The rainy, windy and cold weather that circulated throughout Hofstra Stadium last Saturday was indicative of playoff football. In one word - nasty.

But the Mineola Mustangs varsity football team, which has been enjoying a tremendous rebound season while playing in Nassau County's Conference IV, endured the weather and Island Trees to advance to the conference finals.

For much of the day and the game, the conditions were rainy and windy as the Mineola Mustangs and Island Trees Bulldogs struggled to move the ball offensively as defense dominated much of the game.

These conditions weren't foreign to the two teams as they faced off earlier in the season in the rain during Mineola's homecoming with the Mustangs pulling off a 14-7 win. However, this past Saturday, the weather was worse and the stakes were higher.

With both teams launching a ground attack, the game remained scoreless until 2:03 left in the first half when running back Mike Rossi ran two yards in for Island Trees. The extra point was missed.

The Bulldogs took a 6-0 lead into halftime, but Mineola rallied in the second half. With 9:17 left in the third quarter, senior co-captain Mike Antoniou blocked an Island Trees Punt, deep in Bulldog territory. Junior Jim Holubowich then scampered 16 yards for the game-tying touchdown. Like Island Trees, Mineola would miss the extra point.

With the game locked at six, the Mineola defense took a tough stand in the fourth quarter, holding Island Trees scoreless. With just over six minutes left, Holubowich broke through the Bulldogs defense with a 32-yard, setting up what turned out to be a game-winning 19-yard field goal with 6:15 left in the fourth quarter.

The Mustangs defense then held again. With just over three minutes left on a big third down play, Antoniou and senior Mike Gonzalez chased down the Island Trees quarterback, forcing a punt.

Mineola held on to the lead and a fine display of coaching on the part of the Mustangs sealed the win.

With Mineola deep in its own territory and facing a fourth down with 11 seconds left, rather than punt the ball, possibly giving Island Trees the field position it needed for the game-tying field goal, the Mustangs took a safety, making the score 9-8. Mineola then kicked off from a tee with two seconds left following the safety, a much safer kick with less time left. Despite a series of laterals by the Bulldogs on the return, the game ended with the Mustangs victorious.

The Mineola players and their coaches celebrated the win with a victorious march to the bus parked outside the stadium as heavy rains continued to fall.

The win propelled Mineola to the Conference IV finals against Seaford, which defeated Locust Valley 14-0.