Anthony Licci, Dillon Mehta help Farmingdale to dominant win over Massapequa
Farmingdale's Dillon Mehta (4) catches a pass and gets away from Massapequa's Jake Balzano (26) to score in the first quarter during the Nassau High School Conference I football game between Massapequa and Farmingdale on Saturday Oct 22 2022 at Massapequa High School. Credit: Bob Sorensen
The stands already had emptied and the busses had arrived to make the short trip home when the five Farmingdale players gathered in a circle near the logo on Massapequa’s home field. Someone turned off the electricity to the scoreboard, darkening the home team’s last reminder. The quintet of Dalers smiled as only one might after demolishing an archrival.
Those five players — senior running back Tomaso Ramos, senior quarterback Anthony Licci, senior receiver/defensive back Dillon Mehta, senior linebacker Trevor Gayron and junior running back Sal Posillico — were the constellation of stars that helped give visiting Farmingdale a 42-point lead in what became a 42-7 Nassau I victory Saturday and cemented for it the top seeding for next month’s postseason.
The talent on the Dalers is undeniable. Ramos’ speed and Posillico’s combination of agility and toughness make the running game exceptional. And the passing game — with Licci throwing short or long and the 6-4 Mehta almost indefensible — is almost its equal. And Gayron headlines a tireless defense that allows a meager 8.5 points per game.
They were asked to describe the personality that makes this Farmingdale team special.
“Courageous,” Mehta said. And “relentless,” Licci soon said.
“Scrappy and humble,” Gayron said before Ramos added “focused” and Posillico contributed “patient.”
The Dalers were all those things on Saturday against Massapequa, but coach Buddy Krumenacker may have put it best: “It’s a bunch of different guys, but they play with one heartbeat.”
That heartbeat was strong from start to finish in this one as Ramos rushed for 105 yards and four touchdowns on 14 carries, Licci was 4-for-9 passing for 114 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Mehta caught the two touchdown passes.
Posillico rushed five times for 152 yards, including highlight-reel dashes of 74 and 50 yards that somehow didn’t end with touchdowns. Gayron had several big hits including on defense, Mehta made an interception and senior Ricky Folwork and junior Caden Lennon had sacks for Farmingdale (7-0).
In his 30 seasons as Farmingdale’s head coach Krumenacker teams have won eight county championships and a Long Island crown, but he said of this season’s squad “I don’t think I’ve coached a team here that has dominated opponents like this one has.”
Mehta had missed the previous two games with a right shoulder injury and marveled at how his teammates had improved over the three weeks since he played when he said “it’s like everyone has stepped up their game.”
He capped the game-opening 65-yard drive by taking Licci’s quick out pass down the right sideline for an 18-yard touchdown. On the final play of the first quarter, Posillico found a sliver of daylight for his 74-yarder to set up Ramos for a 6-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter.
Mehta’s interception set the table for Ramos’ 33-yard TD run and he added a 6-yarder for a 28-0 halftime lead.
Massapequa (5-2) resorted to going on fourth down in its own territory at the start of the second half and Gayron made the stop on a fourth-and-7 situation; two plays later the ’Pequa defense bit on play action and Mehta was alone in the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown pass.
After Ramos’ 8-yard touchdown with 8:07 to play made it 42-0, Massapequa junior Derek Boswell had a three-yard touchdown run on the game’s final play.
“No one stays the same — you can only get better or worse each day,” Krumenacker said. “This team gets better.”
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
