Town of Hempstead supervisor Kate Murray certainly chose an appropriate way to celebrate a pair of Long Island championship football teams -- pancake breakfast anyone?

Murray's Breakfast of Champions will take place at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Old Town Hall court room in Hempstead, followed by honorifics at the day's Town Board meeting. So come hungry, come all, Roosevelt and Lawrence. You won championships. Now you get to savor the just deserts, er, breakfast.

By the way, Newsday's All-Long Island football team will appear in the paper, Sunday, Dec. 17. Keeping with the breakfast theme -- that'll be something you can read with your Cheerios.

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Congrats to Newsday Football Poll champions Floyd and Sayville. You each won Long Island championships and deserve to reap the rewards. But my votes for No. 1 went to the runner-ups. And I'll tell you why.

In the case of the Small Schools Poll, Roosevelt received my vote. The Rough Riders overcame much to win the Class IV crown -- beginning in June when a failed budget forced administrators to cut athletics. Enough said.

Now on to the bigger issue. With all due respect to Floyd, no public school on the Island can hang with St. Anthony's. Year in and out, the Friars churn out the most college players and take home the championship hardware in the toughest league around -- the CHSFL.

This year was no different. St. Anthony's battled every week in a deep and balanced CHSFL and finished undefeated. The Friars even cracked the USA Today top 25 last week. That's top 25 in the nation, not the state.

Unfortunately for St. Anthony's, there's a Catholic league bias among the Newsday poll voters. A case in point: Chaminade appears on just two ballots -- mine included. Is there really any question whether the Flyers would hammer Garden City or East Islip, which finished ahead of them in the poll?

St. Anthony's ultimately garnered one of seven first-place votes in Newsday's poll. Sorry guys. The rest of the nation recognizes how good you are. Too bad the good people of Long Island don't see it.

Photo: St. Anthony's back Louis Loria runs past a Mount St. Michael defender in the CHSFL Class AAA title game.

Posted by Jason Molinet at 03:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (69) | TrackBacks (0)

Thank you, P.J. Preziosa, Bryan DiSabato, Lou Andre and the rest of the Lawrence football team. You just gave every underdog from here on out a blueprint for success and turned what was looking like a very lopsided Long Island championship weekend into something memorable.

Thank you, Mike Pepe, Edwin Gowins, Joe Cipp Jr. and the rest of the Bellport football team. You played like the defending Long Island Class II champs to the end. Most teams would have folded down 28-13 in the third quarter. Bellport didn’t, and even after scoring the apparent equalizer on a Gowins 1-yard run with 11:46 left, weren’t content to be tied.

No, Bellport went for two and the lead. But it wasn’t meant to be. You can’t point to any one play in a game with so many momentum shifts and big blows as the difference. Bellport didn’t lose this one.

Lawrence simply believed in itself. The Golden Tornado tuned out the hype, sized up its opponent and took its best shot. It was a Buster Douglas-type effort – stunning to the end. The most amazing stat was that a Nassau team won the Class II title for just the third time in the last 10 tries.

The night-cap was no less remarkable. Mike Mayo put Roosevelt on his back and carried the Rough Riders past Mount Sinai for the Class IV crown. He scored all three touchdowns as Roosevelt rallied from a 14-0 deficit to stun the Suffolk crowd at Stony Brook’s LaValle Stadium for the second straight game.

Those outcomes may seem incredible. But when you look at the big picture, it’s exactly as it should be. Suffolk and Nassau split their annual gridiron grudge match at two wins apiece. Balance restored.

Photos, top: Lawrence's Donovan Hutchinson celebrates; top right: Lawrence's Bryan DiSabato hold the Class II trophy; right: Roosevelt's Mike Mayo runs away from Mount Sinai.

Posted by Jason Molinet at 05:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (16) | TrackBacks (0)

I ran into the bulk of the Roosevelt football team accross the street from Hofstra's Shuart Stadium on Friday between Long Island championship games. They were quietly chowing down at McDonald's. If the Rough Riders didn't have a lot on their plate then -- come on, these are football players, right? -- they sure did after watching Bethpage get beat up in the Class III final. (THAT'S SAYVILLE PICTURED.)

That's right, Roosevelt. You are Nassau's only hope in avoiding a Suffolk sweep. Sorry, Lawrence. I simply can't see you beating Bellport. If you hung with the Clippers for three quarters I'd be impressed -- and that's no knock. Bellport is the defending Class II champ and one of the best teams in the state. Period.

Heck, East Meadow has been the class of Nassau all season. Yet the Jets were overwhelmed in the end. Defending Class I champ Floyd was too dynamic and that defense didn't mind knocking heads.

It was an amazing first day of LIC action. It was a great day for the fan -- particularly if you lived east of Route 110.

Suffolk won three of four LIC games a year ago and a repeat of that seems likely. Great for Suffolk, right? I say no. All the talk about Long Island staying out of the state playoffs is based on a competitive LIC. A Suffolk sweep this year and more domination the next will throw the fragile balance of it all off.

How can coaches and administrators claim that the Long Island championships are the greatest thing going if one county can't keep up with the other?

Now back to you, Roosevelt. Now you know what's at stake guys. An entire county is watching you. You are playing for Nassau pride. The truth is everyone -- outside of Mount Sinai -- should be in your corner for the nightcap on Saturday at Stony Brook.

If you are a believer in the current football system, then you realize the need for competitive balance. That's why a Roosevelt win is important. That's why everyone should root for the Rough Riders on Saturday.

Posted by Jason Molinet at 05:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (19) | TrackBacks (0)

When Quincy Hankins hit Mychael Hardamon on a 50-yard catch and run for a touchdown on Saturday, the transformation was complete. The Roosevelt seniors swapped positions at the end of the regular season.

Roosevelt’s 26-6 win over Valley Stream South in the Nassau Conference IV semifinal at Hofstra saw the duo finally get comfortable with the new arrangement. Hankins, making his second start at quarterback, completed 3 of 5 passes for 69 yards and a score.

He threw to Hardamon twice. Their touchdown hook-up just before halftime gave Roosevelt a 13-6 edge.

Hardamon was Roosevelt’s quarterback in 2005 and led the Rough Riders to a 6-1 start this year. Hardamon and Hankins accounted for the only score in the season opener against defending Long Island Class IV champ Cold Spring Harbor, a 24-yard strike in a 7-0 win.

But as the season wore on, coach Joe Vito noticed that Hardamon (two rushing and passing touchdowns) seemed to take on much of the pressure, affecting his performance. So with the playoffs looming, Vito moved the 6-1, 180-pound Hardamon to wideout and the 6-6, 215-pound Hankins under center.

It’s an unusual move so late in the season for a championship contender, but it seems to be working. You can’t argue with the results.

Posted by Jason Molinet at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here’s more fun with numbers, courtesy of stat man Andy Slawson. The Nassau football semifinals kick off Thursday with Conference I games at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.

Ever wonder about the man calling the shots on the sidelines? Here are the career won-loss records of the coaches still fighting for championships. If there’s a common thread, most of these guys are very, very accomplished. It’s little wonder they are still coaching into November.

Check out these semifinal matchups:

Conference I
Vinny Mascia, ninth year at East Meadow, 44-31-1 vs. Pat Nolan, fifth year at Massapequa, 28-16.

Russ Cellan, 21st year at Freeport and 24th overall, 139-73-3 vs. Buddy Krumenacker, 14th year at Farmingdale and 25th overall, 165-59-11.

Conference II
Lou Andre, seventh year at Lawrence and 18th overall, 114-50-2 vs. Jay Hegi, fifth year at Elmont, 24-17-1.

Tom Flatley, 22nd year at Garden City, 186-30-7 vs. Bob Fehrenbach, eighth year at MacArthur, 44-25-2.

Conference III
Howie Vogts, 53rd year at Bethpage, 340-113-10* vs. John Boyle, 20th year at Clarke, 104-66-2.

Steve LoCicero, second year at Lynbrook, 10-6+ vs. Rob Shaver, 11th year at Plainedge, 50-43-1.

Conference IV
Joe Vito, 13th year at Roosevelt, 89-33-2 vs. Lance Griffin, 24th year at Valley Stream South, 92-101-6.

Dan Agovino, fifth year at North Shore, 21-22 vs. Rob Perpall, seventh year at Seaford, 38-22.

*State record.
+Co-coach last season.

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It’s mid-season football awards time. Today a look at Nassau Conference IV:

Coach of the Year: Valley Stream South coach Lance Griffin lost a three-time All-Nassau QB in Bryant Amitrano and his leading rusher in Dave Matthew. Both were key ingredients to last season’s 7-2 semifinalist. Yet Valley Stream South is 4-0 with impressive wins over North Shore and Malverne. The defense is playing well and Griffin found another gifted runner in Jeff Lopez.

MVP: Roosevelt RB / LB Mike Mayo is tearing through the conference for the second straight season. The back has rushed for 725 yards on 81 carries and 10 scores, including a pair of defensive touchdowns.

Unsung Hero: Few players have done more than Cold Spring Harbor senior Adam Ghitelman. He’s carried the load for a team that graduated the stars from last season’s Long Island Class IV championship run. Ghitelman is the team’s leading rusher and has scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and on special teams. He’s also a weapon at kicker.

Biggest Surprise: Locust Valley, a preseason No. 11 seed, roared out of the gate to a 3-1 start. That’s all the more impressive because the Falcons had to break in a new coaching staff. Give coach Joe Knoll credit for getting everyone on board and in sync.

Biggest Disappointment: Mineola’s offense has been close to unstoppable, averaging four touchdowns a game. But the Mustangs are 1-3 because the defense has made opposing offenses look even better. Mineola has given up 124 points -- ranking it 47th among Nassau’s 55 teams -- including a heartbreaking 50-49 loss to East Rockaway. The big play has been a killer: Mineola has given up five rushing touchdowns of 50 yards or more.

First Half Game of the Year: There were more exciting finishes, but no matchup was more meaningful than opening night at Cold Spring Harbor. Roosevelt won the game 7-0 in the rain. But the sense of fraternity and the good will flowing through the place was unmatched. That’s because Cold Spring Harbor boosters helped save Roosevelt’s season with some hefty out-of-pocket donations. That Roosevelt took the field at all -- athletics were eliminated when the school budget failed in June -- was a testament to Cold Spring Harbor’s helpful hand.

Second Half Game of the Year: Valley Stream South at Roosevelt, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. These teams also met Week 7 a year ago when VSS stunned the then-defending champs. The Rough Riders atoned in the playoffs with a 28-0 win in the semis. But this one promises to be good. Roosevelt and VSS are the last unbeaten teams in Conference IV and should remain that way heading into the season finale.

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What Cold Spring Harbor boosters have done – reaching out to help rival Roosevelt raise enough money to keep athletics alive – is the type of feel-good story that causes everyone to take notice. But why is this the exception and not the rule?

Roosevelt, the poorest school district in relatively-wealthy Nassau, is still dramatically short of the money needed to save sports for the entire year. When the budget was voted down in June, all sports were eliminated.

Fundraising made it possible to ensure the fall season. Roosevelt needed $40,000, approximately $22,000 of which was donated by Cold Spring Harbor boosters. But Rhonda Cherry, who is at the forefront of the effort to start a booster club in Roosevelt, said another $54,000 is needed by Dec. 31 to pay off the fall and ensure winter sports at the school. Roughly $200,000 pays for the entire school year.

Which brings me back to my point. Is Cold Spring Harbor the only altruistic community out there? Sure, CSH boosters had an interest in restoring Roosevelt athletics. As CSH booster club president John Ottaviano said, “You can’t have a Conference IV without Roosevelt.’’

But there are plenty of other tony zip codes in Conference IV. Where’s the love for Roosevelt? When asked if other communities have offered help, Cherry replied: “Not a one. I’m disappointed but I’m not surprised. We’ve got to help ourselves.’’

Cherry, a member of the Parent Action Committee and former PTA president, is trying to organize the community. Part of the help Cold Spring Harbor offered was expertise in starting a booster club, along with how to run functions such as a concession stand. They are lessons Cherry and others hope to act on as soon as possible.

But in a community where there is resentment toward the school and a wide-held belief that money has been misused – there’s reportedly a $4.36 million deficit – raising the cash to save sports is the ultimate challenge, according to Cherry.

“People are scared to give money,’’ Cherry said. “They don’t think it’ll be used the right way. This money is going to sports and nothing else.’’

That’s why outside help is necessary. Cold Spring Harbor did the right thing. They helped a neighbor in need. Are they the exception and not the rule?

Posted by Jason Molinet at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

If you've read Newsday the last few days, you know the Roosevelt school district is in a financial hole. Which brings me back to the plight of its athletic program. The district needed $40,000 to ensure the fall season could begin. It's since been raised. But more money is needed.

And rival Cold Spring Harbor, which already chipped in up to $22,000 in donations, is still at the forefront in the effort to raise cash for Roosevelt athletics. The two teams face off in the Nassau Conference IV football season opener this Friday night. You can expect the game to be heated -- these teams have met in the last two conference championship games.

But if you show up at Cold Spring Harbor for the 7 p.m. start -- and please do, the Seahawks' stadium is amazingly nice -- bring extra cash. Cold Spring Harbor will be donating its concessions proceeds to Roosevelt athletics. And who knows, maybe they'll pass the hat in the stands, too. The point is, if you are a fan of high school sports, prove it with your wallet on Friday night.

Posted by Jason Molinet at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)