Hurricanes Keep Churning Along, 43-12

Westhampton is a running team. Westhampton is a running team. Westhampton is a running team.

Opposing teams have had the mantra drilled into them, and with good reason. The unbeaten, untested Westhampton Hurricanes football team controls play, dominating time of possession, by using a punishing ground attack to rip through defenders and burn up the clock.

It’s what they do.

Except every once in a while, like the Long Island championship game last season. Then, locked in a tight game against Lawrence at the beginning of the second quarter, the quarterback Clarke Lewis faked a handoff freezing the defense for a moment, and instead uncorked a 66-yard touchdown bomb. That was as close as Lawrence would get.

The opponent Friday, September 28, was every bit as dangerous this year as Lawrence was in 2017. The Sayville Golden Flashes are arguably the most successful high school football team on Long Island and knocked Westhampton from the ranks of the undefeated two years ago.

On their first possession, Lewis seemed content to let his running game do the talking. Suddenly, off a play fake, he spotted Tyler Nolan breaking free toward the end zone. A 20-yard strike, and the subsequent extra point kick, gave the locals a 7-0 lead.

The surprise pass seemed to take some of the bluster out of the Sayville attack, and the Hurricanes added a field goal and a four-yard run by Jaden Alfano St. John before the first quarter ended.

Keep in mind Sayville is not just another team — the legendary Golden Flashes are the most successful high school football team in the history of Suffolk County. How good? Consider Sayville has been either the Long Island champion (2014, 2012, 2011, 2008) or Suffolk champion (2015, 2013, 2010, 2008) eight of the past 10 years. Old times said Westhampton’s last win against division rival Sayville came in 1956 before the locals turned the trick last season.

The Flashes tried to mount an attack against Westhampton’s formidable defense, closing to 17-6 in the second quarter but the local reverted to what they do best — run. Liam McIntyre rumbled for a 10-yard TD early in the third, then St. John bullied his way in from four, followed another long drive. The final was a surprisingly comfortable 43-12 victory, the fourth of the season for the Hurricanes.

St. John ended with 103 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.

McIntyre (21-102) also scored twice. Matt Leotta only carried the ball twice but one was a 61-yard TD run. The win leaves Westhampton with a 4-0 mark and a 15-game winning streak heading into Friday night’s game at Islip (2-2). Kickoff is 7 PM. Sayville (2-2) plays at Miler Place at 6 PM the same evening (October 5). Westhampton is tied with Half Hollow Hills East atop the Conference II standings.

In Conference IV action, the combined North Fork team upended Southampton 28-23. Credit Tyrus Smiley, who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and rushed for a third. Greenport/Southold/Mattituck evened its record at 2-2; Southampton fell to 1-3. The Settlers travel to Glenn (3-1) Saturday October 6 at 1:30 and Hampton Bays goes to Shoreham Wading River (3-1) the same day. Kick off for that one is 2:30 PM.

Riverhead busted up Deer Park 41-0 in Conference II action. Christian Pace passed for two scores, C.J. Door caught a TD pass and Albert Daniels ran for two more as the Blue Waves moved to 2-2 on the season. Next up is Bellport (2-2) Saturday afternoon at 2.

rmurphy@indyeastend.com