Typically high school football games are played in 12-minute quarters, starting and finishing on the same day. Thursday night for Mineola varsity football team was not typical.
The Mustangs (1-1) were trailing 7-0 against W. Tresper Clarke high school when the prevailing winds shifted and brought down buckets of rain, sending the fans, players, coaches and cheerleaders scurrying for cover in Westbury.
Rams linebacker Brandon Abbott guided Mike Quintella into the endzone on the first drive of the game and added an interception and sack on defense before the rains came.
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Abbot's defensive skills would shine on Friday when play resumed, holding the Mustangs on four downs from the two-yard line with 7:31 left on the clock in the fourth. Abbot's running game against Mineola was spectacular, gaining a team-high 61-yardson 17 attempts.
Clarke (1-1) put the game away in the third with a 35-yard field goal off the boot of Joe Brillantino to make it 10-0.
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Mineola quarterback Rob Clarkin threw two interceptions, one of them a crucial pick off by Ram Jevon Clarke as the Mustangs were approaching the goalline. Clark QB Mike Martiello was 5/6 for 54 yards. Running back Brian Gaffney scored Mineola's only touchdown Friday in the third.
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