Long Beach vs Mepham

HIGHLIGHTS

Long Beach 34, Mepham 27: Matt Varian totaled 259 yards and four touchdowns in leading No. 6 Long Beach (5-4) over No. 3 Mepham in a Nassau II quarterfinal. Varian’s 45-yard touchdown run was the winner with 8 minutes left as Long Beach earned its first playoff victory since 1989, according to coach Scott Martin. “I couldn't be more proud of our players and coaching staff,” said Martin, in his sixth season at Long Beach. “This was a big goal from the start and we’ve accomplished it.” Varian completed 4 of 6 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 159 yards and two scores. His 35-yard touchdown pass to Josh Linster tied it at 27 late in the third quarter. Mepham’s Tyler Davis threw for 159 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 140 yards and a score. Davis’ 60-yard TD pass to Cormac Quigley gave the Pirates a 27-20 lead in the third. Linster ran for 74 yards and a touchdown on three carries, and Nick Nigro and Tyreek Bromley each made eight tackles. “Davis is one of the best players in the county and we played a near-perfect game to win,” Martin said. “This is the happiest I've been as a coach.” Long Beach faces top-seeded Carey in the semifinals on Nov. 15 at Hofstra.