Sports

Football: SWR rolls past Port Jefferson to advance in playoffs

Shoreham-Wading River senior Nick Gray carries the ball against Port Jefferson Saturday. (Credit: Bill Landon)
Shoreham-Wading River senior Nick Gray carries the ball against Port Jefferson Saturday. (Credit: Bill Landon)

Shoreham Wading River did what its done since Week 5 of the season Saturday: blowing out another opponent, this time Port Jefferson, 42-0, in the Division IV quarterfinals.

Shoreham quarterback Danny Hughes scored on a keeper up the middle for the first of his two touchdowns as Shoreham Wading River jumped out to a 14-0 lead. 

“Going 8-0 during the regular season, obviously it’s something our program hasn’t done before,” Hughes said. “So we’re really honored to be the first team to do it. We think we deserve it. We’ve been through a lot and we’re going to keep working hard.”

The Wildcats will host Babylon Saturday at home. Shoreham defeated Babylon in the regular season, 9-7.

The Wildcats went ahead 21-0 on Port Jefferson when senior Aaron Harley-Rey broke through on a hard run off right tackle.

Port Jefferson never mounted a threatening scoring drive.

Isreal Squires ran deep down the right sideline and caught a pass from Hughes for an acrobatic juggling reception and then found the end zone standing up to take command of the game, 28-0, with 7:12 left in the half. It was his second score of the game.

“The sun was in my eyes and I saw the ball just at the last second,” Squires said. “I caught it and then bobbled it but was able to gather it back in for the score.”

On the Royals ensuing possession junior Chris Rosati made a leaping sideline interception, managing to keep both feet in bounds. The Wildcats took over in excellent field position.

“We studied that play in film and I saw that the wing back didn’t out,” said Rosati. “So I saw it coming and I made sure I got my feet down in bounds.”

Hughes finished it with a keeper up the middle to surge ahead 35-0. Rosati added another touchdown to make it 42-0.

Shoreham coach Matt Millheiser credited the team’s unbeaten season and playoff position to all the hard work the players have put in since August.

“Our unbeaten record this year at 8-0 is a first in program history and next week’s semifinal game at home is the first in program history that I’m aware of, so it’s a couple of firsts for these hard working kids and it’s nice that they can claim these as their first,” Millheiser said.