Matt Caracappa throws two TD passes to Craig Berge as Massapequa tops Oceanside, 28-20
Massapequa kick returner Craig Berge takes back the opening kickoff of the game against Oceanside. (Nov. 16, 2013) Credit: James Escher
In a spirited duel of hurry-up offenses, Massapequa outlasted Oceanside, 28-20, Saturday night in a late-show thriller of a Nassau I semifinal. Whew, what a pace!
The No. 3 Chiefs (8-2) will face No. 1 Farmingdale (10-0) at 4 p.m. Saturday at Hofstra. The Sailors finished 8-2.
Massapequa scored 14 points in 2:21 in the fourth quarter to rally for the victory after Oceanside's Mike Palmiotto nailed his second field goal for a 20-14 advantage with 5:02 left. That was way too much time.
The Chiefs marched 62 yards in 10 plays and grabbed a 21-20 lead when Paul Dilena barreled in from the 1. Andrew Rogers (77 yards on 10 carries) carried four times for 40 yards on the drive.
Massapequa left 5:03 on the clock, plenty of time for the Sailors and their precocious sophomore quarterback, Vincent Guarino (22-for-35, 236 yards).
But Massapequa's defense rose to the occasion. Robert Maini sacked Guarino for a 7-yard loss and Nick Capuana (126 yards and a touchdown) stepped in front of a receiver for an interception that left the Chiefs at the Oceanside 22.
Three plays later, Matt Caracappa hit Craig Berge for an 18-yard TD pass, the second scoring hookup for the duo. Berge, who caught four passes for 145 yards, added his fourth extra point for a 28-20 lead with 2:42 left.
It still was a one-score game at that point and the Sailors made it interesting. They marched 52 yards as Guarino converted four straight passes, two to Casey Kelly (seven catches for 77 yards) and one to Timmy Nolan (seven catches, 73 yards). But on fourth-and-3 at the Massapequa 21, Guarino's pass was broken up by Capuana.
Whew!
