East Islip football rolls into Suffolk Division II championship game as Ryan Parker stars against North Babylon
East Islip RB Ryan Parker takes the handoff up the sideline for a big gain against North Babylon, in the Suffolk Division II football semifinals, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. Credit: George A Faella
It was all about Ryan Parker Friday night in Islip Terrace.
The senior was a force on both sides of the ball and scored three touchdowns, including a pick-6, as East Islip beat North Babylon, 38-12, in a Suffolk Division II football semifinal.
Parker finished with three interceptions, including a 10-yard return for a score, and 13 tackles. He added 145 yards rushing on 10 carries, including a 58-yard touchdown run, and also had a 5-yard TD reception.
“I was a water boy for the East Islip varsity when I was 5 years old and always dreamed of playing on this field in this red uniform,” Parker said. “This is my last game on this field in red and I couldn’t have played better. I’m excited that I’m headed to Stony Brook with all my teammates to play for another title.”
East Islip (10-0) will play the winner of the Half Hollow Hills East-Smithtown West semifinal at Stony Brook University at 4 p.m. Friday.
East Islip coach Sal J. Ciampi raved about Parker. “I’ve coached him and this group since they were 7 years old in the Police Athletic League,” Ciampi said. “Parker has been a two-way starter for us for three years. He’s an elite athlete. And beyond his athleticism, he’s one of the toughest kids I’ve coached.”
North Babylon’s Tristan Wojt recovered a fumble on East Islip’s first play from scrimmage. The Bulldogs took over at the East Islip 36 and six plays later, Logan Baptist threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jason Mack. The extra-point kick was blocked by Dylan Bayer.
East Islip then drove 57 yards in six plays, capped by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Thomas Costarelli to Jack Kalinowski. Anthony Mariani’s extra-point kick gave East Islip a 7-6 lead.
North Babylon halfback Jawara Keahey ripped off a 65-yard run before being knocked out of bounds at the East Islip 10-yard line. Two plays later, Bayer recovered a North Babylon fumble to set up a 12-play, 88-yard TD march.
Costarelli hit Kalinowski with five passes for 64 yards on the drive before finding Parker for a 5-yard scoring pass and a 13-6 lead with 9:54 left in the half.
“Perfect pass,” Parker said. “He threw a laser.”
East Islip extended the lead when Parker jumped a short pass in the flat and returned it 10 yards for the pick-6 and a 19-6 lead with 4:42 left.
“He jumped the route,” East Islip assistant coach Joe Taormina said. “He makes great decisions on the field.”
North Babylon responded with an 11-play, 76-yard march to the 9. On second-and-goal, Parker made his third interception of the half in the end zone with three seconds left.
Costarelli, who completed 9 of 11 passes for 161 yards and three scores, opened the third quarter by hitting Kalinowski in stride for a 68-yard TD and a 25-6 lead. Kalinowski had seven catches for 155 yards and two scores.
Keahey, who had 143 yards on 14 rushes in the first half, was held to 38 yards on 11 rushes in the second half.
Parker, a Rutgers University commit to play lacrosse, said he was concerned about his best friend and teammate, Jaden Schmidt, who exited the game with a hamstring injury.
“We need all of our guys back,” Parker said. “This is a total team effort around here.”
CORRECTION: The East Islip football team nickname was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.