Anderson's debut is a humbling experience
No. 1 seed Babylon romps, 47-8, in opener
0 comments below
Greenport/Southold/Mattituck/Shelter Island's Anthony McKnight got both hands on this pass while Babylon's Max Bzdyk put both of his hands on McKnight.
In situations such as these, a little amnesia is helpful.
Anderson's first game as a varsity head coach was not exactly what he had envisioned. Sure, the Porters knew they were in for a tough game against the Panthers, the top-seeded team in Suffolk County Division IV, but the 47-8 shellacking the Porters suffered on Saturday afternoon could have come with an exclamation mark attached to it.
"It was humbling," said Anderson.
The final score was similar to the one posted the last time these teams met in 2001. The Panthers won that contest, a Division IV semifinal, in a blowout as well, 41-6.
From the opening kickoff, which Alex Grandal ran back 89 yards for a touchdown, Saturday's game was all Babylon. The Panthers played like a team with a proud football history that includes three Long Island championships and six county titles in the past 12 years. Last year the Panthers extended their remarkable run of winning seasons to 29. They reached the county final for the 12th straight year, losing to the Amityville Warriors in the final seconds, and finishing with an 8-2 record.
This year's Babylon team returns five offensive starters as well as five starters on defense, and the expectations remain high at a school where winning is as much a tradition as the team's black and orange colors. "We just have to keep feeding the machine," said Punzone.
What made Saturday's result so impressive was not so much the final score as the manner in which it was achieved. The Panthers played without their all-county running back, Bryan Schweitzer, who is out with an abdomen injury, and they went deep into their bench in the second half.
"I think the kids really stepped up, especially in the second quarter," said Punzone.
The Panthers scored three touchdowns in the second quarter, turning a 12-0 lead into a 33-0 halftime cushion. It was 40-0 by the end of the third quarter.
Greg Griffo ran 66 yards for a touchdown and threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to Stephen Louden. Mark Panarelli, Jaquan Pate, Dylan Hopkins and James Ferri also ran for touchdowns, and Grandal kicked five extra points.
"In the first quarter we moved the ball well," Anderson said. "We got inside their 30 a couple of times, we recovered a fumble, but we killed ourselves with penalties. I know they're good, they're No. 1 for a reason. They keep coming at you."
The defense put together by Panthers defensive coordinator Mike De Joseph held the Porters scoreless until the final minutes when Sean Heaney scored off a 35-yard pass from Dan Letteriello. Heaney ran in the two-point conversion.
Heaney, Joe Barszczewski and Anthony McKnight did most of the running for the Porters, who picked up 140 yards on the ground.
The game had been postponed from the night before. After the Porters arrived in Babylon on Friday evening, they warmed up in the rain while the two head coaches surveyed the rain-soaked field, which had a couple of large puddles in the middle. It was around the scheduled kickoff time when it was announced that the game had been postponed. Punzone said he supported the decision made by Babylon Athletic Director Bob Mayo in light of concern over the players' safety.
Anderson said he wasn't happy about the postponement and wanted to play that night. Instead, the Porters had to drive home that night and then make the 90-minute bus ride back to Babylon the following day. "I definitely think it affected the kids," he said.
By Sunday, Anderson was already looking ahead to his team's next game, tomorrow night at Hampton Bays High School.
"I know we still have a lot of work to do," he said. "We didn't do what we expected. We didn't play up to our level, I don't think. We have to let this one go and go on to the next game."
The Suffolk Times is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. The Suffolk Times does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Suffolk Times. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Service and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website.
0 comments found
