Babylon's #1, Jake Casciola, leaps over the pie for a key touchdown in theplayoff opener against Mount Sinai. Babylon won that game, 28-14. Photo by Garrett Meade

by Tony Spota

‘Twas a thing of beauty and a joy forever." They’ll remember this one. The Babylon Panthers went to the Suffolk County Division IV Championship game for the tenth straight year and stunned the top-seeded Southampton Mariners, coming from behind to win 17-14 on Tim Schweitzer’s 31-yard field goal in overtime. The game was played at Stony Brook University’s LaValle Stadium, last Thursday night in a biting wind. The Mariners, who finished in first place during the regular season, ended their year at 8-2. They had edged the Panthers 23-21 on September 24 at Williams Field.

It wasn’t easy. The Mariners had 265 yards on 61 plays from scrimmage and dominated the first half, carrying a 14-0 lead into the mid-game break. Babylon penetrated beyond the Mariner 30 twice, but the Southampton defensive front four – Wilson Anthony, Luckasz Rus, Patrick Newcomb and Lucas Lemos – stymied the Panther attack.

The Mariners succeeded on their first possession going 71 yards on five plays. Quarterback Zach Epley hit Kevin Mockler on a 32-yard fly down the left side taking them to the Panther 29. Two plays later from the 19, Epley hit Tyrone James on a right square-in for the touchdown. The extra point kick was blocked by Pat O’Shaughnessy. Southampton’s next two drives were hindered on a sack by Zak Viverito, a shared sack by Viverito and Matt Martinez and a sack by Darin Reddish. Epley’s punt appeared to be partially blocked by Viverito and Babylon had a first down at the Mariner 28. But they could move no further than the 25.

Southampton’s second scoring drive went 70 yards on 12 plays and ate up almost 6 and a half minutes. It was capped on a 22-yard burst around the right side by Tim Gallo with just over a minute to go in the half. On the extra point attempt, holder Zach Antilety lifted, rolled right and hit Mockler in the end zone for two points.

The cold did little to hold down the enthusiasm of the Panther backers. Babylon’s band was there in full swing and Meredith Carlock’s cheerleaders put on a neat halftime show at midfield.

Southampton started the second half by owning most of the third quarter. They recovered a loose ball at their own 43 to stop Babylon’s first possession. Reddish batted a pass at the line of scrimmage to stop the next Mariner threat. But Mariner Jason Halsey intercepted a pass at the Southampton 24 and took it back to the Babylon 46 to begin another drive. Then, with first down at the 31 and just over two minutes remaining in the period, everything changed. Epley’s pass was picked off by Reddish at the 26 and returned 74 yards for a touchdown and Babylon was on the board. A high snap on the extra point was taken by Schweitzer. He moved right seeking to run it in, was trapped there and his attempted pass to Bill Parker went incomplete in the then-crowded end zone.

The Mariners were still up, but the momentum shifted dramatically. Babylon linebacker Frankie Deesing played a game and a half. He searched and destroyed all over the field, taking down runners and receivers from sideline to sideline. The interior was at the top of their game as well - Martinez, Matt Brennan, Joe O’Brien, Anthony Parrinello. Babylon’s scoring drive went 67 yards on 7 plays. They scored when Ish Mohammed raced around the right side, broke a tackle, eeled out of another and went 49 yards for the TD. On the vital extra point attempt, quarterback Chris King rolled right but was hemmed in. He then raced back and to his left toward the middle seeking any receiver. He continued left and lofted a pass to the deep left corner of the end zone where Parker pulled it in. A great catch for two points and a tie game, 14-14.

With over 9 minutes to go, the rivals held one another at Bay, forcing overtime. Babylon had been here before, with great success, winning three big OT games, the most recent, a 14-13 thriller at Westhampton in last season’s County semifinal. The overtime format has the offense taking the ball from scrimmage at the defender’s 20 yard line with a first and 10. Each team gets possession at the same end of the field until one is ahead after the two have had an equal number of possessions.

Babylon won the toss and chose direction to the south end of the field. Southampton chose to defend first. The Panthers moved the ball to the 14 on three plays. Schweitzer attempted his first field goal of the season and drilled it home, splitting the uprights with plenty to spare – a 31-yarder. Then came Southampton’s chance. A stopped run for a loss and two short completed passes brought them to the 14. On fourth down, Epley’s pass, a short left post to Gallo over the middle, was broken up by King to end the thriller.

It was Babylon’s seventh County title in the last nine years. Coach Rick Punzone was obviously ecstatic after the game. "The interception (by Reddish) was the turning point. Our defense was really good in the second half. We’d been working on the field goal for some time, but haven’t had the chance to put it in until now. But in overtime, we chose the wind with that in mind. And it worked. Somebody up there likes us."

Perhaps, Somebody up there rewards hard work and long preparation.

Some key stats: Mohammed 19 carries for 143 yards (his fifth straight 100-yard game), Jake Casciola 13 carries for 45 yards. For Southampton – Epley 11 of 19 passing for 117 yards plus 19 rushing for 136 all purpose yards, Mockler 4 receptions for 52 yards, Gallo 11 carries for 64 yards, Noah Hatfield 18 for 66. Hatfield is a scholar-athlete who starred on defense, as well.

Babylon is now 8-2 and will go to the Long Island Level IV final against the Cold Spring Harbor Seahawks (9-1). Cold Spring defeated the Roosevelt Rough Riders, 21-12 for the Nassau Conference IV Championship. The game will be played at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium tomorrow (Friday). Game time is listed at noon.

The only time the Panthers and Seahawks faced off was in the 2001 Long Island final at Hofstra. Cold Spring won that one 7-6. The Panthers will be roaring.