Sports

New Hyde Park Football Loses to Wantagh in Playoffs

Warriors defeat Gladiators 40-7 in Conference II quarterfinal playoff round.

Second-seeded Wantagh (8-1) beat the seventh-seeded New Hyde Park football team on Saturday during the quaterfinals round of the playoffs away.

The all-time football series between Wantagh and New Hyde Park was as close as can be entering Saturday’s key Nassau County Conference II quarterfinal game with the Warriors holding a 6-5 edge in the matchup that was first played in 1963.

Two of Wantagh’s now seven total wins against New Hyde Park have come in the last month. The Warriors spoiled the Gladiator’s Homecoming celebration on Oct. 15 with a 35-8 .

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Senior Brian Von Bargen helped carry Wantagh to the team's win. The senior tight end/running back hauled in three touchdown receptions and also reached the end zone via the ground. VonBargen, who has committed to play lacrosse at Hofstra, finished with 184 yards receiving, 36 yards rushing and recorded six tackles on defense.

“He does it all,” said Wantagh Head Coach Tom Casey of the play of VonBargen.

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Delivering those key receptions to VonBargen was senior quarterback Nick Mullen who finished 7-8 for 202 yards and four touchdown tosses. Other offensive stars for the Warriors were running backs Gerard Roche and Shaun Charowich, who recorded touchdowns on a 70-yard reception and 49-yard run, respectively.

New Hyde’s Parks lone points came courtesy of a Jimmy Savva 88-yard kickoff return to open the second half that cut Wantagh’s lead to 27-7.

Despite this end to the 2011 season, New Hyde Park Head Coach Kevin Dolan said he was proud of what his team left on the field.

“The body of their work this season coming to and the things that we demand have been outstanding,” Dolan said. “They conducted themselves like gentlemen and they did very, very well.”


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