By Darren Sands
It was a game that was over long before the game-clock said so. Apparently, Stony Brook’s public address announcer Tony Scott couldn’t help himself.
This was announced by Scott in the third quarter: “In major league baseball, final score: New York Yankees 6, Minnesota Twins, 5.”
The crowd erupted, while the football team Stony Brook fans came to see was losing – badly. It was evident that there is perhaps more than just 45 miles separated between the two I-AA programs. The final was 61-21.
“I really never felt completely relaxed,” coach Joe Gardi said. “I always thought they could come back with their crowd into it. But you could see from the kickoff that we were bigger, stronger and faster.”
Gardi talked all week about the Pride’s non-scholarship days where his teams were getting coaches fired because they got beat by the Flying Dutchmen.
He believed that anything could happen, and to his credit, Stony Brook quarterback T.J. Moriarty did make things interesting. The senior completed the first pass of the game to Seawolves’ receiver J.J. Cox, whose fumble was recovered by Daniel Garay.
On the next play, quarterback Anton Clarkson connected with receiver Isaac Irby for an 18-yard touchdown. The nine-second play was the beginning of a big night for Irby, who caught six balls for 118 yards and two touchdowns. The 47-yard touchdown to Irby could have very well turned out the lights at LaValle Stadium, but the touchdown made it 39-14 in the second quarter. Stony Brook managed to score three times on a 33-yard rush from senior running back Clinton Graham, a 2-yard keeper by Moriarty, and a 13-yard pass to Stony Brook sophomore receiver J.J. Cox.
The Pride’s second offensive drive of the game was Terry Crenshaw’s time to shine. Clarkson completed a pass to receiver Charles Sullivan who finished with seven catches for 66 yards. The 8-play, 77-yard drive was capped off by a 14-yard rushing touchdown by Crenshaw.
Crenshaw carried the ball a total of 19 times for 135 yards, and scored five touchdowns. He had the best game of his football life.
“I never had five touchdowns in a game,” Crenshaw said. “I never had so many rushing yards, so it feels good.”
Clarkson hit 20 of 22 passes for three touchdowns and looked remarkably comfortable. His one interception came in the second quarter by Stony Brook’s Frank Rivera. On the ensuing drive, the Seawolves converted a 33-yard rushing touchdown from Clinton Graham. Clarkson brushed it off, and kept the offense moving.
The defense was, in a word, relentless. Stony Brook looked over-matched on almost every drive. Defensive end Steven Bowen had four tackles for a loss, including a sack on T.J. Moriarty for a loss of seven. Daniel Garay batted balls, recovered a fumble, and registered 1.5 sacks, a number that if you were there, you know is less than generous. Gian Villante had two sacks and 11 tackles, four of which were for a loss.
Things got feisty throughout the game. From the personal fouls, roughing the passer, to facemask penalties: this game had it all. Remember that high school rivalry game with your schools archenemy?
The most entertaining play of the entire game almost didn’t happen. It came on the first play of the fourth quarter when Stony Brook’s Moriarty tossed an interception to linebacker Chris Sebald, who started in place of the injured starter Bill Hambrecht. Sebald showed his speed and straight up fooled T.J. Moriarty with a stutter-step and continued 30 yards up the field for a touchdown. Sebald had played the majority of the season with a large mitten-like cast. That was the end for the Seawolves.
“He almost didn’t make that interception with that cast,” Gardi said. “It’s a good thing he got it off.”
Junior running back Terry Crenshaw elevated his play last week against Stony Brook University. (STAFF PHOTO)