When a successful football team switches quarterbacks late in the season, it’s always a risk.
Why mess with success? Well, sometimes the reason is as simple as one player’s position switch can make the whole team better.
Manhasset senior Kyle Melkonian was a wide receiver/defensive back for most of his career at the school, but four games ago, after starter Drew Schwartz was hurt, Melkonian was moved to quarterback, with head coach Jay Iaquinta saying last week that his athleticism and decision-making could make a dynamic Set offense even better. Even as Schwartz got healthy, Melkonian stayed under center.
There’s a reason Iaquinta has won more than 200 high school games.
Led by Melkonian’s flawless running of the triple option offense, Manhasset bulldozed and ran over Floral Park 42-20 to advance to the Conference III title game on Nov. 23 at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.
Set ran up 418 yards of total offense, with Atif Heathington rushing for 206 yards and two scores, while Melkonian ran for two TD’s and threw another.
“I was fighting to play quarterback for more than a year now, and the offense has really been clicking the last few games,” Melkonian said. “Everybody was so focused and ready today.”
Now standing in Manhasset’s way for its first county crown since 2021 and first full-season title since 1996, will be powerhouse Garden City, winner of 53 straight games.
The Trojans haven’t lost since November 30, 2019. Earlier this year Set gave the Trojans its toughest game of the season, losing 29-14.
Indeed, as soon as the final whistle blew Manhasset’s players began looking forward to the Nov. 23 12:30 p.m. showdown against the Trojans.
“We just want that shot back at Garden City; that’s all we want,” said defensive lineman Brady Baulch. “Our defense played really well that first game, our offense was a little lackluster.
“We know we can beat them, we just have to show it.”
Manhasset (9-1) showed it can beat Floral Park by scoring touchdowns on five of its first six possessions. And it was the offensive line that powered the way, opening up huge holes for Heathington, Dylan Attard (87 yards) and Melkonian.
Tackles Henry Griffith and James Leadbetter, guards Tristan Chang and Patrick McGinnes and center Declan Gahan all opened large holes against the Pirates (7-3).
“I did not expect we’d be able to move the ball that easily, not at all; that’s a really good team,” Iaquinta said. “All our (linemen) are seniors and very experienced and played so well today.”
The outcome of Saturday’s semi wasn’t in doubt in the second half; the first five times Manhasset had the ball for a full drive, it scored a touchdown.
Manhasset took the opening kickoff right down the field on a pretty 10-play drive, mixing in speedy bursts from Heathington with hard-nosed inside the tackles running.
From the seven-yard line, Infranco rushed over the right side of the line and burst into the end zone, putting Set up 7-0.
The Floral Park defense couldn’t stop Manhasset at all in the first half, as Manhasset scored on all four of its first-half drives.
The prettiest touchdown was scored by Heathington, who’s faster than an eyeblink. The senior took a handoff at the Manhasset 40, slipped between two would-be Knights tacklers, and appeared to be headed out of bounds around midfield.
But showing a dancer’s footwork, Heathington tiptoed down the sideline before cutting back and racing into the end zone to give Manhasset a 21-7 lead.
“He’s like a ballerina back there, it’s incredible what he can do,” Melkonian said. “That was a game-changing play, really gave us the momentum.
Manhasset, on its next possession, then forced a fumble recovered by Marcus Davis at the Floral Park 18. Three plays later Melkonian hit Daniel O’Connor with a 14-yard TD pass.
The Set defense excelled all day, holding Floral Park to 242 total yards, 70 of those coming on the final, meaningless scoring drive.
The only downside for Manhasset on Saturday was running back Matt Infranco’s Achilles injury; Iaquinta said they’re not sure if he’ll be able to play in the title game.
Now, Manhasset gets ready for the ultimate challenge. It was down only eight points in the fourth quarter in the game against Garden City on Sept. 21, and no other Trojans opponent has come closer to beating them in 2024.
“A hard week of practices and everybody being focused, that’s what it’ll take to beat them,” Heathington said. “We are so excited to get another chance.”
