Football: Riverhead’s offense erupts in blowout win
BLUE WAVES 48, MUSKETEERS 8
The beauty of the Riverhead offense is its diversity. Some games, the Blue Waves may pound the ball on the ground with halfbacks Jeremiah Cheatom and Ryun Moore. Other games, they can put the ball in the arm of quarterback Cody Smith.
Against Central Islip Saturday afternoon, it was Smith’s turn to shine.
Behind an assortment of screens and quick passes into the flats, Smith ignited a torrid offensive game for the Blue Waves in a rout of Central Islip, 48-8, at Coach Mike McKillop Memorial Field Saturday.
Smith completed his first 8 passes of the game and by the end of the first half had tallied 205 passing yards. He finished the first half 13 of 15 with two touchdown passes. Junior Ken Simco took over the QB duties in the second half.
Riverhead (2-1 Division II) scored touchdowns on all but one possession in the first half, taking a 34-0 lead into the locker room.
After giving up 50 points last week to East Islip, the Riverhead defense bounced back with a superb effort. The Blue Waves bottled up Central Islip quarterback LJ Harriott , who was a duel threat on the ground and through the air.
Cheatom scored a touchdown on a 7-yard run early in the second quarter and finished with 42 yards on 7 carries. He did not play in the second half as he iced his shoulder. The injury did not appear serious.
Smith completed passes to five different receivers in the first half alone. Tight end Mike Van Bommel caught five passes and hauled in a touchdown reception in the first quarter that made it 21-0 Riverhead.
Wide receiver Dan Czelatka caught three passes, including a 37-yard touchdown on a screen pass that made it 14-0. Czelatka also intercepted a pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown in the second half.
The Blue Waves appeared to have found an answer to their kicking game as well. Junior Dylan Pace attempted the extra point kicks for Riverhead and after missing his first, he bounced back to convert four of the next five. Moore scored on a two-point conversion run on the Blue Waves’ second touchdown.
The only Central Islip touchdown came late in the fourth quarter after the Blue Waves fumbled the ball deep in their own territory. Harriott scored on a 7-yard run.
The Blue Waves return to action next Saturday at Bay Shore.
