Babylon's Rick Punzone notches 100th win
Babylon Rick Punzone yells from the sideline in the second quarter against Roosevelt in the Long Island Class IV football championship at LaValle Stadium. (Dec. 1, 2012) Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Rick Punzone was aware of the number. So were his players.
Babylon's 12th-year football coach got his first win at Greenport/Southold in 2003. How fitting was it that Punzone got his 100th against the same team at the same site, this time by a 35-0 score Friday night?
Punzone, who has a current record of 100-19, reached the 100-win plateau faster than any coach in the history of Long Island football according to Newsday records.
His winning percentage of .840 is the highest of any football coach in Long Island history.
Junior quarterback Ron Woodhull's 59-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was all the Panthers would need to help Punzone accomplish the feat Friday night. And with the season-opening win, Babylon has now won 25 consecutive games.
"It's a credit to all the kids that I've coached," Punzone said. "I've had a good hand to deal with. I'm most proud of all the hard work that everyone has put in and the consistency with the coaching staff."
Woodhull rushed for 75 yards on four carries and also completed 5 of 7 passes for 83 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Stephen Schweitzer's 27-yard touchdown run put the Panthers up 14-0 following Ronnie Pashen's second of five successful extra point kicks.
Jerry Brown's 10-yard touchdown run capped the first half scoring with Babylon leading by the game's final margin. Brown had three carries for 89 yards and two scores.
