Huntington Wins First Football Playoff Game in 13 Years

Speed. The Huntington football team used it multiple times to race past visiting North Babylon and win their first football playoff game in 13 years this past Saturday, 41-14. The Blue Devils will play in the county semifinals on Saturday (Nov. 15) at Half Hollow Hills East at 1 p.m.

Yasir Jones enjoyed another memorable afternoon, rushing 10 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns. His 22 touchdowns this fall are the second most in Suffolk.

Huntington jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead and went ahead 21-7 by halftime. The Blue Devils scored two unanswered touchdowns in the third quarter to extend their advantage to 35-7 and effectively put the game out of reach.

The victory was Huntington’s seventh of the fall. Hills East advanced to the Suffolk Division II Final Four with a 59-28 win over Smithtown East.

The Blue Devil defense kept North Babylon in check for most of the game. That’s how Huntington head coach Ron Wilson planned it. Frank Algieri led both teams with 12 tackles, including one for a loss and an assist Ethan Lawless had 11 tackles, including one for a loss and a quarterback sack. Erick Anariba recorded eight tackles and Gevonne Henderson had six tackles and an interception along with rushing for 15 yards and catching a pass for another 10 yards.

Jones was once again magnificent, scoring on runs covering five, six and 81 yards. The senior has rushed 159 times for 1,205 yards.

Titan Elysee also had a big game, running back a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown and making seven tackles and a quarterback sack.

Quarterback Jacob Guzik completed six-of-eight passes for 140 yards along with 33 yard and 68 yard touchdown tosses to Jack Kamenstein, who had five receptions for 130 yards.

Huntington’s offense totaled 364 yards. The Blue Devil defense made 84 tackles, four tackles for a loss, three assists, two quarterback sacks, two pass deflections and an interception.

Blake Bender and Henry Gerberg both made seven tackles. Gerberg added a pass deflection Chase Northrop had five tackles and a pass deflection.

“We played a great game against a very proud and well coached team,” Huntington head coach Ronald E. Wilson said. “We got a little banged up so we are hoping to get healthy again this week.”

Huntington toppled defending county champion Hills East on its own field to open the season. The Blue Devils won 28-14 behind the offensive might of Jones, Guzik and Kamenstein and Lawlesses 13 tackles and two quarterback sacks on defense,