Joe Pietaro is the Managing Editor for New York Sportscene magazine and the Director of Media Relations for the Strong Island Sound of the ABA. In addition, Joe is a freelance sports writer and contributes a steady sports column to numerous web sites. CB Keith Assante had a field day on Saturday, August 26th. The first year member of the New York Predators had a 104-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter. To go along with that, he also had two fumble recoveries and four tackles to propel a 52-24 victory over the Empire State Wolfpack in front of 200 hometown fans at Monsignor Farrell High School. With the win, the Predators improved their record to 3-4, maintaining second place in the Metro South Division of the NAFL.
The theme of the game was set when New York Predators's cornerback Keith Assante recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff. He recovered his second fumble of the game when the Wolfpack turned the ball over again on a fumbled punt, which Assante recovered at the Empire State one-yard line.
Fullback Nick Vitagliano (5 runs for 41 yards, 1 touchdown) then punched it in for the score, which was followed up by a two-point conversion pass from quarterback Lou Scala (5 for 15, 111 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 4 two-point conversion passes, 2 runs for 26 yards) to wide receiver Harrison Tindall to give New York an 8-0 lead.
Another turnover set up the Predators for their next score, when Sharif Wiltshire (10 tackles, 1 forced fumble) stripped the ball, which was recovered by Jayson Ducrepin. Bruce Dudley then corralled in a 40-yard pass from Scala to give the Predators a 14-0 lead (2-point conversion failed).
The second quarter stayed in the home squad's favor when Assante picked off a pass in the end zone and took it to the house for a 104-yard touchdown return. The two-point conversion was made when Scala found Tindall open once again, giving the Predators a 22-0.
The Wolfpack finally got on the board with a 12-yard touchdown pass and a 2-point conversion. The 'Pack tacked on another score before halftime when they recovered a fumble during a punt, then advanced it 45 yards to another TD. They followed that with another two-point run, to cut the deficit to 22-16 heading into the locker room.
The Predators put the ball on the ground at mid-field on their opening drive of the second half, which the Wolfpack were able to convert into a drive to take a 24-22 lead. Heading into the final stanza, the Predators needed to regroup after having 24 consecutive points scored against them.
Scala brought his team down the field and finished off a scoring drive by finding Dudley (3 receptions for 61 yards, 2 touchdowns) for a 15-yard pass. The Preds then went up 30-24 when Scala passed to Bill Simo for the two-point conversion.
Turnovers kept stopping the Wolfpack when Dom Crim intercepted an Empire State pass and ran it back to the 15-yard line. Timmy Kelson (8 for 76 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 reception for 8 yards) then ran it in from there for the touchdown, which was followed by a converted two-point run by Daquan Williams (9 for 48 yards, 2-point conversion), which gave the Preds a 38-24 advantage.
Scala kept the offense hot with a 32-yard TD pass to Tindall, which gave them a 44-24 lead (2-point conversion failed). The final score of the game came appropriately enough on another turnover, when Benny Rodriguez returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown. After converting a two-point pass, the Preds blew the game open with a 52-24 lead.
Assante was named as one of the Players of the Week in Minor League Football News for his effort in the win.
The Predators look to even their record when they face the Long Island Eagles at Monsignor Farrell High School at 8:45 pm on Saturday, September 8th.