Senior QB Greg Griffo alludes sack by junior Chris Derrick, completing pass for 1st down. Photo by Jeff Wilson The Babylon Panthers faced off against the Amityville Warriors in a battle of two highly ranked Division IV gridiron clubs. The Warriors were last year's champs, having nipped the Panthers in the last 26 seconds of the Suffolk County final. They then went on to the Long Island Championship. Amityville's desire was to stay on top. Babylon was out to avenge last season's outcome.

This time the Panthers won, 33-14 at Williams Field last Friday night. It was Babylon's first night game with their new permanent lights, and the festive crowd was there to fill the park. Directed by Charlie Leetch, the Babylon Marching Band was at the top of its game, as well.

The lines for both teams were up for it. The Amityville interior offense- Taurean O'Kelley, David Kinard, Eventz Francois, Darnell Benjamin, Steven Robinson and Steven Medard were particularly tough. You may recall Medard's outstanding performance throughout last year's playoffs. The group provided excellent protection for quarterback Gavin Kretz who was gunning from a setback position. The southpaw completed 7 of 10 for 91 yards.

The Warriors drew first blood. They moved 63 yards on six plays, capped with a 2-yard blast over right guard by Tyler Heller. Two plays keyed the drive- a right roll out from Kretz to Heller for 20 yards and a 39-yard burst off right tackle by Cornell Warrick. The latter went down to the Panther 2-yard line, where Babylon's Greg Griffo made a touchdown saving hit.

Babylon struck right back. JT Pate took O'Kelley's kickoff at the 15, raced up the middle behind a number of fine blocks, cut to the left side and then veered to the middle, taking it to the house—an 85-yard beauty. Alex Grandal kicked the extra point, putting the Panthers ahead, 7-6, a lead they would not relinquish.

In the second quarter, following a loose ball recovery by Max Lockwood on a punt play, Babylon took over on its own 42. They then drove 58 yards on eight plays. Griffo cut around the left side on a keeper and went 30 game. O'Kelley's powerful kickoff went over the returners and into the end zone. Babylon then marched 80 yards on 11 plays with five first downs in over six minutes. With the ball on the Warrior 10, Griffo fired to the right side, just across the goal line. Grandal, the intended receiver, went up for it and the ball went off his outstretched hands where it was caught six yards further by JT Pate for the TD. The Warriors' next possession ended when a pass went off the receiver and was intercepted by Grandal at the Bab 43. The Panthers controlled it again, marching 57 yards on eleven plays. It was capped on the third play of the fourth quarter. Griffo lofted a bomb to the near right corner where JT Pate leaped high over the defender to pull it in. The play went for 20 yards. Griffo then passed to Steve Loudon for the 2-point conversion. Panarelli's kickoff went loose at the Warrior 7, and was recovered by Lockwood (his second recovery of the night). Two plays later, from the 4, Grandal swept the right side untouched for the TD. The Warriors' very next play went for another turnover when Jaquan Pate picked off a pass and took it to the Amityville 39. This time the Warrior defense held off the Panther attack.

Amityville got on the board again. They went 62 yards on two plays. Bing. Bang. Quick. Warrick raced up the middle for 13 and a mask penalty moved it five more. Heller then made the run of the day. He sped over the right side, cut to the middle and then left for a 70-yard run to pay dirt. Kretz then passed to Heller for the 2-point conversion.

Babylon's last possession ran off the last six minutes with Griffo taking two final genuflects to end it at the Warrior 11. The fine Panther offensive line had a terrific second half of ball control- center Wil Dupre flanked by guards Mike Augello and Andrew Cosby, tackles Nick Brennan and Pat Pietrowski and tight end Kevin Kelland. Babylon hogged the ball for 37 of the 42 plays from scrimmage in the last two quarters of play.

Coach Rick Punzone praised the effort. "Our offensive line was outstanding in the second half. We knew it'd be a tough heavyweight fight and we were able to chip away and then deliver the KO against a very good team."

Other stuff:

•In 59 plays from scrimmage, Babylon gained 263 yards (210 rushing) with 15 first downs. Amityville gained 247 (156 rushing) on 25 plays. Amityville had two first half sacks. Warrick had 8 carries for 92 yards and a sack on defense. Heller had 157 all purpose yards rushing, receiving and kick returns. Among Babylon's seven ball carriers, Jaquan Pate toted 20 times for 66 yards, Sean Melow 10 for 49, Griffo 8 for 38 and Cory Ruden 7 for 34.

•It was a beautiful community gathering on a Friday evening in Babylon- the marching band, both groups of cheerleaders performing, a good sportsmanlike crowd on both sides, a pair of old rivals with excellent teams on the field and handshakes at the end. This is what local football is all about.

Babylon's next game is Saturday, against the Port Jefferson Royals at Port Jeff. Both teams are 2-0. The Royals beat Mount Sinai last weekend, 17-9. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 pm.