ASA College falls to Nassau in championship game

November 17, 2014 By Rob Abruzzese Brooklyn Daily Eagle

ASA College tried for its third consecutive Northeast Football Conference title on Saturday, but fell short in a 48-20 loss to Nassau. Joseph Williams was the lone bright spot on a cold and disappointing night as he scored two touchdowns and ran for 171 yards. Photo by Rob Abruzzese.

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The ASA College Avengers tried for their third consecutive Northeast Football Conference championship, but they fell short in a 48-20 loss to Nassau Community College at MCU Park in Coney Island on Nov. 8.

“Always tough to lose in a conference championship game,” said head coach Dennis Orlando. “I take my hat off to Nassau. However, it was a good year for us overall and our third straight conference championship bid, winning the last two. You can’t hang your head much about that.”

ASA finished its season with a 6-2 overall record and were 4-1 in NEFC play. It had won the last two conference championships, both against Nassau, and 14 straight NEFC games prior to Saturday’s loss.

It looked like the Avengers were still in the locker room to start the game as Nassau grabbed a 21-0 lead in the first 12 minutes. ASA regained its composure eventually and got back into the game when Joseph Williams, who finished with 171 yards rushing, scored on a 48-yard run early in the second. Harold Buckner later scored on a two-yard pass to make it 27-14 at halftime.

ASA had momentum and opportunities in the third quarter. Defensive-end Monte Taylor recovered a fumble and got the ball to the 36, but quarterback Angelo Nocciolo ended the drive when he threw an interception to Deon Wright.

ASA managed to keep Nassau from scoring after the turnover, but Nocciolo threw another interception on the next drive. That led to a 20-yard touchdown run by Nassau’s Elijah Bratcher that made it 34-14 and essentially ended any chance ASA College had at a comeback.

Nassau has 10 players from Brooklyn on its team. Only Luder Jean-Louis, from Erasmus Hall High School, played a role in the victory, though, as he finished with one sack and one tackle for loss. Shawn Mitchell, from Jefferson high school, had 10 yards rushing.