The Farmingdale Dalers (No. 1) met the East Meadow Jets (No. 4) for the Nassau County Conference I Semifinals at Hofstra Saturday night. The Dalers (9-0) this season with a strong offensive game normally scores over 30 points a game, except when they play against the Jets.

In their past meeting during the regular season, the Dalers defeated the Jets 21-17 in a very close game. The Jets wanted revenge. The Dalers took the opening drive 52 yards in eight plays but was stopped by the Jets. Head coach Buddy Krumenacker sent out the field goal unit with kicker #10 Tom Brosnan for a 27-yard attempt and the Dalers took the lead 3-0.

Then it was defense, defense, defense on both sides. With 1:44 left in the half the Jets put on a good drive and were down by 10. The Dalers defense came up big and stopped the drive. On 4th and 7, the Jets would send on their field goal unit on to tie it up, but the kick was no good. The Dalers lead 3-0 at halftime.

The Dalers got a big brake in the third quarter when the Jets punted the ball. A Jet player picked up the ball and ran it into the end zone for a touchdown. The East Meadow fans were going crazy, but the referees ruled that the ball did not touch a Daler, therefore the ball was downed by the Jets.

The Dalers offense just could not get started without starting quarterback #12 Steve Probst who is out with an ankle injury so it was up to quarterback #1 Mike Thompson and #8 Tashawn Arthur. Arthur rushed for 61 yards on 24 carries and passed for 141 yards.

East Meadow started a long drive from their own 36 with just 2:55 left in the game. The Jets had a big play for 22 yards to get into Daler territory. No. 68 Austin Restaino came up with a big sack to make it 2nd and 14. But the Jets came up with another first down on the Dalers 28. Another sack this time by #54 Chris Hanchuck to make it 2nd and 14 for the Jets with 1:17 left in the game. The Jets passed the ball for another 8-yard gain to make it 3rd and 5. Another pass play that the Jets quarterback ran for just a yard and now it was 4th and 4 with 36 seconds in the game. The Dalers Defense broke up a pass play to get the ball back on downs. No. 40 Pete Mormino and #33 Tom Jackson each had ten tackles for the Dalers. The Dalers pulled it out 3-0, and will play Baldwin Saturday night at Hofstra for the Nassau County Conference I championship. For more photos visit www.elegantphotos4u.com.