Good evening everyone and welcome to the 13th annual Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium. I will be providing updates throughout this summer football classic, which features the top senior players from Long Island going head-to-head with the top players from New York City. Long Island leads the series 6-4 and will look to rebound from last year’s 35-27. (In the first two years of the Empire Challenge, Nassau and Suffolk played one another.)
First Quarter:
11:49: LI started at the 20 yard line with Joe Sidaras at QB.
9:53: Trevor Perryman caught a 19-TD pass from Sidaras as LI took a 7-0 lead. LI went 80 yards on nine plays in 5:07. LI 7, NYC 0.
9:05: NYC started at the 35 with Jeffrey Legree at QB. On 4th and 6 at the LI 30 yard line, LI jumped offsides penalty before Legree picked up three yards on a QB keeper for the first down.
4:46: NYC is at LI's seven yard line.
3:23: On 4th and 8th, Legree three an eight yard TD pass to Shaahiyn Alston. NYC went 64 yards on 12 plays in 6:30. LI 7, NYC 7.
3:14: Brock Jackolski returned the kickoff 19 yards as LI started at the 29. Steven Probst replaced Sidaras at QB.
End of First: LI will be facing a 3rd and 8 at its own 49 yard line.
Second Quarter: LI 7, NYC 7.
14:24: LI, which didn’t pick up the first down, punted away.
10:27: On 3rd and 2 at its own 38, QB Dominick LeGrande failed to complete a key pass. NYC went for it and LeGrande threw it in the dirt as LI took over with great field position.
7:57: Conrad Stewart caught a two yard pass from Sidaras as LI took a 14-7 lead. LI went 37 yards on four plays in 2:27. LI 14, NYC 7.
7:50: NYC started at the 33.
6:40: On 3rd and 9, Legree ran for seven yards as NYC faced a 4th and 2 at its 41.
5:40: Legree ran for the first and picked it up.
3:50: Legree ran for another first down -- he picked up four -- on a 2nd and 1. NYC is at the 48.
2:45: With LeGrande at QB, he ran for nine. NYC is at the LI 33.
0:50: Legree hit Khalif Staten with a 10-yard pass before running it in for a one yard TD. NYC used 14 plays to march 67 yards in 7:07. LI 14, NYC 14.
0:45: Coming off a penalty, LI started at NYC’s 40-yard line.
0:28: Probst was sacked on first down -- losing five yards -- as LI called a timeout while facing 3rd and 15 at the 45.
0:19: Jackolski rushed for 12 yards. LI is at the 33 on 4th and 3.
0:12: Probst ran for nine for the first down. LI is at the 24.
0:06: Jonathan Korn nailed a 40-yard field goal. LI 17, NYC 14.
Halftime: LI 17, NYC 14.
Stats
Passing: Sidaras was 3-of-4 for 48 yards and two TDs. Probst was 2-of-5 for 10 yards.
Rushing: Jackolski rushed for 32 yards on five carries. Sidaras gained 15 yards on three carries.
Receiving: Trevor Perryman caught two passes for 46 yards and a TD. Stewart had one reception for a 2-yard TD. Kensil caught one pass for 31 yards.
Defense: Reggie Robinson led LI with seven tackles while J.B. Andreassi, Billy O'Connor and Alex Fernan each had three.
During the halftime showcase: St. Anthony’s Rachel Nuzzolese kicked a 40-yard field goal -- with about eight yards to spare -- to send the crowd into a frenzy!
Third Quarter: LI 17, NYC 14
12:50: NYC started at the 33. Alston rushed for a no-gain on 3rd and 3 at the 44 before LeGrande picked up the first on a 6-yard run. NYC is at the LI 48.
11:09: Alston rushed for four yards. NYC has a 1st and 10 at the 35.
9:50: On 4th and 6 at the 30, LeGrande had nothing, tried to pick up the first with his feet but was stopped. LI takes over at its 22. Sidaras is at QB.
7:32: Alex Rivas rushed for eight yards for a first as LI moved to NYC’s 41 yard line.
6:30: Perryman caught a 22-yard strike as LI is at the 20-yard line.
4:32: Korn connected on a 33-yard field goal. LI went 56 yards on eight plays in 4:31. LI 20, NYC 14.
3:03: NYC started at the 33 and went three-and-out. However, after an illegal procedure on the kickoff, NYC retained possession.
By the way, the official attendance is an all-time high: 11,005 fans.
0:08: Legree rushed for one to pick up the first. NYC is at the 38.
Fourth Quarter
11:50: Malcolm Brown sacked the QB sack on a 4th and 4 at the six yard line as LI takes over deep in its territory.
9:50: Probst was sacked on 3rd and 10 at the 15 as LI punted.
9:01: NYC took over at its 45, went three and out and was forced to punt.
6:45: Sidaras ran for eight yards on 3rd and 10 at the 23 to set up a fourth down.
6:06: Jackolski picked up the first, rushing for five years, on 4th and 2.
3:40: Sidaras rushed for no game on 3rd and 4 at the 41 as LI was forced to punt.
2:55: NYC, which nearly fumbled on the punt, took over at its 22. Legree at QB.
1:40: Alson took the handoff and rushed for no gain on 3rd and 15 at the 28.
1:00: Facing 4th and long, Legree stunned LI by hitting Alston for a 57-yard pass to set up a 1st and 10 at the 24. Alston caught the pass jsut shy of the first, faked a defender, and ran for about 30 yards before he was dragged down from behind. Oh, and he lost his shoe while running. NYC is in great position to take the lead and win this game.
0:35: Legree passed to Stephen Benjamin to set up a first and goal at the four.
0:28: Legree threw a four-yard TD fade pass to Benjamin to tie the game at 20.
0:23: Michael Horowitz connected on the point after to give NYC the lead. NYC 21, LI 20.
0:18: Probst scrambled for 10 yards on 1st and 10 at the 30.
0:06: On the final play, LI tried to lateral its way to a TD, but was stopped about 60 yards from the end zone.
Final: NYC 21, LI 20.
Sadaris was 7 of 11 for 80 yards and 2 TDs. He was named the Cannon Player of the Game.
Legree was 10 of 20 for 149 yards and 2 TDs. He was awarded the MVP.