Dominick Novello, Mepham battle through tough conditions to advance to Nassau II final
Dominick Novello #2, Mepham quarterback, throws a pass during a rain-filled Nassau County football Conference II semifinal against Long Beach at Shuart Stadium on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. Credit: James Escher
Soaking, swirling rain blew through Hofstra's Shuart Stadium for much of the high-stakes game Friday between Mempham and Long Beach. Not exactly conditions conducive for offensive artistry.
The Nassau Conference II semifinal was scoreless through three quarters, but the rain let up for a time in the fourth. Mepham took advantage and scored two touchdowns.
“It picked back up when they had the ball again. Secretly, that was my plan the whole time,” Mepham coach Matt Moody joked.
Second-seeded Mepham emerged with a 14-0 win over No. 3 Long Beach to secure its place in the championship game against top-seeded, six-time defending champ Garden City (10-0) next Friday night at Hofstra.
The last time Mepham won the county championship — 70 years ago in 1952.
“I said it before the season started: This team has all the makings of talent, of leadership, of camaraderie, that championship teams have,” Moody said. “Garden City is the standard. I thought we played them well the first time in the regular season.
“It’s going to be a tough game, but I’m extremely excited and proud of the boys to be in the position we’re in right now.”
Mepham (9-1) fell to the Trojans, 35-18, in Week 5.
“They are beatable,” said senior quarterback/linebacker Dominick Novello, who ran for 85 yards and the go-ahead score against Long Beach. “We made too many mistakes that game, and we will execute better this week upcoming.”
Novello also recorded two sacks to lead a fierce pass rush.
The semifinal turned on the last play of the third quarter.
Michael Contreras attempted a 37-yard field goal for the Marines (7-3) but Nick Walker blocked it. The Pirates then marched 60 yards with Novello scoring on a 2-yard run.
Two snaps later, Long Beach fumbled and Mepham took over at the Marines' 18-yard line. On second-and-goal from the 2, Novello carried and tried to extend the slippery ball over the goal line but lost control. Luckily for him, teammate Steven Mulqueen recovered the fumble in the end zone to put Mepham ahead 14-0 with 4:28 left.
“It was pretty tough,” Novello said of the conditions. “Throwing the ball was pretty hard. We just had to run the ball. Long Beach did a great job stopping the run. So we just tried to execute different things, and we came out on top — thank God.”
