The Elmont Memorial High School Spartans varsity football team has gotten off to a fantastic start to the 2001 football season with three impressive wins over Syosset, Plainview and Uniondale. The start is particularly significant since this is the Spartans' first season in Nassau Conference I.

In the season opener at Syosset, Elmont was led by running by running back Andrew Williams, who gained 145 yards on the ground. The game see-sawed back and forth until, with the score tied at 14, Elmont connected on a 57-yard flee-flicker with 45 seconds left in the game. On the play, Justin Peele took the pitch from quarterback Steven Wonge, who then hit Rendell Johnson 20 yards down the field. Johnson made a nice cut back move and ran the ball in, untouched, for the winning touchdown as Elmont earned its first win of the season 22-14.

Coach John Capozzi praised his whole team for not giving up and dominating the fourth quarter on both sides of the ball. Offensive lineman Alex Viruet was singled out for his blocking and overall solid effort.

The team then traveled to Plainview the following week to play a Plainview team that was also 1-0. The Elmont running game would dominate though as Johnson gained 123 yards, including an 82-yard run and Williams added 140 yards and two touchdowns. Elmont's defense was exceptional, shutting down the opposition and posting the shutout. Jose Guzman had a monstrous game with 10 tackles, a sack, an interception and two fumble recoveries.

On Oct. 6, Elmont held its homecoming game against a Uniondale team that came into the game with a 2-0 record. However, the Elmont defense this time shut out its opponent on route to a 24-0 win.

The Spartans did all of their scoring in the first half, scoring two touchdowns in each of the first two quarters. Wonge threw for three touchdowns. Johnson scored on a 48-yard reception from Williams and a 33-yard reception from Wonge.

The Spartans now stand at 3-0 atop Nassau Conference I, tied with Freeport, Farmingdale and Hicksville. The Spartans have outscored their opponents by a 90-14 margin.