Three takeaways from Week 4 of the Long Island high school football season
Thomas Costarell of East Islip scores as touchdown against Half Hollow Hills East during a Suffolk Division II Football game at East Islip on Saturday. Credit: David Meisenholder
1. Copiague improving
The Copiague football program has been in the throes of Long Island’s longest losing streak of all time. The Eagles dropped their 40th straight game in a 31-21 loss to Bellport on Saturday.
It’s been six years since the Eagles last won a game, but the lopsided losses of years past are no longer. Copiague is getting closer to that elusive win, and opposing coaches are seeing the improvement.
“It was no easy win,” Bellport coach Jamie Fabian said. “They’ll get there.”
You heard it here: the streak ends this season.
2. No more goose eggs
Trying to go an entire season without being scored upon is truly a difficult task.
There were three teams that entered the weekend without allowing a point, and now, there are none. Half Hollow Hills East, Mepham and Wantagh, who shut out each of its first three opponents, failed in the quest to make it four. Only Wantagh came away with a win and improved to 4-0. They toppled East Rockaway, 54-16.
Half Hollow Hills East lost to East Islip, 33-14, and Mepham was beaten by Carey, 27-14.
Only five teams since high school football began on Long Island in 1884 have gone the entire season without allowing a point. The last two to do it: Elmont in 1979 and Farmingdale in 1978.
3. Kiernan’s record performance
Miller Place quarterback Shane Kiernan threw for a school record 523 yards and six touchdowns in a 57-48 loss to undefeated Babylon. He rallied his team back from a 43-13 third-quarter deficit. Kiernan completed 38 of 54 passes and broke the single-game school record for completions, passing yards and TD passes.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.