LaRocca Plays Hero as Sachem North Wins Double-Overtime Thriller

Some football games are destined to be remembered forever, and Sachem North's Suffolk Division I semifinal against Longwood certainly qualifies. In a game that went down to the final play, the Flaming Arrows pulled off a dramatic 15-14 double-overtime victory to punch their ticket to the Suffolk County championship.

After a scoreless first overtime, Longwood got the ball first in the second OT and took a 14-7 lead on Ryan Greene's one-yard touchdown run and the extra point. Sachem North suddenly found itself one possession away from having its season end, but head coach Dave Caputo and his team weren't ready to go home.

On second-and-11, senior quarterback Luke LaRocca found a wide-open Jon Mullaly in the back of the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown pass. The score pulled Sachem within one, and Caputo had a decision to make.

Rather than settle for the extra point and extend the game, Caputo put his faith in his senior quarterback and elected to go for two and the victory.

LaRocca rolled to his right, used his legs, took off and barrelled his way across the goal line.

Just like that, the Flaming Arrows had completed an unforgettable comeback.

The victory improves Sachem North to 9-1 and sets up a showdown with undefeated Ward Melville (10-0) for the Suffolk Division I championship Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Stony Brook University. The Flaming Arrows will be looking for their first Division I title since 2013, when they defeated Floyd, 28-7.

Longwood opened Friday's matchup with a 14-play, 92-yard drive that consumed more than seven minutes and ended with Greene's four-yard touchdown run. Sachem North answered in the second quarter with an eight-play, 80-yard drive.

From there, the defenses took over. Jake Kuhlman came up with a fourth-quarter interception and delivered another huge play with an end-zone interception in the first overtime to keep Sachem alive.

LaRocca finished with two touchdown passes and was named the National Football Foundation Offensive Player of the Game. Kuhlman earned Defensive Player of the Game honors.

Now, one more victory stands between Sachem North and a Suffolk County championship.