Winning on the road is always difficult but doing it during another team’s homecoming is especially challenging. That’s exactly what Sachem North accomplished this past weekend as they earned a hard-fought 24-14 victory over the Longwood Lions.
The homecoming game was a defensive battle early on before Sachem North pulled away in the fourth quarter to upend the Lions. Longwood jumped out to an early lead, energizing the home crowd and taking a 7-0 advantage after the first quarter. Sachem responded before halftime, tying the game at seven in what was a defensive struggle through the first two quarters of play.
Coming out of the half time locker room, Sachem jumped out to a three-point lead, setting up a tense fourth quarter where either team could have taken control. Both offenses then came alive, with Sachem scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns while Longwood managed just one, sealing the road win for the Flaming Arrows.
Quarterback Luke LaRocca completed 14 of 19 passes for just under 200 yards and two touchdowns while surpassing the 2,000-yard career passing mark. He also added over 50 rushing yards on 10 carries, showcasing his dual-threat ability.
Running back Jake Spera led the team on the ground with more than 70 rushing yards and a touchdown. Receivers Lucas Bouchard and Gavin Nuzzi each caught touchdown passes, while six different players recorded receptions from LaRocca in a well-balanced offensive effort.
With the win, Sachem North improved its record and will return home to face Central Islip in the regular-season finale, looking to close the year on a four-game winning streak. Longwood, meanwhile, will aim to snap a two-game skid when they host Lindenhurst next week.
It was a statement win for Sachem North, proving their resilience and ability to deliver under pressure — even on someone else’s big day.