Pirates Plunder Perfect New Hyde Park Homecoming 20-14

The weather was perfect. The stands were full. That’s what you want on homecoming day.

It’s a pity then that Mepham had to play the part of a giant, gritty, grey cloud for New Hyde Park’s Saturday afternoon at home.

Don’t put it all on the visitor’s though. New Hyde Park dug themselves in a 20-0 hole early in the first half as Mepham got early touchdowns in the first from running back Chris Gabriel and quarterback Tyler Davis who was 8-for-17 with 127 yards.

The Gladiators got on the board late in the second quarter off of two touchdowns by do-everything player Christian Trasolini. The defense was also able to stop Mepham’s running and passing attack, shutting them out in the second half and trying to shift the momentum in New Hyde Park’s favor. 

In what would come down to an almost perfect script for a homecoming game, the Gladiators had the ball with 2:02 left in the fourth quarter on their own 20 yard line. All they needed to do was drive the ball the length of the field and score a touchdown to tie or win the game.

It would be perfect – a perfect disaster.

On the first play from scrimmage quarterback Nick Perrone overthrew receiver Josh Lee as he was running his route down the left sideline. On second and 10 things would screech to a crashing halt as Perrone looked to pass towards the right sideline and had the ball intercepted by safety Ralik Goodman at the 1:50 mark, ending the game giving the Pirates the 20-14 victory.

“We came alive late in the second quarter and shut out their offense,” New Hyde Park coach Kevin Dolan said. “Unfortunately we were not able to put as many points on the board as they did.”

The Gladiators will travel to Westbury on Friday night for their last game of the regular season at 5:30 p.m.