Bethpage football outlasts Elmont thanks to Louis Schneider's 2 TDs

Louis Schneider of Bethpage was determined to make a difference. He wasted no time, returning the opening kickoff 98 yards to give Bethpage an early lead over Elmont.

Schneider totaled 178 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns to lead Bethpage (1-0) past host Elmont (0-1), 33-26, in an entertaining finish to a Nassau III season opener on Saturday.

“I haven’t been in the conversation of the top players in my class," Schneider said. "I’ve never been that guy to watch or anything, and I wanted to set the tone immediately when I got my first touch."

The Golden Eagles jumped out fast. Schneider broke free for a 63-yard rushing touchdown to extend the lead, and Vincent Morice plowed his way to a 2-yard score. Bethpage led 20-0 with 11:29 left in the second quarter.

Elmont answered when Aiden Barnes found Justin Reid for a 43-yard touchdown with 7:03 left in the half.

Still, the Spartans trailed 27-6 late in the second quarter. Barnes threw for 36 yards and rushed for 17 on the next drive to set up Elijah Davis’ 5-yard touchdown run, trimming the deficit to 27-12 at halftime.

The third quarter went scoreless, and Bethpage still held a 15-point lead. Early in the fourth, Morice powered through on fourth-and-2 at the 4-yard line to move the chains. Chase Solliday then added his second touchdown to give Bethpage a 33-12 lead with 9:47 remaining.

“Just moving my feet — James [LiPetri] was holding my shoulder pads and pulling me. I just love this team’s chemistry,” Morice said.

Elmont refused to give up. With under four minutes to play, Cassidy Nicol recovered a fumble and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown. Barnes rushed for the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 33-20 with 3:26 left.

The Spartans recovered the onside kick, and Barnes connected with Ryan Michel on a 42-yard pass. Davis finished the drive with a short touchdown run. Elmont only trailed 33-26 with 1:30 left.

Elmont tried another onside kick, but the ball rolled out of bounds.

“They just didn’t give up,” Elmont coach Tommy Innes said. “We came out slow, absolutely, but we kept the positive energy. We just have to do better at the beginning of the game. These guys have great heart and I love my kids, and we’re gonna get back to work.”

Bethpage would go on to run out the clock and secure the victory.

“It feels excellent,” Bethpage coach Peter Zito said. “We were the six [seed] and they were the four, so it was a big game for us. We have stuff to clean up, but overall we came home with the victory. Very happy, very pleased.”