Blue Devil JV Football Finishes at 6-2
The Blue Devil junior varsity football team turned in a gritty performance this fall, outscoring its opponents 249-141 and compiling a 6-2 mark under coaches Todd Jamison and Ron Wilson.
"This very young team performed well in every aspect of the game," Wilson said. "I will be honest and say that both Coach Jamison and I didn't feel we were going to fare well this season. The first few weeks of practice were very difficult. We were both light in weight and in numbers. We had only a few players that we felt we could count on, but the question remained: Could they play a full 48 minute game? They proved us wrong!"
Over the course of the season, the young Huntington squad developed and matured into outstanding athletes and "great young men," Wilson said.
The Blue Devils were a team that came to realize no one person could do it all. "But when all of us combine our talents, whether we are a coach or an athlete, we can do more than endure - we can prevail and achieve," Wilson said. "Our team conquered because we all were able to play a part and enjoy this great game called football."
The outlook for next year is a little bit hazy right now because it's not known which players will be elevated to the varsity team. The J. Taylor Finley Middle School eighth grade team, which was one of Suffolk's strongest, will be sending many talented players to the high school next fall. "They have some size and ability," Wilson said. "It was nice watching some of their games. Usually I say it's going to be a rebuilding year, but I think next year we will again finish in the top three of our division."
Although the start of practice is more than nine months away, Wilson is already setting some goals, including defeating Sayville, "who has become our biggest rival and our nemesis," he said.
Blue Devil First Downs: The Huntington JV was captained by John Mallouk, T.J. Greenhill, Troy Greene and Larry McGill . . . Mallouk rushed 28 times for 254 yards and caught 13 passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns . . . He also recorded 59 solo tackles, (11 for loss), two sacks, three interceptions and one fumble recovery . . . He was also an extraordinary punter, with a 63-yard per kick average . . . Greenhill rushed 194 times for 1,470 yards and 23 touchdowns and also caught 15 passes for 132 yards . . . He also had nine two-point conversions . . . Greenhill made 24 solo tackles, including two for a loss . . . Matt Curley, an offensive guard/linebacker, recorded 24 tackles (nine for a loss), seven sacks and one interception and fumble recovery . . . Quarterback Ben Kocis completed 52-of-78 passes for 576 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns . . . Greene caught 17 passes for 126 yards and had 29 solo tackles (6 for a loss), one sack, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.