Team Thunder preparing for their first game “Under The Lights.” Another perfect brisk Indian Summer Sunday morning at Stewart Field where the GC Thunder-White 7 year olds hosted the Mineola Chiefs. Game day captains, Evan Nagel, Chris Moscatiello, and Connor Muldoon faced off with the Mineola Chief team captains for the coin toss, heads was selected by Mineola and heads it was, Mineola elected to start on offense, so out came the tough Thunder defense. The crowd was still entering the stands for the 9:30am start as the Thunder defensive line ran onto the field, led by Jimmy Cerise “JC”, Mike Crapotta “The Fridge”, Chris Moscatiello and Jack Tobin. The Mineola offense tested the Thunder line running their backs up the middle, the Thunder defense held them every time. On fourth and three the Mineola offense went for it, the Thunder secondary led by Ryan Smith, Kevin Johnson and Evan Nagel pursued the quarterback on a sweep to the right and gang tackled him for a 2 yard loss.

Thunders offense on the move. The Thunder offense made it’s way onto the field led by Center, Quinn McDonagh and Quarterback Thomas Tubridy. The first play was a sweep to Colin DeAngelo who hit the outside behind a key block by Chris Larkin that enabled Colin to make it into the end zone putting the GC Thunder up 6-0. The quarterback sneak for the extra point was stopped by Mineola.

Thunders defense charging the Warriors offense. The game then became a defensive battle for most of the first half, the GC Thunder was assessed several penalties that put the Chiefs in the red zone late in the half. Two broken plays later the GC Thunder found themselves down at the half 13-6.

The Mineola defense started the second half fired up forcing the Thunder to punt on its opening offensive possession. Mineola took over at it’s 35 yard line and the Thunder held them to 2 yards, it was third and eight and Mineola went for it. They setup for a pass to their Tight End but the defense had it covered, just when the Thunder thought they had the Chief’s quarterback sacked for a loss he escaped and broke into the end zone, putting the Thunder down 19-6.

Team down....set!! Mineola halted the Thunder offense again, luckily the Thunder defense were up to the challenge, with Connor Muldoon and Brian Goepfert at defensive ends running down the Chief’s running backs on a right sweep and then a reverse to the left. Linebackers James Sullivan and Matt Thomas made two big hits on the Chief’s full back to end the Chiefs drive. The Thunder offense was back on the field.

The Warriors last drive. Sharing starting responsibilities at Center was Luke Armstrong, leading an impressive offensive drive for the Thunder. Nick Bonelli ran off tackle behind some clutch blocking of Alex Wood for a 12 yard gain. That setup a left sweep to Colin DeAngelo for the Thunder’s second touchdown, it was 19-12 with 2:05 left in the game the crowd was roaring.

The Thunder defense held the Chief’s again, but time expired on the Thunder, with the final score of 19-12. The GC Thunder-White 7s have a bye this weekend with their next game at the East Rockaway Raiders on October 17th at 11:00am.

Thunder and Warriors exchange handshakes.