A combination of determination and teamwork has landed the Farmingdale High School Varsity Football Team in the Nassau County high school football Conference I playoffs.

After coming back from an 0-2 record, the Dalers won six straight games to earn a chance to be champions. They will face Lawrence at Hofstra Stadium today at 4 p.m. The game is not only a shot at the championship, it is expected to be an exciting rematch for the Dalers, who lost to Lawrence by a score of 7-6 in their first game of the season. Today's victor will advance to play the winner of a Baldwin vs. Massapequa competition, next Friday. The winner of next Friday's game claims the Nassau County Conference I trophy, and will face Suffolk's best team for the Long Island title.

According to Head Coach Buddy Krumenacker, the Dalers' strength lies in their aggressive defense, ball-control offense, and a refusal to lose that was shown by the players, especially the seniors.

"We've had an outstanding year defensively," he said, noting that the team has given up just three rushing touchdowns and four passing touchdowns. With an average of less than one touchdown per game, the Dalers have shown they are a force to be reckoned with.

"They never let down, and collectively, they stayed together. And I think it's a real tribute to the seniors on the team. They continued to hang together and play together, and that's what it takes to overcome obstacles," Krumenacker added.

"And, we certainly had some obstacles. Because when you're 0 and 2, if you want to be a playoff team, then you had to run the six in a row. And, in Conference I in Nassau County, that's a tough trick."

That type of outstanding achievement is not unusual for Farmingdale Varsity Football. The Dalers have made the playoffs several times in the past, and most recently won the championship in 1992.

Krumenacker encouraged community members to come cheer on the green and white team, whose roster is as follows: Kevin Marner, Tom Cinelli, Andrew Pultz, Rob Bonaguro, Lenny Panarelli, Danny Mendelson, Randy Earle, Greg Cohan, Steve Maier, Matt Albanese, Sean Sweeney, Brian Dunne, Ryan Makovy, Rob Chechilo, Jim Gerdes, James Eugene, Billy Matthies, Frank Canizio, Mike Pellizzi, Aaron Martin, Mike Oggeri, John Balcuk, Lenny Tobin, James Williams, Steve Slone, Matt Williams, John Moglia, John Hudson, Steve Hudson, Corey Gibbons, Chris Piechota, John Gaffney, Frank Anselmo, Eric Kane, Ryan Heller. Assistant Coaches are: Pete Melore, Tom Corcoran, Joe Schwarz. The director of athletics is Tom Howard, while the athletic trainers are Joe Killeen and Phil Fandale.