It was a catch no one saw coming. After his big sack on Lindenhurst’s drive following an Orrik Blaise interception, Jason Hunt was in the right place at the right time, and jumped to pick a pass with 8:33 left in the first half. That change of possession, which gave the junior’s Bellport football team (3-1) the ball on its own 26-yard line, led two plays later to running back Donte Phillips’ 3-yard touchdown run, which would ultimately be the game winner in the Clippers’ monster 47-14 win over the previously undefeated Bulldogs.
“I knew we could do it,” Phillips said following the victory. “The linemen were great — did so good this game opening the holes for me — and the defense really got the job done. We had a great week of practice and knew this was going to be a good one.”
Bellport wide receiver and kicker Riley Murphy got the ball rolling early when he headed to the house off a 48-yard catch-and-run from senior quarterback Jack Halpin (3-for-6 for 100 yards) just over four minutes into the game, following it up with an extra-point kick. Phillips, who rushed the ball eight times for an additional 136 yards, opened the second quarter ending the drive his team began to close out the first with an 8-yard run on the first play for a 14-0 lead.
After Johnny Aquino’s 83-yard catch-and-run from sophomore quarterback Christian Capogna and Blaise’s interception at the nine-minute mark that came just shortly after senior Calvin Pedatella’s blocked extra-point kick attempt, it seemed that the tide might be changing, but Hunt wasn’t about to let that happen, and neither was Alex Brigidir (one sack), who with 1:20 left in the first half caught Capogna’s pass as he was falling at Bellport’s 17-yard line and carried it all the way the Lindenhurst’s 14.
“They played amazing,” Halpin said of his defense. “I saw interceptions, pass breakups, tackles — they made key stops, which was great.”
After being sacked for a loss of 10, Halpin threw to birthday boy Rahiem McKenzie, who picked up 13 yards before Bellport called timeout. Phillips returned from the break to pick up 10 yards and Halpin punched it in with 12 seconds left in the half for his first of three scores on the afternoon. After a five-yard penalty on an illegal procedure by Bellport, Murphy had his kick attempt blocked by junior defensive back Brady Dolan for a 27-6 Clippers advantage.
“I’m happy with how we executed,” Halpin said. “We knew who we were playing against. We entered practice knowing we had to do whatever it takes to win and work hard, so I’m excited with this outcome.”
Bellport continued to send shockwaves across Joe Cipp Field when Phillips (127 yards on 14 carries) took the ball to the Clippers’ 35-yard line on the second-half kickoff, and Halpin took the ball into the end zone on the very next play, with Murphy’s kick good for a 34-6 advantage.
“I saw open field,” Halpin said, smiling. “If I see open field coach always tells me to just run it, and I happened to see open field the whole game. I knew what I had to do.”
Blaise ran the ball nine yards for Lindenhurst at the 5:05 mark for the Bulldogs’ second touchdown, and the team was successful on a two-point conversion attempt, but it was the last points Lindenhurst would score. Halpin secured his final touchdown on a 17-yard rush, and even after Bellport removed its starters from the game, junior Justin Miles ran the ball 63 yards for the game’s final score.
“I was expecting to win, but I wasn’t expecting the score to be like that,” Halpin said, laughing. “But early on we set the tone.”
He said playing with most of his teammates since he was young doesn’t hurt, but added there’s always room for growth.
“I’ve played with most of them last year and trust all of them. We’ve been playing together since we were 5 years old, and I know they have my back and I have theirs, no matter what,” the senior said. “But we still have to improve. We always have to improve from every game.”
So it’s back to work Monday for the Clippers as they watch film to learn from their mistakes and get ready for a home game against Half Hollow Hills East (2-1) October 9 at 2 p.m. Halpin said he’s confident in his team’s chances, and Phillips took it one step further.
“I like this team,” the junior running back said. “We’re going to go far.”
While nothing is certain, one thing that is known is a statement was made Saturday afternoon: Bellport is here to play.
