Trailing when game was halted, Bellport football team returns Sunday and rallies to win
Marc Promutico of Bellport celebrates his game winning touchdown during the Suffolk High School Division II continuation of a partially delayed semifinal playoff game of MacArthuron Sunday, November 14, 2021 in Brookhaven. Credit: Dawn McCormick
For Bellport, it was worth the wait.
The Clippers and Half Hollow Hills East were forced to return on Sunday morning and finish the final 4:45 of a Suffolk Division II football semifinal that had been halted Saturday because of inclement weather as tornado warnings were issued late in the afternoon.
It took a little more than 18 hours to determine the winner.
Bellport tailback Marc Promutico ran off left tackle for a 2-yard touchdown with 39 seconds remaining, capping a 12-play, 71-yard drive that propelled the Clippers to a 34-28 win before more than 1,000 boisterous fans in Bellport.
Promutico, working out of the wishbone, followed explosive blocks from fullback Rahiem McKenzie and tailback Donte Phillips into the end zone untouched. Phillips added the two-point conversion run for the final margin.
No. 2 Bellport (9-1) will meet top-seeded Lindenhurst (9-1) for the Suffolk II title at Stony Brook University on Saturday at 7 p.m.
"The delay gave us a chance to regroup and make some adjustments," Bellport coach Jamie Fabian said. "And our defensive coordinator, Steve Schwicke, came up with a plan that the players executed. When we made that first stop on defense, it gave us a chance."
Before the stoppage, a 6-yard touchdown run by Phillips had closed Bellport’s deficit to 28-26. Hills East shut down the two-point conversion run to hold on to the lead before officials ordered the players from the field for safety concerns because of heavy rain and strong winds.
With lightning and thunder in the area and no lights at Bellport, Section XI officials moved the game’s resumption to Sunday morning.
When play resumed, Bellport tried an onside kick that failed, and Hills East took possession at its own 45-yard line. The Thunderbirds ran halfback Dakim Griffin — who already had scored three touchdowns — on three straight plays for no gain and were forced to punt.
The anatomy of the winning drive included some key plays: Jack Halpin passed 21 yards to Justin Miles for a first down at the Hills 45, and on fourth-and-2, Halpin threw to McKenzie for a 12-yard gain and a first down at the 25.
The biggest catch and throw came on third-and-8 from the 23. Halpin looked middle and then fired a dart to Phillips on a swing route. Phillips gained 9 yards to the 14 for another first down.
"I was reading the linebacker and he sat in the middle," said Halpin, who was 6-for-8 passing for 88 yards and a score. "I knew Donte could get outside and get that first down."
Three plays later, Promutico was in the end zone.
"We came back out here with the lead and they took it away from us," Griffin said. "It’s a very difficult loss. They switched the defense and beat us off the edge. Those Bellport guys are ballers."
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
