Spartans Overwhelm Mineola in 2012 Football Opener

Like it or not, the fate of the Mineola Mustangs’ will probably rest on the legs of senior Brian Gaffney. While his abilities were cut short against a highly ranked Valley Stream North team Saturday at in the season opener, Gaffney showed exactly what he is capable of with an 85-yard kickoff touchdown return following a Spartans’ score on the fourth possession of the first quarter in what would be the only trip into the endzone for the Mustangs.

Gaffney would manage 154 total yards in the game.

“He had a good day,” Mineola coach Dan Guido said, but admitting that “we had a lot of mistakes.”

Deep in the redzone the Valley Stream defense held firmest against the Mustangs, who also got in their own way, as in the second quarter on a recovered punt at the 4 yard line they incurred a flag and could not punch the ball in despite successive runs. In the third, Mineola fumbled its own kickoff to start the quarter, leading to a recovery by the Spartans and a 9-play, 29 yard scoring drive.

“That could have been 21-13 with us with the ball,” Guido said. “It changes the game. We made too many mistakes.”

Meanwhile the Valley Stream offense led by senior RB William Patsos strung together series after series to march down the field.

“They didn’t get any long runs,” Guido said.

Mineola QB Vinny Bieniek, making his varsity debut, went 5/11 with 3 sacks and was picked off by Patsos for a touchdown return.

Guido was quick to dismiss the junior’s performance as simply nothing more than it being his first varsity game.

Mineola will be playing lower-ranked teams from here on out in the season, which gives them time and opportunity to build wins as the junior develops.

“He’ll get better,” Guido said.