Strong Second Half Powers
Huntington Football
The Huntington High School football team turned in a hard-hitting performance last Friday night at Westhampton Beach, rallying for 21 second half points to cruise past the Hurricanes, 35-13 before a crowd of 400.
The Blue Devils (4-1) slowly gathered steam in a game that saw quarterback Ben Kocis complete 9-of-15 passes for 149 yards, including a fourth quarter 19-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Christian Jamison. Kocis and Jamison (seven receptions for 140 yards) connected for several big yardage plays that electrified the Blue Devils.
“This was a great win brought about by a real team effort,” Huntington head coach Steve Muller said. “We worked through mistakes and injuries and found a way to score 35 points. Our offense was efficient and the defense was much more consistent.”
Blue Devil senior Troy Greene enjoyed an outstanding game. He rushed 17 times for 164 yards and made six solo tackles, including one for a loss and assisted on two others. “Troy stepped up when we needed him,” Muller said. “He showed a lot of guts.”
Westhampton Beach (2-3) struggled to contain Huntington’s impressive ground game, which gobbled up 314 yards. Butts (10 carries for 64 yards) and Kocis (10 carries for 87 yards) both scored two touchdowns. Placekicker Justyn Tesoriero went five-for-five in extra point attempts.
The Blue Devils play their home games on Saturday afternoons so players had to adjust to conditions under the lights last Friday night. Huntington’s bus pulled into Westhampton Beach about 90 minutes before the game and coaches went right to work with the team. But, it wasn’t until darkness set in that players started seeing the ball differently in the air.
By the second half, the Blue Devil offense had adjusted and was humming. “We picked up the pace and started making the big plays,” Muller said. Greene scooted down the sideline for a 46 yard gain and Kocis teamed up with Jamison for a 53 yard pass play. Meanwhile, Huntington’s defensive unit went into overdrive with a long series of bruising tackles and suffocating pass coverage.
The unit compiled 47 solo tackles, including three for a loss, 14 assists, two pass deflections and three fumble recoveries. Butts (10 tackles and two assists) and Tim Mattiace (seven tackles and one assist) led the Blue Devils from their linebacker positions. Christian Gonzalez had four tackles and an assist.
“Our defense played a very aggressive, physical game,” Muller said. “We have to keep playing that way week after week for the rest of the season.”
The Blue Devils travel to first place Miller Place (5-0) on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
Blue Devil Notes: Matteo McNeil had three tackles and two assists . . . Jimmie Nelson had three tackles, including one for a loss and an assist . . . Keegan Reilly (four tackles and a pass deflection), Justin Wiegold and Anthony Puca (two tackles and two assists) all recovered fumbles . . . Davonte Evans caught a pass for a seven yard gain and also had three tackles and a pass deflection . . . Y’Majesty Allen record two tackles . . . Nick Arleo had one reception for two yards . . . Joe Puca and John Shea both made tackles . . . Christian Jamison had a tackle and an assist . . . Weigold, Dylan Stieve and Tasean Betts each recorded a tackle on a kick . . . Besides going five-for-five on extra points, Tesoriero also notched a touchback on a kickoff following a Blue Devil touchdown.