back-to-back games for the first time since 2008 (Weeks 6 and 7).

This is also the first time in the school's history that the varsity and JV programs started the season 2-0.

Sachem made it interesting in the fourth quarter. Trailing by 16 points with five minutes left, Bay Shore’s Lucas Rock threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Edwards to bring the Marauders within eight points.

Sachem went three-and-out on a quick series, allowing for Bay Shore to complete one more drive to possibly tie the game. Rock completed five of seven passes on the drive, but Sachem stopped Bay Shore on their own 14-yard line to preserve the win.

“We made it interesting, more than it should have been,” said Sachem coach Mark Wojciechowski. “It was a complete effort. We held it together at the end. We could have crumbled and we didn’t, which is a test of their character. They are great kids and didn’t give up.”

The x-factor for Sachem again was Steven Casali, who is emerging as a key offensive figure in Division I. He recorded 139 yards on 22 carries and scored three touchdowns.

“Offensively, when Steve runs a big play, everyone jumps on his back and he carries us the whole way,” said Wojciechowski.

Bay Shore opened the game with a 2-yard Rock touchdown run in the first quarter. Casali tied it with a 7-yard run in the second and the Marauders went into halftime with a 10-7 lead thanks to a 38-yard field goal by Jack Sheets.

Sachem took the lead when Riggi hit Ryan Dippel for a 10-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.

Two drives later, Joe Ryan charged 49 yards down field to put Sachem in prime scoring position for Casali who busted through for a 47-yard touchdown with 2:27 left in the quarter. He scored on a 20-yard touchdown run on Sachem’s next 14-play drive as well.

“We do everything well enough that you have to defend everything and that’s hard to do in high school football,” Wojciechowski said.

The morale at Sachem East is soaring high. Players will continue to hold their heads high as they look to continue on their quest.

“It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” said Riggi when asked what it feels like to play football at East now. “Coming from the bottom, no one expected us to win this game. They thought we lost this game before it even started and we’re on top right now.”

“We proved today we can play with anybody,” said senior Eric Poppito. “We’re ready to take on whoever’s next.”

Fourth and Long

• Sachem East travels to Commack Saturday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m.
• Riggi on being a leader: “With all my teammates pushing me, it helps me succeed, helps me pick them up and helps me lead them.”
• Stat notes: Rock was 14-for-24 passing for 137 yards and one touchdown. Brian Balsalmo caught 3 passes for 64 yards.
• Sachem East compiled 327 yards of total offense in the win.

                      1         2          3         4          F

Sachem          0        7          13        6         26

Bay Shore      7         3          0         8         18

-B: L. Rock, 5 yards, XP good

-S: Casali, 7 yards, Vaccaro XP

-B: Sheets, 38-yard field goal

-S: Riggi to Dippel, 10 yards, Missed 2PT

-S: Casali, 47 yards, Vaccaro XP

-S: Casali, 20 yards, Missed 2PT

-B: Edwards, 44 yards, 2PT Converted