Lopsided Loss Leaves
H-ton Football Looking Ahead
After suffering a lopsided loss to Sayville last Saturday afternoon, all the Huntington High School football team can do is put the game behind it and look ahead to Friday night’s contest at Westhampton Beach.
The Golden Flashes (2-2) scored on the opening kickoff and went on to overwhelm the Blue Devils, 44-14 before a crowd of 750. “It’s over and there is nothing we can do about it,” said Steve Muller, Huntington’s head coach. “All we can do now is prepare for Westhampton and be ready to play. That’s what we intend to do.”
The Blue Devils entered Saturday’s game with a perfect 3-0 mark, but things turned sour early. After Sayville scored on the opening kickoff, Huntington responded by tying the game, but the Golden Flashes scored the next 37 points to build an insurmountable lead.
Huntington fell victim to repeated big plays by Sayville and its rugged running back, Matthew Selts, who rushed 29 times for 237 yards and two touchdowns. The Golden Flashes also pressured Blue Devil quarterback Ben Kocis all afternoon. The senior had three passes picked off by Kevin Murphy, who returned two of them more than 70 yards, leading to touchdowns.
Huntington trailed 24-7 at halftime and was unable to rally in a frustrating second half. The Blue Devils surrendered more than 330 yards on the ground and more than 60 in the air, plus hundreds more on interception and kickoff returns.
“We will regroup now and get back to work,” Muller said. “Everyone has a job to do and we need them to do it if we are going to be successful. Hey, Sayville played a great game and our hats go off to them. Now we have to move forward. We’re sure our kids will bounce back.”
Huntington’s attention is squarely focused on Westhampton Beach. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. on Friday night at the South Fork school.
Blue Devil Notes: Former New York Jets great Freeman McNeil watched the game in the bleachers . . . McNeil, who rushed for 8,074 yards in his 12 season NFL career, was selected for three Pro Bowl teams . . . The Blue Devil marching band performed its field show at halftime . . . The Highsteppers also performed during halftime . . . The Huntington JV football teams used a fourth quarter touchdown to top Sayville during a morning game between the teams, 8-0 . . . Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky watched the game from the sidelines . . . Many members of Huntington’s Class of 1973 were in the bleachers . . . The alums were celebrating their 40th anniversary class reunion, which included a Saturday night dinner party at the Melville Marriott . . . The game was covered by FIOS 1 and will be televised on Sunday, October 13.