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Happy Colonials win 2011 LIC; beat East Meadow Jets 54-47

Stacey Bedell sets LIC rushing record and scores four touchdowns

Floyd earns four-game playoff sweep; Otranto throws three TD passes

BY JIM FURLONG

Once again, the William Floyd Colonials are the kings of Long Island high school football.

With record-setting Stacey Bedell scoring four touchdowns Nov. 27, the Colonials battled to earn a 54-47 victory over the East Meadow Jets in the 2011 Class 1 LIC.

"We waited for this for three years," said Devante Smith, one of more than 20 Floyd seniors. "This is the best feeling I've had in my life."

The Colonials will savor a fond memory, which replaces their back-to-back disappointments in the 2009 and 2010 LICs.

"We had lost (the LIC) two years in a row. This was a redemption game," said Pat Walsh. "We had to have it."

All the coaches and players shared a lingering celebration after Smith's interception ended East Meadow's last chance.

"This feeling (is) like I just learned to fly and got my wings," said Dylan Brown.

Denis Feise took a moment to describe his reaction.

"This is almost like a good Christmas present -- winning the LIC in my senior year," said Feise.

The players, with mile-wide grins, quickly grouped together to pose for photographers, holding the LIC trophy high and flashing the No. 1 sign with their hands.

"I am proud, happy." said Rajiv Herin.

"We feel amazing, ecstatic," said Vincent Giordano.

"This is like a dream," said Keith Scanlon, who caught a second-quarter TD pass when the Colonials went ahead 35-14.

Despite East Meadow surging with four touchdowns in the third quarter, Floyd completed a four-game sweep in the playoffs. Coach Paul Longo's program became the first Suffolk school to win four Class 1 LICs.

An estimated 6,000 spectators at the Stony Brook Uinversity's LaValle Stadium watched a suspenseful second half after East Meadow, the Nassau County Conference 1 champion, tied the score 47-47.

Floyd's decisive TD came with 3:16 remaining when Corey Banks caught a 18-yard scoring pass from quarterback A.J. Otranto, who threw for three TDs.

Earlier, Bedell dazzled with touchdown runs of 80, 51 and 59 yards in the first half and a 80-yard scoring sprint in the third quarter. With the MSG Varsity camera watching his every move, he finished with an LIC-individual record 412 rushing yards on 29 carries. Bedell shattered the old rushing record of 303 yards set in 1999.

In the high-scoring duel, East Meadow actually outgained the Colonials in total offense (536 yards to 496) and dominated time of possession (30:44 to 17:16).

"I was nervous the whole game," said Longo. "This game we needed every point we could get. against (the Jets). . . That was the wildest LIC, the most exciting ,I have coached or I have seen. It is also memorable because I had a player (Bedell) play like Superman. This caps off a tremendous legacy (for Bedell) of big games in big situations."

Longo's teams own a 4-4 record in LIC showdowns.

"It keeps our dynasty, our tradition going," said Longo, whose teams have won eight Suffolk County Division I titles since 2001.

Bedell, who also excelled at free safety, proved why he should be the front runner to win the 2011 Hansen Awards as Suffolk's premier player.

"I am not tired. I am excited," said Bedell in a post-game interview. "It was so important to me to win this game. It was the last game of my (prep) career. It is

 

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