Dalers back on track
Big plays by defense, including Ross’ INT and return for a touchdown, give Farmingdale a 34-20 comeback win

(9/23/04 - by Jason Molinet - Newsday Staff Writer

Charles Ross knows just how lonely playing cornerback can be. Defensive backs stand on an island of uncertainty -- the last line of defense that can be tested at any time.

Ross, the 5-11, 180-pound Farmingdale senior, gave up a touchdown pass Thursday against rival Massapequa. It was yanked away from his grasp by Chris Martin in the end zone and made his heart sink.

"He leapt right over me," Ross said. "Playing defensive back is the toughest position on the field. You can get beat deep on any play."

Ross never lost his focus and made sure he didn't get burned again. With No. 6 Massapequa driving late in the fourth quarter, Ross intercepted the ball and raced 72 yards into the end zone with 24 seconds remaining to seal Farmingdale's 34-20 Nassau Conference I win.

The 14-point swing capped a 21-point fourth quarter for No. 2 Farmingdale. And it gave the host Dalers a thrilling comeback win before a crowd of about 600 at Don Snyder Stadium.

"I think he felt he had to redeem himself," Farmingdale coach Buddy Krumenacker said. "He could have folded it up. He didn't and played a great game."

First Ross broke the rhythm of Chiefs quarterback Michael Powers with a drive-ending interception with 6:25 left in the game. Powers, who threw for 92 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 11 of 15 passes, had completed eight in a row until the pick.

The Dalers (1-1), trailing 20-19 at that point, drove 65 yards on seven plays to take the lead on a 19-yard scoring strike from Ryan Bagnasco to Kenny Reid. The ensuing two-point run by Nakyle Bethay gave Farmingdale a 27-20 edge with 3:10 left.

That put the pressure squarely on Massapequa (1-1), looking to beat the Dalers for the first time since 1997 and take command of Conference I. Powers made something from nothing time and again, scrambling for positive yardage. The Chiefs got to the Farmingdale 40 before a penalty backed them up. Ross ended the drive and sealed the game four plays later.

"That was the play of the game," Farmingdale running back/linebacker Anthony Barksdale said.

Barksdale had a few jaw-dropping moments of his own. The Division-I recruit ran for 58 yards on 12 carries and scored twice, including a 15-yard burst where he slipped two tacklers in the backfield. He added two sacks and a blocked extra point on defense.

"Big-time people step in big-time spots," Massapequa coach Pat Nolan said. "We didn't do that."

Farmingdale put behind a second quarter where it had negative yardage on three possessions to finish the game with 228 rushing yards and erase a miserable Week 1 loss to East Meadow.

This is Farmingdale, a program that has played in each of the last five Conference I title games. In one remarkable quarter Thursday the Dalers served notice.

"We were tied for last place," Krumenacker said. "Now we're back to the middle of the back."

And back on track for another playoff run.