East Islip football knocks off Half Hollow Hills East in battle of unbeatens
Ryan Parker #24 of East Islip celebrates a touchdown against Half Hollow Hills East during a Suffolk County Division II Football game at East Islip High School on Saturday, October 5, 2024 Credit: David Meisenholder
Two things were at work in a battle of unbeaten teams.
The Half Hollow Hills East football team shut out three straight opponents to open the season. And the East Islip offense was so productive they were averaging 39 points in the first half of their first three games.
With the collision of an impenetrable RedHawks defense and a stout East Islip offense – yes - something had to give.
And it happened quickly.
East Islip opened the game with a five-play, 80-yard touchdown drive capped by a Ryan Parker 9-yard touchdown run over the left tackle.
East Islip would continue to pound away at the Hills East defense, scoring on four of its first five drives for a 13-point halftime lead in a 33-14 win over Half Hollow Hills East in a pivotal Suffolk Division II football game in Islip Terrace.
The win moved East Islip to 4-0 and dropped Half Hollow Hills East to 3-1.
“We were efficient on the offensive side of the ball and our defense was excellent,” East Islip coach Sal J. Ciampi said. “I thought we came out and made a statement on the first drive.”
East Islip quarterback Thomas Costarelli keyed the drive with a 16-yard run and a 41-yard pass completion to streaking Jack Kalinowski to the RedHawks’ 12.
“They’re not stopping our offense,” East Islip halfback Niko Meyers said. “Especially when Thomas is throwing the ball so well.”
East Islip extended the lead with a 10-play, 58-yard scoring drive. Costarelli scored on a quarterback sneak and Anthony Mariani added the kick to make it 14-0 with 7:42 left in the half. The key play came on third down and 18, when Costarelli found Kalinowski with a 20-yard strike to the RedHawks’ 25.
After a Hills East three and out, East Islip drove into the red zone and Mariani added a 25-yard field goal for the 17-0 lead with 2:04 left.
Hills East, which had totaled 12 yards on nine plays in its first three drives, took advantage of three penalties totaling 30 yards, to move into scoring position and get on the board. Quarterback Nick Sevilla found Logan Soler for a leaping 39-yard touchdown catch and the extra point made it 17-7 with 56 seconds left in the half.
East Islip wasn’t done. On first down at the East Islip 37, Costarelli hit Parker with a neat screen for 35 yards to the RedHawks’ 28 and three plays later Mariani nailed a 40-yard field goal as time expired for the 20-7 halftime lead.
Hills East took possession to open the third and moved 38 yards to the East Islip 39 before a loss of five and two incomplete passes stalled the drive.
Costarelli, who completed 7 of 10 passes for 187 yards, went back to work and drove 56 yards in seven plays for another score. This time, he looked right and turned to fire to his left and found a wide-open Meyers for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Meyers broke one tackle and ran through another at the goal line to make it 27-7.
“I faked the block and delayed before I went out into the flat on a swing pattern,” Meyers said. “It was a great pass. Thomas got me the ball and I wasn’t going to be stopped.”
Meyers and Jake Simmons then recorded back-to-back sacks halting the RedHawks’ drive at the East Islip 45.
“Our defense is so strong,” Meyers said. “There’s nothing better than being an underdog and proving people wrong.”
Hills East’s electric halfback Daniel White, who was averaging 222 yards rushing and three touchdowns per game, was held to 76 yards on 14 carries and kept out of the end zone.
The East Islip defense was led by Dylan Bayer, Parker and Simmons, who had two sacks.
“We had a couple of breakdowns,” Ciampi said. “We’ll clean that up. Otherwise, it was a solid win.”
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.