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Health & Fitness

Blue Devils Upend Hauppauge to Advance in Playoffs

The Huntington High School football team established its ground game early in last Saturday’s Suffolk Division III quarterfinal game and went on to defeat Hauppauge before a crowd of 800 at Blue Devil Field, 35-14.

Troy Greene rushed 22 times for 181 yards and Lavar Butts added 118 yards on 17 carries as Huntington amassed 328 yards on the ground to grind out a victory and advance to next weekend’s semifinal round against Bellport.

“We were very effective moving the ball on the ground, which opened up some passing opportunities,” said Steve Muller, the Blue Devils’ longtime head coach. “We executed well and kept our composure.”

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Huntington quarterback Ben Kocis completed seven-of-nine passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Kocis’ favorite target was Christian Jamison, who had five receptions for 125 yards, including several catches for big gains.

No. 5 Hauppauge, which came into the game with a 6-2 mark, was looking to upset No. 4 Huntington on its home field. The game played out on a crisp fall afternoon before enthusiastic fans. After battling to a 7-7 halftime tie, the Blue Devils scored 21 consecutive second half points to grab a 28-7 lead and grab firm control of the game.

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“I don’t think our team really worries about what the opponent’s record is,” Kocis said. “We just go out on the field and play like it’s our last game because for all of us seniors, it may very well be. We knew what we had to do from the beginning, which was come out strong and put up points early. We managed to score on our first drive, which was huge.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Huntington took a 7-0 lead when Kocis zinged a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jamison. Justyn Tesoriero followed with the first of five extra points. The Eagles rallied to tie the score on a 30-yard touchdown pass, but the second half belonged to the Blue Devils.

Greene broke the tie in the third quarter when he raced eight yards into the end zone for Huntington’s second touchdown of the game. A short while later, Kocis and Jamison teamed up for the pair’s second touchdown of the day, this time from the five-yard line.

Butts scored twice in the final frame, with the first coming on a one-yard plunge and the second on an exciting 23-yard run. Hauppauge scored on a 28-yard pass play in between Butts’ touchdowns, but the Eagles were unable to make up any more ground.

While Huntington’s offense hummed, the Blue Devil defense repeatedly came up big, especially when it counted, including a goal line stand. “I couldn’t be more proud of our defense,” Muller said.

Butts led the unit with 10 tackles, including three for a loss and three assists. Infinite Tucker had eight tackles, one assist, a fumble recovery, interception and pass deflection. Greene added five tackles, two assists, a sack and two pass deflections. Jamison also enjoyed a big game defensively with five tackles, an assist and a pass deflection. Davonte Evans knocked down two passes and intercepted another.

Tim Mattiace had four tackles, including two for a loss and two assists. Y’Majesty Allen added four tackles, an assist and a pass deflection. Ryan Iwanicki (three tackles and two pass deflections), Jimmie Nelson (three tackles, including one for a loss and two assists) and Matteo McNeil (three tackles, an assist and a caused fumble) also played stellar games.

Huntington will host No. 6 Bellport (5-4) on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Blue Devil Field in the Suffolk Division III semifinals. Admission is $6 for fans 12 years old and up. The Clippers topped No. 3 Eastport-South Manor (7-2) last Friday night, 14-0 to advance. Huntington defeated Bellport at home on October 26 in a thrilling contest, 17-13.

“Our goal from the start of the season was to make the playoffs and get back to Stony Brook for the championship,” Kocis said. “This year especially, we have a great chance at doing that. We are coming off a great win, which should give us momentum going into out next game against Bellport.”

“We need to play a game free of mistakes to beat Bellport,” Muller said. “They are well-coached with very good players. We’ll work hard all week to make sure we’re ready for them.”

Blue Devil Notes: The Blue Devils had 475 yards of total offense . . . Retired physical education teacher and Blue Devil varsity lacrosse coach Steve Davis was at the game . . . Kocis rushed twice for 17 yards . . . Joe Puca had two carries for six yards . . . Former New York Jets running back Freeman McNeil was in the bleachers for the game . . . Evans rushed once for six yards . . . The Blue Devil pep band kept the crowd pumped-up throughout the game . . . The Huntington Highsteppers competitive dance team performed at halftime . . . Tucker had one reception for a 17 yard gain . . . Dr. David Weissberg, a 1972 Huntington graduate, provided medical coverage during the game . . . Huntington varsity boys’ and girls’ fencing coach handled the down marker on the sidelines . . . Lawn signs honoring Blue Devil seniors lined the pathway from the parking lot to the field . . . Anthony Puca had a tackle and an assist and opened up some gaping holes for Huntington’s ground game . . . Keegan Reilly and Val Gutierrez each had a tackle . . . The Blue Devils had 50 solo tackles, 15 assists, seven tackles for a loss, nine pass deflections, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two interceptions and a quarterback sack.

 

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