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Football: Riverhead drops home opener at newly renovated field

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North Babylon quarterback Jarod Ziegler and running back Brandon Sobotker each scored a pair of touchdowns to lift the Bulldogs to a 27-23 victory in Riverhead Saturday afternoon.

Playing their first game at a sparkling new Coach Mike McKillop Memorial Field, the Blue Waves fell behind early and couldn’t mount enough of a comeback to avoid falling to 0-2 in Division II. The Bulldogs remain unbeaten at 2-0.

After two early interceptions from Riverhead quarterback Sharron Trent, the Blue Waves turned exclusively to junior Tristan Falisi. The quarterback got better as the game went on, completing two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.

He threw a 23-yard touchdown to Ryun Moore that made it 27-17 and then completed a 31-yard touchdown to Blake Carrara to cut the deficit to four with 5:28 left.

North Babylon ran the clock out on its next possession after the Blue Waves couldn’t get a stop on a crucial fourth down play.

Riverhead halfback Marcus Reid rushed for 115 yards on 19 carries. He scored on a 39-yard in the second quarter for the Blue Waves’ first points of the game.

The Blue Waves went into halftime down 13-10 after a 38-yard field goal with :58 left in the second quarter from Nico Bossey.

Riverhead will return home next weekend to play Half Hollow Hills East.

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Photo Caption: Riverhead running back Marcus Reid breaks a 32-yard for a touchdown in the first quarter against North Babylon Saturday. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)

The renovated Coach Mike McKillop Memorial Field. (Credit: Robert O'Rourk)
The renovated Coach Mike McKillop Memorial Field. (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)