TheBabylon Panthers are now in full training for the 2010 season. The team looks forward to a successful year. In his eighth year at the helm, Head Coach Rick Punzone expressed enthusiasm, “We have a good group of students with the speed and talent to compete, he said." Babylon is seeded second in Division IV. Bayport has been granted the top seed. Glenn, Mount Sinai, Hampton Bays and Center Moriches round out the top six. TheDivision will reduce from fourteen to twelve teams. Amityville and Shoreham have moved to Division III.

Thisyear’s returning assistant coaches are defensive coordinator Chris Morra, Steve Fasciani, Tom McNulty and Bill Singleton. Vinnie DiLapi moves up from the JV. Mike DeJoseph has moved up to Athletic Director. Tim Halvorsen will continue as JV coach, joined by J. P. Parinello. Dan McHugh and Jay Egan will direct the Junior High team.

Twenty-four players have graduated from last year’s club and seventeen are returning. Among the Big Cats, Nick Brennan, Casey Holgan, Brendan Cunningham, Zach Bassen, Jose Jimenez and John Sutherland return to the interior line positions. Most have experience on both sides of the ball and all have been tested in post season play. Linemen moving up from the JV and Junior High clubs are Harrison Dittmeier, Ryan Visgauss and John Dertinger. At tight end, Christian Amelia returns with Greg Dieterich moving up.

Wideouts Steve Loudon, Andrew Hurst and Matt Rodriguez return, with Michael Jackson moving up. Veteran quarterback Sam Zamet will be joined by Zach Fredericks. Theteam has a fine group of backs returning. Most are experienced on both sides of the ball as running backs, linebackers and defensive backs – Trevor Fudim, Sean Logan, Rod Holder, Connor Hunter, Connor Valvo and Kieran Donnelly. Frank Mankiewicz, Dan McHugh, Nahari Jenkins, Elijah Clark and Gene Cruz will move up. Thekicking game will be handled by Hurst and soccer standout Andrew Squeglia. The team captains will be Brennan, Hurst and Loudon.

The 2009 Panthers fell short of the County final for the first time in fourteen years. They defeated the ultimate County champ, Amityville, during the regular season, but fell to Bayport in the first round of the playoffs. Babylon ended the season at 7-2 and outscored their opponents 303-93. The offense gained 3131 yards, good for 135 first downs. The defense held all opponents to 74 first downs and 1633 yards.

The current regular season schedule for 2010 will have five night games: 9/11 (Saturday) at Greenport 2 pm, 9/16 (Thursday) vs. Glenn 7 pm, 9/24 (Friday) at Center Moriches 7 pm, 10/1 (Friday) vs. Mount Sinai 7 pm, 10/9 (Saturday) Homecoming vs. Wyandanch 2 pm, 10/15 (Friday) at Bayport 7 pm, 10/23 (Saturday) at Port Jefferson 2 pm and, 10/29 (Friday) vs. Hampton Bays 7 pm.