The Mineola Mustangs treated their last regular-season game against Malverne as a must-win situation because it was a game they had to have just to get to the post-season. The players responded in a big way with a 34-12 romping of the Mules on their home turf at Malverne to clinch a playoff spot.
"We approached it like it was a playoff game," said junior RB Steve Napolitano. "We came out focused and determined."
The Mustangs scored on their first offensive play of the game – a 15-yard TD pass from QB Rob Clarkin to Nike Pantelides, building a 21-0 halftime lead en route to a 34-12 victory. The win assured Mineola (5-3) of a winning record and a playoff berth.
Find out what's happening in Mineolawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Turning Point: Mineola was up, 14-0 in the second quarter but pinned on its own 16 and facing a third down play with less than three minutes to go in the half. A stop would possibly allow Malverne to score. Instead, Mineola scored to go ahead, 21-0. In an amazing sequence, the Mustangs gained 82 yards on five plays: Clarkin to Panetlides for 21-yards; Clarkin to Craig Webber for 21-yards; and then Steve Napolitano on consecutive runs of 13, 15, and 12-yards to put the ball on the two-yard line. Two plays later, Napolitano scored. Tom Breslin's PAT made it 21-0 with 35 seconds left in the half.
Bottom Line: The Mustangs came ready to play, and when they do that, they can play with anybody in Nassau Conference IV.
Find out what's happening in Mineolawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Quotable: "When we practice well, we play well, and we practiced well this week," said Mineola coach Dan Guido. "This was a playoff game for us. It was a good performance."
Hero: Many: Steve Napolitano rushed 17 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Clarkin went six-for-10 for 91 yards and one touchdown, and rushed eight times for 50 yards and one touchdown. Pantelides caught four passes for 70 yards and one touchdown and recorded a sack and a fumble recovery. Joe Massaro led the defense with eight tackles and three assists, and scored a TD. Mike Ianelli had five tackles and an assist. Quinn Paggi recovered a fumble on Malverne's first offensive possession, leading to Pantelides touchdown run. Paggi also made a beautiful diving deflection that negated a Malverne first down and downed the ball at the one-yeard line.
Key Stat: a 5-3 regular season record. Sixteen of Mineola's 26 players are non-seniors. Virtually all of the skilled positions players will return. In what probably should have been a building season for the program, the Mustangs excelled.
Nassau Conference IV
TEAMS……………….1…...2…...3…...4 – F
Mineola………………7…..14…..0…..13 – 34
Malverne ……………0.….0…...6…...6 -- 12
Mineola -- Pantelides 15 pass from Clarkin (Breslin kick)
Mineola -- Napolitano 33 run (Breslin kick)
Mineola -- Napolitano 2 run (Breslin kick)
Malverne -- Anderson 75 run (pass fail)
Mineola -- Massaro 5 run (Breslin kick)
Malverne – Taylor 35 run (kick failed)
Mineola -- Clarkin 20 run (kick fail)