Despite kicking off to begin Friday’s Nassau Conference II football playoff matchup against neighboring Calhoun, visiting Mepham couldn’t have scripted a better start.
The Colts went three-and-out and gifted a safety just 50 seconds in. Junior quarterback Adam Erlichman then capped the fifth-seeded Pirates’ opening possession with a 1-yard touchdown run and the tone was set for Mepham’s rain-soaked 22-0 victory.
“We came in here feeling like we’re peaking at the right time,” Mepham head coach Tom Mazeika said. “We got the fast start we were looking for and the defense did the rest. We’ve been a defensive team the past three years and everyone we put out there played their hearts out.”
Seniors Vinny Ciro (9), Will Braun (7) and Nate Greene combined for 22 tackles to lead the shutout effort for the Pirates (4-5), who avenged a 25-19 overtime loss on the same field Sept. 18 and advanced to face No.2 Carey in the semifinals next Friday at Hofstra University.
“Getting to Hofstra is a goal for some schools, but for us it’s an expectation,” said Erlichman, who completed 14 of 17 passes for 175 yards a one touchdown. “Our coaches always prepare us well and we owe it all to them,” he added....