Bulldogs' Early Miscues Are Costly v Sachem North

What might've been a high-scoring, knock-down, drag-out between two heavyweight football teams – the Bulldogs of and 's - turned into a lopsided trick on night, a few days ahead of .

Three interceptions, a blocked punt and porous defense early put Lindenhurst (5-3) into a 34-0 hole before it could get its game on, en route to 53-28 defeat - a let-down of sorts after last week's big .

The loss dropped Lindenhurst into a two-way tie for with as the .

Sachem’s demonstrated all night why he’s considered one of the most-watched athletes in the county, tearing up the turf at the for five touchdowns.

Crossan also seemed to be able to strike for a TD from anywhere on the field with slashing turns and a quickness for which the Bulldogs could find no answer.

And finding themselves five TDs down before they could get their own offense kicked in, Lindenhurst QB and his teammates’ potent aerial attack – which put 28 points on the board against 19 for Sachem North in the second half – was insufficient to make up the difference.

In the end, (13 for 27, 153 yards) was able to find his receivers, tossing two TD passes to Kenny Skon and mixing up short passes and bombs.

The first score came on a seven-play drive that was aided by three penalties for the Flaming Arrows, punctuated by a 28-yard reception for Skon and a six-yard TD catch to make it 34-7 with :25.2 on the halftime clock.

The Bulldogs came out of the locker room on fire in the second half. A 36-yard return for Alec Wrieth on the opening kick-off got the Lindy juices flowing.

And Witkowski looked superhuman after that, passing to Skon for a 40-yarder and then to Vin Villela for 24, putting the ball on the one-yard line and setting up a Joe Lukralle TD run at 10:19.

It was 34-14 and any thought that the game was going to be all Sachem was put to rest.

The Flaming Arrows put another pair of TDs on the board before Lindenhurst was able to score again, but when they did, it was dramatic.

Alex Wrieth took a reverse and hightailed for 60 yards before he could be brought down on the Sachem North five. Three plays later a TD toss to Skon from Witkowski made it 46-21 with 1:55 remaining in the third.

With liberal swapping of subs in the fourth quarter, the game drew to its stinging end, but not before Keith Meisner got a chance to steer the Lindenhurst offense for seven-play TD drive, passing to Wrieth for 18 yards and running for 28 of his own on three carries. That included a sweep into the end zone with 24.8 seconds left for the final score.

“They’re an excellent football team, and that #34 (Crossan) is outstanding,” said Head Coach Nick Lombardo after the game.

“You just can’t let up in any aspect of your game if you want to keep up with a team of their caliber. Unfortunately we did today – in every aspect,” he said.