Tag: football

Sports
11/15/13 10:05pm

Football: Babylon marches to 22nd straight win

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11/15/2013 10:05 PM
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GARRET MEADE PHOTO | Babylon senior Jake Carlock makes a one-handed interception on a pass intended for Shoreham-Wading River receiver Isreal Squires in Friday night’s Division IV semifinal.

DIVISION IV SEMIFINALS  |  PANTHERS 42, WILDCATS 13

One of the most successful seasons in Shoreham-Wading River’s history came to an end Friday night at the hands of a team that’s well versed in sending other teams packing.

Top-seeded and unbeaten Babylon rolled to its 22nd straight win by walloping Shoreham, 42-13, in the Division IV semifinals at Babylon High School. The Wildcats, the No. 4 seed, finished the season 7-3.

Babylon advances to play No. 3 John Glenn in the county finals next week. Glenn rallied from a 14-0 hole to defeat Mount Sinai, 21-14, in the other semifinal Friday night at Mount Sinai High School.

The Wildcats never had much of a chance against the talented Panthers, whose spread offense and multitude of weapons made life miserable for the Shoreham defense. Babylon led 20-0 late in the second quarter before Shoreham broke through with a 36-yard pass play for a touchdown. Quarterback Daniel Hughes connected with junior Bryce Casey on a slant pattern for the touchdown with 4:03 left in the second quarter.

The Wildcats were in position to maybe make a game of it if they could get a stop on Babylon’s next possession. Shoreham had the ball to to start the second half.

But the Panthers marched 73 yards in just under three minutes to score another touchdown before the half and extend the lead to 26-6 at halftime.

Babylon senior running back Eric Schweitzer scored two touchdowns on the ground and tallied 113 rushing yards. Quarterback Nick Santorelli completed 7 of 11 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Ray Wardell, who’s 6-foot-5, caught four passes for 63 yards and had one touchdown. Wide receiver Jake Carlock caught a 30-yard touchdown pass and also returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown on the Wildcats’ first possession of the second half.

Shoreham senior Tyler Anderson tallied a game-high 167 yards on 14 carries. He scored an 82-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for Shoreham’s second score and ran for 25 yards on the game’s final play.

Hughes completed 7 of 15 passes for 117 yards. He was picked off three times.

Shoreham was without receiver/defensive back Isreal Squires in the second half because of a hip injury. Sophomore defensive back Chris Rosati was also limited with a nagging hamstring injury.

It was the second straight year Shoreham’s season ended in the semifinals. Two years ago the Wildcats lost to Babylon in the first round of the playoffs.

The Wildcats are now 1-15 all-time against the Panthers, who are marching toward a second straight Long Island title.

joew@timesreview.com

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Sports
11/15/13 12:30pm

Football: SWR to face Babylon tonight in D-IV semifinals

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DANIEL DE MATO FILE PHOTO | Shoreham-Wading River quarterback Daniel Hughes scrambles with the ball against Babylon in Week 2.

DANIEL DE MATO FILE PHOTO | Shoreham-Wading River quarterback Daniel Hughes scrambles with the ball against Babylon in Week 2.

When the Shoreham-Wading River football team lines up against Babylon tonight in the semifinals of the Division IV playoffs, the odds will most definitely be stacked against the Wildcats.

The Panthers, defending Class IV Long Island champions, will take a 21-game win streak onto their home field, where they’ve been nearly unbeatable over the past decade. The Panthers have lost just twice since the start of the 2011 season.

While the top-seeded Panthers (9-0) enter as favorites, there’s reason for Shoreham (7-2) to be optimistic.

How can the Wildcats pull off the upset?

1. Control the clock

The Wildcats have relied on their ground game all season behind a veteran offensive line and the aggressive running of senior Tyler Anderson. In the first round of the playoffs, Anderson exploded for more than 400 rushing yards to break his previous school record. It won’t be that easy against Babylon, which has allowed double-digit points only twice this season. The Wildcats were one of those teams. But their 14 points scored were toward the end of the game after it already was lopsided. The Wildcats will need to control the pace of the game in order to win, running long drives, even if they end up without points.

2. Limit Babylon’s passing attack

Babylon quarterback Nick Santorelli lit up the Shoreham defense in the regular season matchup. Babylon’s strength is its ability to spread out a defense and throw the ball, which opens up the running game between the tackles. The Panthers have two dynamite receivers with tremendous size in 6-foot-5 Ray Wardell and 6-foot-2 Jack Carlock. The two combined for 12 receptions and three touchdowns when the teams last met. The Wildcats will need to avoid giving up big plays through the air, especially early in the game. If the Wildcats can force Babylon to run the ball, they’ll have a much better chance on defense.

3. Special teams

A key ingredient in any upset is the play of special teams, which can help swing the momentum of a game. The Wildcats have a tremendous kicker in Zach McAuley, who has the potential to add three points with a field goal if a drive stalls. A kick-off return or punt return for a touchdown would go a long way toward helping the Wildcats win an upset. Anderson has been returning kicks for Shoreham. He returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown in Week 8 against Port Jefferson.

4. No mistakes

It goes without saying in any football game, but for the Wildcats to have a chance, they can’t cough the ball up or commit needless penalties. If the Wildcats can win the turnover battle, the game could be there in the end for the taking. And if the Wildcats can put Babylon in an uncomfortable position of being in a tight game in the fourth quarter, who knows what might happen.

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Sports
11/10/13 10:00am

More photos from Riverhead’s playoff win

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11/10/2013 10:00 AM
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ROBERT O’ROURK PHOTO | Riverhead running back Jeremiah Cheatom carried the Blue Waves on the ground Saturday against Hills West.


The 8-1 Riverhead Blue Waves opened the playoffs in style Saturday with a 44-21 win over Half Hollow Hills West. The win sends Riverhead into the semifinals next week against No. 5 Newfield.

See below for photos from Riverhead’s win over the Colts.

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Sports
11/09/13 4:30pm

Football: Anderson’s 401 yards, 5 TDs help SWR light up scoreboard

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11/09/2013 4:30 PM
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BILL LANDON PHOTO | Shoreham-Wading River senior Tyler Anderson scored five touchdowns in Saturday’s playoff win over Center Moriches.

SUFFOLK DIVISION IV QUALIFYING ROUND | WILDCATS 56, RED DEVILS 29

More than anything, it was a testament to the offensive firepower of Shoreham-Wading River’s football team and Tyler Anderson’s running ability.

To put things in perspective, Center Moriches is not a bad offensive team itself, with several weapons to draw upon. So, perhaps a shootout was inevitable in the Suffolk County Division IV qualifying round game on Saturday in Shoreham. The statistics put up were video game-esque. Just look at them: A total of 85 points were scored. Over 1,100 yards of offense were registered. The Wildcats picked up 504 of those yards on the ground alone. Their star running back, Tyler Anderson, ran for 401 yards himself and scored five touchdowns.

Incredible numbers.

Of course, the numbers that counted most favored the Wildcats, who on their record day picked up their second career playoff win, 56-29. It was the most points the Wildcats have ever scored in the six playoff games they have played in their history. Now the fourth-seeded Wildcats (7-2) want to set another team record — for the most playoff wins in a year. To do that, they will have to upset No. 1 Babylon (9-0), the defending Long Island champion, when the teams play in a county semifinal Friday night. No easy task. Babylon defeated the Wildcats, 36-14, on Sept. 20.

But Saturday was Shoreham’s day.

No one had a bigger game — and more gaudier numbers — than Anderson. The senior was handed the ball 27 times, ran for four touchdowns (including as 78-yarder to help cap the scoring) and caught a 19-yard pass for another touchdown. He also had scoring runs of 36, 32 and 18 yards. In addition, he had 51 receiving yards from two catches.

Three of the five completions by Shoreham’s quarterback, Danny Hughes, went for touchdowns, two by Isreal Squires (two catches, 84 yards). Hughes also ran for a touchdown and had 92 yards on nine carries.

Following Anderson’s first touchdown of the day, a surprise onside kick by Shoreham’s Zack MacAuley was recovered by teammate Daniel Smith. Two plays later, Hughes hooked up on a 48-yard connection for Squires’ second touchdown. MacAuley’s extra point — one of a school-record eight for him in the game — with 5 minutes 32 seconds left in the first quarter, made the score 21-8.

The Wildcats were off and running. They generated 658 yards worth of offense.

Center Moriches (6-3), which came off a 1-7 season, picked up most of its 446 yards through the air. Tyrell Thomas threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns from 14-of-22 passing. Tarik Rountree (nine catches, 126 yards) caught two of those touchdown passes and John-Cody Cerverizzo (three catches, 136 yards) pulled in the other.

Herbert Plummer (seven carries, 88 yards) took a lateral and darted around the left side 53 yards for Center Moriches’ first touchdown. A Thomas pass to Cerverizzo for the 2-point conversion gave the Red Devils a brief 8-7 lead. It lasted 65 seconds before an Anderson touchdown dash put the Wildcats ahead to stay. The Wildcats produced touchdowns on their first three possessions.

Center Moriches, which has reached the playoffs four times in six years, has yet to experience a playoff win. Their cause wasn’t helped by five turnovers. Shoreham, which has won five of its last six games, did not turn the ball over once.

Chris Rosati recovered two fumbles for the Wildcats and Brennan Gorman came up with another one. Rosati also intercepted a pass, as did Squires. Aaron Harley-Rey led the team with 8 tackles, 5 of them solo.

Thomas made 9 tackles and defended three passes for Center Moriches.

bliepa@timesreview.com

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Sports
11/09/13 4:04pm

Football: Riverhead dominates Hills West, Newfield up next

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ROBERT O’ROURK PHOTO | Ryan Hubbard (2) celebrates with Jeremiah Cheatom after returning a punt for a touchdown in the first quarter Saturday against Hills West.

BLUE WAVES 44, COLTS 21

As Ryun Moore surged across midfield, bring the Blue Waves one final first down, Riverhead coach Leif Shay yelled out the next play: “Aces! Victory!”

All the remained was a kneel down, as the Blue Waves put the finishing touches on a 44-21 victory over Half Hollow Hills West in the first round of the Division II playoffs Saturday afternoon at Coach Mike McKillop Memorial Field.

The top-seeded Blue Waves excelled in all facets of the game, from offense to defense and special teams.

Backup quarterback Ken Simco, filling in for the second straight week for injured senior Cody Smith, scored two rushing touchdowns (both QB sneaks) and threw for another on a play-action pass to Mike Van Bommel. Senior Ryan Hubbard returned a punt for a touchdown on special teams. And the defense intercepted two passes (Andrew Kinard and Ethan Greenidge) and forced a safety.

Running back Jeremiah Cheatom powered the offense on the ground with 171 yards on 39 carries. Moore had a big day as well, adding 85 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown.

Riverhead advances to the semifinals next Saturday where the Blue Waves will host No. 5 Newfield, the winner over No. 4 East Islip. Teams are reseeded after the first round. No. 2 Smithtown West won Friday night and No. 3 East Islip defeated Smithtown East, so the teams remain in the same bracket.

The Blue Waves haven’t trailed very often this season, but they were staring at a 14-7 deficit after Hills West quarterback Anthony Lucarelli connected with a wide open Jake Klose on a 54-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the first quarter.

But the Blue Waves rallied to score the next 28 points and blow the game open. The Blue Waves took the lead into halftime at 21-14 when Cheatom scored from three yards out with under a minute to play in the second quarter.

Riverhead then opened the third quarter with an 11-play, 58-yard drive that Simco capped with a 1-yard touchdown run. The score remained the same until the fourth quarter when Simco completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Van Bommel to make it 35-14.

Simco completed 10 of 14 passes. Jaron Greenidge, who missed last week’s game, had 4 receptions.

joew@timesreview.com

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Sports
11/09/13 10:00am

Football: Playoffs begin today for Riverhead, SWR

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ROBERT O'ROURK PHOTO | Riverhead senior Jeremiah Cheatom powered the Blue Waves' offense on the ground Saturday against Newfield.

ROBERT O’ROURK PHOTO | Riverhead senior Jeremiah Cheatom leads the Blue Waves against Half Hollow Hills West today

No team in Division II has won back-to-back county championships since Bellport in 2005 and ’06. This afternoon, the Riverhead Blue Waves will take the first step toward becoming the first team to accomplish that feat since the Clippers.

The Blue Waves enter the playoffs today as the No. 1 seed in a deep division that features eight quality teams in the postseason. Look no further than today’s opponent, eighth-seeded Half Hollow Hills West. The Colts finished 5-3, have won their previous four games and have averaged 36.5 points per game over that span. The Colts ended the season with a 28-21 victory over West Islip, the No. 4 seed in the playoffs and a possible second-round matchup for Riverhead.

Today’s game kicks off at 1 p.m. at Coach Mike McKillop Memorial Field.

The Blue Waves will once again turn to junior Ken Simco at quarterback. Senior Cody Smith will miss another game with an eye injury, coach Leif Shay said. Other than that, the Blue Waves should be back to full strength. Jaron Greenidge is expected to play today and Shay said there are no off the field issues preventing any players from starting today.

Follow the News-Review on Twitter for updates throughout the game.

Meanwhile in Division IV, the Shoreham-Wading River Wildcats will open the playoffs today at home against No. 5 Center Moriches. The Wildcats closed out the regular season 6-2 and will host a playoff game for the second straight year.

The Wildcats did not face Center Moriches in the regular season.

The top two seeds in Division IV both won Friday night. Undefeated Babylon rolled over East Hampton, 53-8, and No. 2 Mount Sinai hung on for a 20-14 victory over Greenport.

A win today would send the Wildcats to Babylon for the second round, unless No. 6 Bayport-Blue Point can defeated No. 3 John Glenn. That would send the Wildcats to Mount Sinai to face a team they already beat this year.

Check back tonight for full coverage of both games.

joew@timesreview.com

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Slideshows
11/03/13 11:00am

Check out more photos from Riverhead’s win over Newfield

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11/03/2013 11:00 AM
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ROBERT O’ROURK PHOTO | Riverhead senior Jeremiah Cheatom powered the Blue Waves’ offense on the ground Saturday against Newfield.

The Riverhead football team put the finishing touches on a 7-1 regular season Saturday with a 21-8 win over Newfield in Division II. The Blue Waves will enter the playoffs next week as the No. 1 seed and will face Half Hollow Hills West.

Recap: Blue Waves beat Newfield, even with a short-handed squad.

Check out photos from Saturday’s big win:

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Sports
11/02/13 6:12pm

SWR closes with a win, but slips to No. 4 seed

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11/02/2013 6:12 PM
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ROBERT O’ROURK PHOTO | Shoreham-Wading River senior Tyler Anderson scored three touchdowns Saturday against Port Jefferson.

WILDCATS 33, ROYALS 7

It took a few days for the sting of last week’s loss to John Glenn to begin to fade for Shoreham-Wading River. The Wildcats realized all they could do was prepare for the next game today against Port Jefferson and close out the season with a win.

“We tried to treat this week as a playoff week,” said Shoreham coach Matt Millheiser. “I think the kids responded to that.”

Shoreham rolled to a 33-7 road win over the Royals Saturday to finish the regular season at 6-2 in Division IV. But as the final power points were tallied, the sting of that earlier loss reappeared.

The Wildcats, who were in prime position to earn the No. 2 seed going into last week, which would have been the highest finish in program history, will instead begin the playoffs as the No. 4. While that does give Shoreham a home playoff game in the first round, it lines them up to most likely face unbeaten and top-seeded Babylon in the semifinals rather than the county championship.

There’s still a chance the Wildcats could avoid Babylon until the county finals; teams are reseeded after the first round. But that would require either No. 2 Mount Sinai or No. 3 John Glenn to lose in the first round in games they would be favored to win.

Shoreham will begin the postseason against No. 5 Center Moriches next Saturday at 1 p.m. The teams did not meet in the regular season. Mount Sinai, Glenn, Shoreham and Center Moriches all finished with identical records.

The Wildcats got a typically dominant performance against Port Jefferson from running back Tyler Anderson. He carried the ball 12 times and tallied 151 yards. He scored three touchdowns, including a 90-yard punt return early in the second quarter, which was the first special teams touchdown for Shoreham this season.

“He had a really, really good day,” Millheiser said.

Anderson didn’t normally return punts earlier in the year. But sophomore Chris Rosati has been limited with a sore hamstring, so to limit his playing time, the Wildacts threw their two-way starter onto special teams.

“As of right now we’re going to leave him back there,” Millheiser said.

Shoreham quarterback Daniel Hughes was 3 of 5 passing, including a 80-yard touchdown play to tight end Mitch Idtensohn.

Hughes, Isreal Squires and Aaron Harley-Rey all had interceptions for the Wildcats. Squires had a big day on defense with 10 tackles.

“The defense played well,” Millheiser said.

Shoreham led 33-0 in the fourth quarter before the Royals broke through for their lone score. Port Jefferson finishes the season 3-5 and out of the playoffs.

joew@timesreview.com

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