Sports

Preview: Shoreham-Wading River set to face Roosevelt in LIC

Shoreham-Wading River quarterback Danny Hughes (12) was all smiles after a Wildcats' touchdown against Glenn last week. (Credit: Robert O'Rourk)
Shoreham-Wading River quarterback Danny Hughes (12) was all smiles after the Wildcats’ win over Glenn last week. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)

After more than 3 1/2 months of football, a season that started in mid-August, it’s come down to this for the Shoreham-Wading River football team.

One game. 

After a historic win over John Glenn in the Suffolk County finals last week, the Wildcats will come together one last time this season when they take the field at Stony Brook University Sunday afternoon to face Nassau champ Roosevelt.

The Wildcats will be playing in their first ever Long Island Championship game. And by the time they take the field, they may be Suffolk’s last hope of winning a crown this season.

The first two LIC games played Friday were both won by Nassau teams. Syosset defeated Lindenhurt in Class I and Lawrence won a wild thriller over Sayville in Class III. Sayville’s loss leaves Shoreham (11-0) as the only unbeaten team left in Suffolk.

The first game of Sunday’s doubleheader features East Islip against Carey, the defending Class II champion. That game kicks off at noon. Shoreham will follow at 4:30 p.m. against Roosevelt. [Check back for live updates].

Against the Rough Riders (10-1), the Wildcats will be facing an unfamiliar opponent.

“It’s a team you’re not as familiar with,” said Shoreham coach Matt Millheiser after his team defeated Glenn. “We’re going to have to do our homework and be prepared for anything. Offensively, I think we keep doing what we’re doing.”

The Rough Riders feature a talented halfback in Shamari Kirkpatrick, who is the focal point of the offense. Shoreham’s defense has been stout all season, allowing just 46 total points in 11 games. Only Glenn managed to score double digit points against Shoreham this season.

Roosevelt comes into the game off a 41-14 win over Mineola in the Nassau championship game. Kirkpatrick rushed for 183 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the game. Quarterback Stephen Vailes threw a pair of touchdowns as well, which were his only passes of the game.

This is the fourth straight year Roosevelt has reached the Long Island Championship. But the Rough Riders have lost each of the past three seasons, twice to Babylon and once to Glenn.

The last title for the Rough Riders came in 2006 when they defeated Mount Sinai. The Rough Riders are 2-4 in the Long Island Championship since 2003.

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