Redmen Shutout Archrival Lions 21-0, Will Rematch Next Week in Playoffs

The good news for West Islip?  They get another crack at East Islip next week in the first round of the playoffs.  The Bad News? The Lions were inept in stopping the run, controlling the clock and will have to travel across town lacking any sort of momentum against the juggernauts of Division II.

The Redmen were able to score touchdowns in each of the first three quarters and force Lions' quarterback Anthony Santo into three costly interceptions for a 21-0 win at West Islip High School.

"Our gameplan all week as to run the ball and run the ball," Redmen junior running back Tyler Rigo said.  "And we did it well." 

East Islip executed their plan with few flaws and took home the Great American Rivalry Series trophy for the second consecutive season.  It was their sixth win over West Islip in their last seven contests. 

"It's huge, we circle the game every year," Redmen senior quarterback Kevin Hutchinson said.  "Everyone was looking forward to it on our team, we just prepared well, watched film, had good practices and we got the job done."

Rigo scored the first points of the game on a toss to the right side that he took 21 yards to paydirt with just over minute left in the first.

On the West Islip's ensuing possession, Santo hit Andrew Federico with a 31 yard pass that brought the Lions down to East Islip's 19. But two plays later, Santo scrambled right and forced a ball to the middle of the field that was intercepted in the endzone.

That's when the East Islip's rushing attack came alive.  The Redmen took over at their own 20 with just over 11 minutes left in the second quarter, and didn't give the ball back to the Lions until there was 23 seconds left.  Hutchinson marched the offense 80 yards in 16 plays, capped off with an option pitch to Pete Hanabergh from eight yards out for a touchdown and 14-0 halftime lead. 

"If you have the ball in your hands and control time of possession, it'll help you come out on top," Hutchinson said.

West Islip started with the ball in the second half, but any hopes of points were quickly shattered.  Santo dropped back, rolled to his right and threw it right into the hands of Rigo, who returned it 47 yards for a touchdown.

"He was scrambling, I don't think his feet were set," Rigo said.  "He just threw the ball and I got it and was fortunate to get in the endzone.

"It's just us throwing them the ball on defense," coach Steve Mileti said.  "We were moving the ball to the redzone, but you just can't throw the ball up for grabs, which we haven't really done.  We're on the plus side on turnovers this year, and today we were on the minus, and you can't play that way against the first place team." 

Santo threw his third pick on the next possession, and East Islip's defense was able to keep the Lions off the scoreboard for the rest of the half.  The Redmen will enter the postseason as the top seed in Division II, and will host West Islip next Saturday for the rematch. 

"We look forward to next week, they'll be coming a lot harder," Rigo said.  "It's the biggest game of the season and we have to prepare more."

The Lions, who will get the eight-seed, will have to regroup and limit the turnovers if they want to advance into the second round.

"It's fun for us, the same thing happened last year, it was a great football game," Mileti said, referring to last year's postseason battle.  "Our kids always come out fired up, it's not like they're not giving their heart and souls out there.  They just came out with a nice gameplan."

Stay Tuned for video highlights, stats, and more photos.