The Babylon Panthers took two more wins over the past two weeks.

On Friday night, October 3, the Panthers rolled up 518 yards on offense to beat the Mount Sinai Mustangs, 38-8 at Mount Sinai. Quarterback Greg Griffo was four of six in the air for 201 yards and three touchdowns. A host of backs rushed for 317 more yards on 46 carries. While Babylon chalked up 20 first downs, the Black D held the Mustangs to 4, with a net 117 yards from scrimmage. They forced three turnovers as Jaquan Pate had a 55-yard interception return and a fumble recovery and Steve Loudon added another pick.

The Panthers roared for five TDs in the first half. Jaquan Pate opened it with a 4-yard run. Alex Grandal added the first of his four extra point kicks. Sean Melow blasted in from the 2 and Griffo ran for a 2-point conversion. Griffo connected with James (JT) Pate on a 40-yard pass play and with Mark Panarelli from 33 yards out. Mount scored when Ozzie Okuyan broke away for a 48- yard TD run. The Mustangs added a 2-point conversion. Babylon went in again when Griffo hit Loudon on an 85-yard pass play. The Panthers scored two points in the third quarter on a sack in the end zone by Nick Brennan for a safety.

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Last Saturday afternoon, the Panthers stormed for 49 unanswered points in the first half, led by that offensive line - the Big Cats: center Wil Dupre, guards Mike Augello and Andrew Cosby, tackles Nick Brennan and Pat Pietrowski and tight end Kevin Kelland. They were just too much for the Southampton Mariners in a 49-7 rout at Richard H. Smith Field in Southampton.

Back in pads, tailback Bryan Schweitzer touched the ball for the first time this year as he gathered in the opening kickoff at the 10-yard line, raced up the middle through a few blocks, deked right and cut left eluding two defenders, then deked left and cut right to zip past the last man before taking it to the house on a 90-yard touchdown scamper. On the extra point attempt, quarterback Greg Griffo tossed a short lateral to Schweitzer who faded right and then tossed further to Max Lockwood in the end zone for two points.

Babylon's first offensive possession was thwarted on a sack by Mariner Zack Antilety. But they later went 90 yards on ten plays, capped with a 9-yard run around the right side by JT Pate on a double reverse. Alex Grandal (five for five) kicked the first of his extra points. Key plays in the drive were a 22-yard sweep by Schweitzer and a 26-yard down-and-out from Griffo to Steve Loudon.

The Panthers scored early in the second quarter following a fumble recovery by Zach Daniele at the Mariner 19. Three plays later, fullback Mark Panarelli blasted through right guard from the 8 for the TD. The score was the first half of a two touchdown tally without a second ticking off the clock. Loudon's kickoff went to the Southampton 1, where the Mariners allowed it to lie. Babylon's Matt Loskamp wisely raced downfield, scooped up the pigskin and dove into the end zone for the second TD to complete the oddity. The clock doesn't start on a kickoff until the receiving team touches the ball.

The Panthers weren't through. Schweitzer ran one in from the 6 to cap a five play 67-yard drive. Then with quarterback Dylan Hopkins at the helm, they went 43 yards on four plays with Hopkins moving right after a great inside fake and scoring on a keeper from the 14. Next, JT Pate intercepted a pass at the Mariner 20 and took it to the 15. On the first play, Cory Rugen sped off right tackle to score.

Led by the Black D's super line and inside linebacker Ryan Bliss, the Southampton offense was stifled throughout the game. When the Smurfs took over in the second half, they did just as well. The Smurfs are those guys that face off against the tough Babylon starters in all the practices. So going against anyone else, it's just another day at the office. They wear that title with great pride. In all, the defense held the Mariners to 34 net yards and five first downs on 39 plays from scrimmage.

Southampton did manage a late score when Lester Pettaway picked up a loose ball and ran 27 yards for a TD with just over five minutes remaining. Luke O'Connor kicked the extra point. Panther safety Mike Sullivan stopped their last attempt on a leaping interception near midfield to end the game.

Other stuff: Against Southampton, Schweitzer had 163 all purpose yards (121 in kick returns). Nine Babylon backs had 31 carries for 214 yards led by Rugen with 6 carries for 58 yards. Loudon had two kickoffs into the end zone. Satchel Holder made his varsity debut against Mount Sinai.

This Saturday evening, Babylon hosts the Glenn Knights at Williams Field. Game time is scheduled for 7 pm. Both teams are undefeated at 5-0 atop the division. The rivalry has been a hot one over the years. Last season, the Panthers came from behind with fifteen points in the last nine minutes to edge the Knights, 17-13. They'll all be up for this one.