Babylon Panthers win Long Island Championship

In top photo, Senior Running Back Bryan Schweiter breaks loose from the pack and goes for the first down. The Babylon Panthers went the distance and won it all. They defeated the previously unbeaten Seaford Vikings, Conference IV Champions of Nassau County, in the Long Island Class IV Championship game at Stony Brook University's LaValle Stadium last Saturday evening. Babylon's 35-28 victory was a cause for celebration as the Panthers knocked off two undefeated teams in as many weeks. They marred Glenn's bid for a perfect season on the previous Saturday.

Babylon has gone to the Suffolk County final thirteen straight years, winning eight of those contests. They've now won the Long Island Championship game four times, beating Seaford twice out of the three times they've met.

Babylon completed the season at 11-1, tying the school record eleven wins set in 2002. The Panthers piled up 445 points this year, the highest of all Long Island teams, while scoring 65 touchdowns, surpassing the unofficial Babylon school records also set in 2002 (414 points, 60 TDs). The victory capped a four team sweep by the Suffolk entrants into this year's finals. Connetquot, Riverhead and Sayville defeated their Nassau County rivals, as well.

Center, Head Coach Rick Punzone with trophy and team, post game. The Babylon Marching Band was honored to open the event with our National Anthem. The Babylon Cheerleaders performed at halftime.

Seaford had led all Long Island teams in defense, having yielded only 70 points in their previous eleven games. Against Babylon's offense, the game promised to be classic. But the powerful Panthers scored 35, half of Seaford's prior yield. The Vikings had been thriving with that stingy defense and with an unorthodox approach to the game. They like to gamble. But rolling the dice against a well organized, ball control team like the Panthers has its risks. And Babylon capitalized with the advantage of fine prep work for the possibilities that loomed ahead.

Seaford had successfully used the onside kick when they won their Nassau title. They use a three kicker approach on kickoffs. Babylon was on to it - in spades. The middle kicker of the small wedge would squib the ball up the middle. The kicker to Babylon's left would dribble it to Babylon's right and the opposite would occur from the kicker to Babylon's right. It turned into disaster for the Vikes. None of the kicks was recovered by them as Babylon's good hands people successfully covered each - Ryan Berry (twice), Jimmy Kelly and Alex Grandal. One kick actually never reached the Panthers and squiggled out of bounds, untouched at the Seaford 37-yard line - an unheard of loss on a kickoff. The bottom line was Babylon had excellent field position on each kickoff.

At left, Senior Quarterback Greg Griffo finds room to run around the left side for a touchdown. Photos by Jeff Wilson Seaford drew first blood. Their initial possession went 71 yards on ten plays. The keys were a 30-yard sweep around the left side by fullback Andrew Alba and an 18-yard buttonhook pass from quarterback Chris Rigoli to Billy Kempner, getting the ball to the Babylon 4. Tailback Nick Barbuto slashed off right tackle from there for the score. Babylon bounced right back. Taking advantage of the out of bounds kickoff, they went 37 yards on six plays. The Big Cats up front showed they were more than the Seaford D could handle. Quarterback Greg Griffo carried twice for 29 yards and the drive was capped by tailback Bryan Schweitzer on a dive from the 2. On the extra point, Dylan Hopkins tossed a lateral to the left to Schweitzer, who then tossed it into the end zone to Grandal for the 2-point conversion. And Babylon was up 8-6, a lead they'd never relinquish.

The Black D stifled Seaford's next attempt with a three-and-out. The Big Cats then led the Panthers on a 73-yard march. The key was a 36 yard fly from Griffo to Grandal, getting them to the Viking 10. Four plays later, Griffo went in on a keeper off right tackle from the 3. Grandal added the first of his three extra point kicks. Seaford's gamble on their next possession was another disaster for the Vikes. On fourth and three from their own 37, they showed punt, but faked and the attempted pass was incomplete. Helped by a pass interference call, the Panthers drove the remaining yardage to the 1 and fullback Sean Melow banged it in from there behind Andrew Cosby's block. Seaford then went 70 yards on nine plays. The key was an inside counter with Joe Fallarino hauling it 35 yards to the Babylon 6. Alba blasted in from the 1 for the TD. On the 2-point conversion, Rigoli tossed a quick buttonhook over the middle to an open Mike Gallo. Babylon's next possession was hindered with a sack by Alba. Seaford's was ended on an interception by JT Pate, his fifth of the year. Babylon carried a 22-14 lead into the half.

The Panthers padded their lead on the play of the game. Defensive end Cody Graham charged in and tipped the pass as Rigoli gunned to his right. The ball floated a bit and was picked off by Schweitzer cutting to his left from his inside linebacker position at the Seaford 31. He continued left and raced it into the end zone. It was Schweitzer's seventeenth TD of the year, his third on defense and second by interception.

Following another failed fake punt, broken up by Griffo tipping away an intended pass, the Panthers went 35 yards on nine plays. The key came on fourth and four at the Viking 17. Griffo hit Steve Loudon on a short post to put the ball at the Vike 2. Following a pair of penalties, Melow slammed over right guard from the 1 and the Panthers were up 35-14.

But it wasn't over. The Vikings came back with two scores. Rigoli had three completions to Kempner for a total 40 yards in the first drive before Alba took it in over left tackle from the 2. Rigoli tossed to Kempner for the 2-point conversion. Their next try was killed on a pick by Griffo giving the ball to Babylon at the Seaford 19. Seaford's final drive went 84 yards on ten plays. Rigoli passed for 64 of those yards and capped it with a 23-yard pass to Gallo. The extra point attempt was killed as Loudon intercepted the pass try, his fifth pick of the year. The onside kickoff attempt was covered by Grandal with 39 ticks left and Griffo knelt it out.

An elated Babylon coach, Rick Punzone, whose main task is as a teacher at the Babylon Memorial Grade School, was quick to shout "No homework this week!" upon spotting a few of his students on the field after the game. Punzone went on to praise Seaford, "They had a great two years. They certainly deserve the Rutgers (the award for Nassau's top football team). We had great resolve after that loss to Glenn (37-34 in overtime). We had great focus after that. The team worked hard every week. They're a pleasure to coach." The team showed class when they applauded the Seaford players as they walked off the field. The Vikings then paused and went over to mingle with the Panthers as their coach Rob Perpall congratulated Babylon and indicated, "We loved being here for this one."

The Panthers had a great season. They outscored all opponents 445-143. Babylon gained 4175 yards in total offense and held the opposition to 1978. They had an advantage in first downs 186-87 while the turnover difference was 14 giveaways to 34 takeaways.

A salute to the seniors: #1 Mike Sullivan, #2 Cory Rugen, #4 Bryan Connolly, #5 Greg Griffo, #7 Jimmy Kelly, #11 JT Pate, #24 Max Lockwood, #36 Sean Melow, #40 Ryan Bliss, #42 James Ferri, #43 Alex Grandal, #44 Bryan Schweitzer, #51 Pat Pietrowski, #55 Richie Smith, #67 Cody Graham, #75 Matt Lo- skamp, #77 Jose Feliciano, #82 Kevin Kelland.

Babylon's repeated successful program is a tribute to the entire support system from the Athletic Directors to the coaches to the JV and Freshman teams. The JV had an excellent season, going 6-2. The feeder process looks promising and the varsity has a number of key returnees. The Panthers will roar again.