Finley Football Formidable
What a season it was for Finley Middle School’s seventh grade football team. The Falcons finished the season with an unblemished record of 6-0. The seventh grade squad is 10-2 over the past two years.
A well-balanced attack propelled the offensive unit and contributed to a rugged defense. The Falcons flew past West Hollow (33-8), East Northport (20-6), Commack (28-8), Northport (26-12), Kings Park (8-6) and Hauppauge (13-12).
Finley was captained by Kiandre Burrell, Dan McCartney and Kenny McCarthy. Jimmy Creighton and Stef Sair coached the squad. The three captains formed a formidable core and a group of other talented players gave the Falcons a season to remember.
“The team was made up of a great bunch of kids who love to play football each and everyday,” Creighton said. “They worked hard all season long to be the best they could possibly be. This group has potential to do positive things for the Huntington football program if they stick together.”
Burrell starred at running back and linebacker. “He’s a tenacious ball carrier on offense and refuses to go down without a fight,” Creighton said. “He has a nose for the ball on defense.” Burrell, who led the team in rushing yards, ran for three touchdowns and notched four point-after-touchdown conversions.
McCarthy played quarterback and safety to perfection. He led the Falcons with four touchdown passes and rushed for another. He also intercepted a team-high four passes. “Kenny was the vocal leader of the team,” Creighton said. “He has good arm strength.”
Davonte Evans excelled at running back and defensive back, with three touchdowns on the ground and three one-point conversions. “He’s a good athlete with good speed and agility,” Creighton said. Kyle Davis (fullback/defensive line) is another “good athlete with great speed and is a playmaker on defense,” the coach said. Davis ran for three touchdowns and tallied one conversion.
Wide receiver/outside linebacker Liam O’Donnell hauled in three touchdown passes, leading the team in three receiving categories. “He’s a solid athlete with good hands,” Creighton said. Quintin Germain (fullback/linebacker) is a “solid tackler with a nose for the ball,” the coach said.
Jack Montalbano (quarterback/defensive back) is another impressive player. He tossed a touchdown pass, ran for another touchdown and made a PAT conversion. “He’s a smart player with good athleticism,” Creighton said.
It’s easy to believe that Huntington football fans will be hearing more from this group in the future. “We are extremely proud of all of our athletes and the way they played all season long,” Creighton said.
Falcon Facts: Finley’s offense averaged 27.5 points per game while its defense allowed just 8.6 . . . Creighton and Sair are both Huntington High School alums who were star athletes for the Blue Devils.
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