Floyd's Paul Longo records career win No. 212, tops for Suffolk public school coaches
Floyd football coach Paul Longo records career win No. 212 to make him the winningest coach in Suffolk public school history. Credit: Bob Sorensen
It was a glorious moment for Floyd football coach Paul Longo. He was the happy victim of a Gatorade dumping and there was conviction in his broad smile.
The Floyd football team had soundly beaten Ward Melville, 37-15, in the regular season finale of the Suffolk Division I schedule. And this home win in Mastic Beach was the 212th in Longo’s 27-year career, making him the winningest public schools football coach in Suffolk history.
"Somehow, through all the years I know my dad has always been looking over me," Longo said of his father Joseph Longo, who attended every game on the Floyd sidelines for 20 years. "He passed six years ago, and I know how proud he would be of me, my coaches, the entire program. He was our biggest fan. Today, is special in many ways for me – it’s personal."
A game that brought pounding rain, heavy wind and dark clouds ended with a brilliant rainbow and the sun peeking out from behind the cloud cover.
"It’s a beautiful way to end the day," Longo said. "We played a very good football team and came away with a hard-fought win."
No. 2 Floyd (7-1) will host No. 7 Brentwood (4-4) in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs on Saturday. Longo, who surpassed Bellport legend Joe Cipp Jr. in wins, will go for his 14th Suffolk title with the hopes of a shot at a sixth Long Island Class I championship.
On Floyd’s first play from scrimmage, Krishmar Powell burst over right tackle and raced 76 yards for the opening score. Caden Lesiewicz added the extra-point kick for the 7-0 lead with 8:38 left in the first quarter.
"We had that play set up all week in practice," offensive tackle Jayson Thomas said. "We trapped the linebacker. I got a great block to seal him, and Powell was gone."
Ward Melville (5-3), which finished fourth in the power rankings, will host No. 5 Sachem North in the playoffs.
The Patriots didn’t go away easily. They took advantage of a fumble at the 20 and capitalized on the turnover. Quarterback Chris Prussen threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Nolan Fontana on a third down and goal. Jackson Weber added the extra-point kick to tie the score at 7.
"We made some mistakes and put the ball on the ground," said halfback Dylan Harris, who carried 12 times for 133 yards and scored two touchdowns. "We have to clean that up to make a run in the playoffs. No turnovers."
Floyd regained the lead on its first offensive play after the Ward Melville score. Dylan Harris came over left tackle and went 32 yards for the touchdown and a 13-7 advantage with 3:01 left in the first quarter.
The Colonials extended the lead on a fourth down and five pass from quarterback LaDuke Harris to Jordan O’Brien for a 14-yard touchdown and a 19-7 halftime lead.
Floyd opened the second half with an eight-play, 63-yard drive capped by a Dylan Harris 17-yard scoring run. LaDuke Harris added the two-point conversion run for the 27-7 lead with 8:06 left in the third.
Lesiewicz would add a 25-yard field before Prussen led a long drive capped by a second TD pass to Fontana, this one from nine yards to make it 30-15 late in the fourth quarter. Prussen, who completed 17 of 31 passes for 196 yards and rushed for another 63 yards, added the two-point conversion run with 6:23 left in the game.
"Coach Longo teaches us about football and about life," Thomas said. "It feels great to be a part of this accomplishment. He’s built a tradition of winning here in our town. He’s the best coach on Long Island."
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
