Sports

Huntington Football Outlasts Harborfields

Two late interceptions help Blue Devils hold off Harborfields, 14-6, in opener.

Andrew Widmer picked apart the Huntington secondary all afternoon. It wasn’t all that surprising. The Harborfields senior threw 17 touchdowns a year ago, perhaps the best air attack you never heard of. 

How did Huntington prepare for him? By watching YouTube clips of Widmer’s greatest hits, of which there were plenty indexed and archived. 

So imagine the horror as Widmer drove Harborfields deep into Blue Devils territory in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s Suffolk Division III football opener. The last thing Coach Steve Muller and his players wanted was to be part of the latest YouTube testament to Widmer’s aerial greatness.

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But Huntington junior Keegan Reilly hit the pause button. The defensive back stopped one drive with an interception at the goal line with 3:38 left and senior Troy Greene’s pick with 1:53 to go sealed No. 2 seed Huntington’s 14-6 victory before a crowd of 400 in Greenlawn.

“I was there, caught the interception,” Greene said. “That’s the game.”

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“He’s a talent,” Muller said of Greene, who also scored a touchdown.

SEE: Game Photos

In a battle of highly touted quarterbacks, neither delivered the way they hoped. Huntington senior Ben Kocis directed touchdown drives to start each half but the offense sputtered in between. While the quarterback carries the burden, the issue went well beyond Kocis.

“That’s the inexperience,” explained Muller, who won his 100th career game at Huntington. He is 100-60 in 18 seasons. “We have a lot of sophomores at key positions. The left side of the line, free safety. It’s difficult your first game. You can practice and scrimmage, but to go out and play before a crowd – very different.” 

Greene put Huntington (1-0) on the board with a 10-yard touchdown scamper off right tackle with 5:51 left in the first quarter. Kocis pushed through the point after attempt for an early 7-0 lead.

Eighth-seeded Harborfields answered with a 13-play, 71-yard drive. Widmer found Alec Rappa open in the flat for a 4-yard scoring strike with 11:52 left in the half. The extra point sailed wide, leaving the Blue Devils in front, 7-6.

On a record warm day – Section XI, the governing body of Suffolk County athletics, issued a modified heat alert – even the referees cramped up. Huntington senior running back Levar Butts clutched at his hamstring late in the game as the heat and intensity took its toll.

By that point Butts had done plenty. He broke through one tackle en route to a 9-yard touchdown run with 9:06 left in the third and he added a 10-yard sack on defense to derail a Harborfields drive deep in Blue Devils territory. 

“I can’t even explain how hot it was,” Greene said. “Hotter than a sauna.” 

Butts, who finished with 81 yards on 13 carries, returned to the game after cramping up.

Related: Schedule l Roster

The Tornadoes had their chances. After Reilly’s interception at the goal line, the Harborfields defense held the Blue Devils at their own 10 and nearly blocked Kocis’ squib punt.

Widmer couldn’t connect on that final drive and the third-down snap sailed over his head, prompting a desperate throw into the arms of Greene to end the game. Huntington was simply happy to exit Greenlawn with a win over its rival. 

“I know Andrew very well. We were actually texting last night. I have so much respect for him. He played a heckuva game,” Kocis said. “It was the worst feeling ever [standing on the sideline late]. I know Andrew could have put that in. So things went well for us.”

Widmer completed 13 of 27 passes for 173 yards.

Huntington also edged the Tornadoes in the opener last season, 20-18. It ignited a 7-3 season that included a trip to the semifinals. 

Now the Blue Devils have a few extra days off before hosting Comsewogue on Sept. 21 at 1:30 p.m. 

“We need to get our feet back underneath us and work on some stuff,” Kocis said. “It definitely feels good getting the win here.”

Suffolk Division III Football

Teams………………….1…..2…..3…..4 – F

Huntington…………..7…..0…..7…..0 – 14

Harborfields…………0…..6…..0…..0 – 6

Hunt – Greene 10 run (Kocis kick)

Harb – Rappa 4 pass from Widmer (kick failed)

Hunt – Butts 9 run (Kocis kick)


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