The Farmingdale Dalers (9-0) took on the Baldwin Bruins (7-2) at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium last Saturday night for the Nassau County Conference I Championship in front of 4,000 fans.

The Dalers quarterback #12 Steve Probst was back in action after being out for a month with an ankle injury, and was moving around well until the Dalers first play. A cheap shot from Baldwin's Robert McGrath at Probst lower leg, when he was out of the play, caused Probst to go down and Coach Bud Krumenacker onto the field. After about 10 minutes the Bruins had a 30-yard penalty and McGrath was out of the game. This caused both teams to get fired up.

After the penalty the Dalers had problems moving the ball. It was fourth down and 10 on the Bruins 33-yard line, when Probst broke loose for a 13-yard run and a first down to keep the drive alive. Moments later #8 Tashawn Arthur had a seven-yard run for a touchdown and put the Dalers up 7-0. It was an 11-play for 72 yards that took 4:54 off the clock.

Now Baldwin had the ball and the Dalers had two penalties, a pass interference and a facemask that gave the Bruins great field possession and with 0:55 left in the first quarter the Bruins tied it up 7-7.

The Dalers got the ball back in the second quarter and with two great pass plays from Probst to #9 C-Jay Engelke and #19 Travis Lyons both for 17 yards each helped move the ball down field. And with 8:22 left in the half Probst had a seven-yard run for a touchdown to make it 14-7. It was a nine-play 75-yard drive.

With the Bruins moving the ball again C-Jay Engelke had an interception to stop them. But a few plays later the Bruins intercepted the Dalers on their own nine-yard line. The Bruins put up a 15-play 91 yard drive to tie it up 14-14 with seven seconds left in the half.

On the next kick off Arthur almost broke free but only went 64 yards on the return as time ran out.

In the third quarter the Dalers came out fired up. Probst, who went five for 12 passing with 113 yards, had completed a 20-yard pass and then a 17-yard pass to Arthur who was injured on the play. He was down for about 10 minutes while being attended by medical staff and coaches. He was able to walk off the field with some help and returned to the game later on. Derek Godwin had a 16-yard run to bring the ball to the two. And then #33 Tom Jackson went in for the touchdown. It was a 10-play, 74-yard drive to give the Dalers a 21-14 lead.

Later in the third quarter with 1:15 left # 19 Travis Lyons had an incredible 41-yard reception leaping in to the air reception. But the Bruins stopped the Dalers there and on fourth and eight the Dalers attempted a 42-yard field goal by #10 Tom Brosnan who was three-for-three on extra points, but it was a few feet short.

Late in the fourth the Dalers punted the ball and downed it on Baldwin's four-yard-line with 3:27 left in the game. The Bruins moved the ball up field and into Daler territory with 0:44 seconds left. The Dalers defense got tough with excellent pass coverage. They stopped the Bruins offence and got the ball back on downs with 0:09 seconds left in the game.

The Dalers (10-0) defeated the Bruins (7-3) 21-14 and will play William Floyd, Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at SUNY Stony Brook for the Long Island Class 1 Championship. For more photos go to www.elegantphotos4u.com.