Dominick Novello, Mepham use last year's semifinal loss as motivation to topple MacArthur
Steven Mulqueen, Mepham wide receiver, right, gets congratulated by teammate Michael Cucinella after making a reception for a touchdown in the second quarter of a Nassau Conference II football game against MacArthur at Mepham on Saturday. Credit: James Escher
The remnants of the Nassau Conference II semifinal on Nov. 13, 2021, could be seen Saturday on quarterback Dominick Novello’s right arm courtesy of a Sharpie.
There was the word “Believe” and the score from Mepham’s loss to MacArthur at Hofstra. The score, 21-18, was ingrained in the players’ minds.
Copies were made of a screenshot showing the scoreboard from that night. They were posted in the weight room in the offseason, and served as a motivator in preparation for the day they would play MacArthur again.
That day was Saturday, and the score was a lot easier on their eyes as host Mepham bested MacArthur, 42-0.
“The game last fall kind of set the tone for who we were going to be all offseason,” said Matt Moody, Mepham’s first-year head coach who was the defensive coordinator last fall. “So this was what we’ve been thinking about. This is what we’ve been working toward. This is a big one for us.”
There were many contributors, but Novello stood out. He went 8-for-9 passing for 219 yards and a touchdown and added seven carries for 46 yards and a TD.
“It meant everything to me,” Novello said of winning the rematch, “because they sent us home last year.”
But the Generals (1-1) had only two returning starters.
“Learning experience for us,” MacArthur coach Bobby Fehrenbach said. “A lot of these kids have only played one varsity game. So last week was their first start.”
Still, they started well, winning their opener and taking the opening drive down the field against Mepham, setting up a first-and-goal at the 5. They were unable to score as Ryan Thier tackled Joey Forchelli for no gain on fourth-and goal from the 2.
Mepham proceeded to travel 98 yards, and scored on Thier’s 1-yard run. On the next drive, Thier added another score on a 3-yard rush.
The xext drive, well, it lasted one play. Novello lofted a perfect pass down the left sideline to Steven Mulqueen for a 44-yard scoring connection.
Michael Eddelson then returned an interception 61 yards to the MacArthur 15. Novello ultimately raced in for a 5-yard TD. GianMarco Priola kicked his fourth of six extra points to cap a 28-0 second-quarter run.
Nicholas Sedita added two rushing touchdowns in the second half.
The Pirates (2-0) have Oct. 8 circled on their calendar. It’s the date they’ll visit six-time defending champ Garden City, and get a better idea of where they stand.
“I think that’s going to be a great competition game,” Thier said. “I feel that Garden City is top dog, and we’re going to take them off their throne this year.”
