But it also captured the hearts and imaginations of our town.

Now the Riverhead Blue Waves have been bestowed with yet another honor: The News-Review's People of the Year.

The 2008 season will go down as the greatest in history for the Blue Waves. Somehow, the players made it look easy.

"Everything that we planned to do, we did, and we accomplished," said senior Miguel Maysonet, the team's star running back and linebacker.

Expectations were high for the Blue Waves from the start, and the top-seeded team in Suffolk Division II did not disappoint.

After slicing through their eight-game, regular-season schedule, the Blue Waves dispatched three playoff opponents -- the West Babylon Eagles, North Babylon Bulldogs and West Islip Lions -- by a combined score of 110-14 before meeting up with the Elmont Spartans in the Long Island Class II final. Then, in the biggest game in team history, the Blue Waves blew away Elmont, 42-6, setting off a joyous celebration on the Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium field in Stony Brook.

"It's such a great moment for us right now, and we deserve every moment of it," lineman Jon La Gue, one of the team's 13 seniors, had said while clutching a Long Island-shaped trophy in his hands. "We worked too hard for this."

It was the second time the Blue Waves had reached a Long Island final. The last time was in 2003, when they were beaten by the Garden City Trojans. This time, though, the Blue Waves made certain to make the most of their opportunity, surging to a 20-0 lead within the opening 7 minutes 21 seconds of the big game. They scored five touchdowns on their first seven possessions for a 35-0 halftime lead.

By the time the game had ended, Maysonet had scored four touchdowns and run for 251 yards. The 36-point difference between the two teams was the largest margin of victory in the 17-year history of the Long Island Class II championship game.

"Forty-two to six?" Blue Waves center and defensive end Rob Hale marveled afterward. "That's crazy."

Riverhead was recognized for its achievements by being presented with the Rutgers Trophy for the fourth time in team history two days later. The Blue Waves were a unanimous choice.

"It kind of brings closure to a great season," said Blue Waves Coach Leif Shay, who was named Suffolk's coach of the year.

That same night, Maysonet became the first Riverheader to receive the Carl A. Hansen Award. It was first presented in 1960. In addition, he was selected the Suffolk Division II most valuable player for the second straight year as well as the recipient of the Joe Cipp Jr. Award that goes to the county's most outstanding running back.

The word "outstanding" is apropos.

Maysonet finished the season with 2,328 rushing yards, averaging eight yards per carry and scoring 33 touchdowns, 30 by runs. He also made 53 solo tackles. Over the course of his four-year varsity career, Maysonet totaled 5,971 rushing yards, placing him second on Suffolk's all-time list.

Maysonet also had 458 points and 75 touchdowns for his high school career.

Tim Velys, who threw for a school record 1,363 passing yards and 17 touchdowns, also made all-county along with teammates Tyler Gilliam, Andrew Smith, Michael Smith and La Gue.

The team was also honored last month at Town Hall, with the Town Board declaring Dec. 16 Riverhead Blue Waves football day throughout the town -- forever.

"They wove together the fabric of our community," Supervisor Phil Cardinale said at the meeting. "We came together this fall in ways we rarely do. They taught us how.

"So thank you all for that."

Bob Liepa

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