The Streak Continues
The Huntington football team's winning streak grew to three games after the Blue Devils topped visiting Miller Place last Saturday, 24-14.
Playing underneath a brilliant blue sky, Huntington senior Calvin Bollar took a hand-off from quarterback Dan Plant on the first play of the game and scooted 17 yards for a first down. It was a sign of things to come. A short time later, Blue Devil running back J.T. Taylor bolted 28 yards for the game's first touchdown.
"We hoped to get off to a fast start," said Steve Muller, who is in his 15th season as Huntington's head coach. Before the first quarter had ended, Matt Curley had kicked a 22 field goal to extend the Blue Devil lead to 10-0.
Huntington's offense stalled in the second frame but its defense was up to the task of keeping Miller Place in check. The hard-charging Blue Devil line played its best game of the season, applying plenty of pressure and bringing down ball carriers with repeated rugged tackles. Dante Allen (two sacks and five tackles), Trayvon Toney (10 tackles) and Devon Nelson (blocked pass and eight tackles) sparkled throughout the afternoon.
"Our defense stepped up when we needed it the most," Muller said. The unit repeatedly came up with big plays. When Huntington got called for pass interference to give Miller Place the ball on the one-yard line, the Blue Devil held the line. "It was great to see our guys hanging tough like that," Muller said.
After Taylor returned the second half kick-off 88 yards for a touchdown and Curley split the uprights for the extra point, Huntington had a comfortable 17-0 lead. But, the Panthers didn't quit. They quickly responded with a touchdown of their own to shrink the Blue Devil advantage to 17-7.
Huntington made it 24-7 when Bollar sprinted 24 yards for a touchdown. The 5'9 senior enjoyed a memorable afternoon, picking up 115 yards on 10 carries, catching two passes for 13 yards and making several brutal tackles on defense.
Plant was his usual calm-and-collected self, completing 6-of-9 passes for 81 yards and serving as field general. "Dan is getting better-and-better," Muller said. "He's a leader out on the field and teammates respect him."
Huntington's ground game piled up nearly 300 yards rushing. In addition to Bollar, Taylor rushed nine times for 113 yards and Toney had 10 carries for 50 yards. The trio of running backs got to the ball quickly and accelerated through the line like cannon balls. Several times Bollar required four tacklers to be brought down.
The Blue Devils are looking to qualify for the post-season for the first time since 2006. "We're taking it one week at a time," Muller said. "We can't afford to look past any opponent".
Huntington's next test comes on Saturday when it travels to Deer Park for a 2 p.m games. "It's a big game for us," Muller said. "They're all big games from here on in."
Blue Devil Notes: Senior Lauren Corcoran performed a perfect rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner from the press box . . . Will Coffey had one reception for 21 yards . . . Curley was 3-for3 in extra points . . . Tom Mulligan caught one pass for 20 yards . . . Ryan Mulligan picked off a pass . . . Tyre Brown hauled in two passes for 27 yards . . . Despite glorious sunshine, the crowd was smaller compared to last week's . . . One possible explanation for the drop in attendance was the Unity in the Community festival held along New York Avenue in Huntington Station, which drew hundreds of local folks.