Daniel White's 4 TDs help Hills East topple North Babylon
Half Hollow Hills East's Daniel White scores a touchdown in the third quarter against North Babylon on Saturday. Credit: Bob Sorensen
Opening the season in the defending county champion’s home can be intimidating for some, but having a running back like junior Daniel White to lean on can certainly ease the tension.
Against the defending Suffolk Division II champions, the Half Hollow Hills East football team made a statement to open its 2024 season. With a first-year starter under center, Hills East relied on White, who carried them to a 39-0 road win over North Babylon. White rushed 17 times for 249 yards and four touchdowns and scored on four consecutive possessions to help his team run away with it early.
White gave credit to the big guys in front of him for his performance.
“It feels amazing,” White said. “I’ve got to give my credit to the offensive line. They were blocking well, they were doing everything well, so I just hit the holes and got to the open field. They made it happen.”
Hills East was playing its first game as the RedHawks after changing the school's name from the Thunderbirds to comply with the state's ban on Native American team names.
Hills East’s offense stalled on each of its first two drives, but then senior defensive back Logan Soler gave them a short field by recovering a fumble at North Babylon’s 22-yard line. Three plays after the takeaway, White waltzed into the end zone for a three-yard touchdown to start the scoring.
After getting another defensive stop, Hills East found itself pinned at its own 17-yard line. On the first play of the new drive, White ran off left tackle and went 83 yards untouched for his second touchdown.
Junior left tackle Keith McDowell — Hills East’s mountainous 6-5 lineman — paved the way for White’s long scamper. Of White’s 17 carries, only one went for negative yardage. Behind McDowell and the rest of the offensive line, Hills East rushed for 363 yards.
“We all worked very well together today,” McDowell said. “We all work together to strive for something greater. I take so much pride in what [White] did today; he’s my brother, I love this guy. When the offensive line and he work together, we do great things.”
With just 2:38 left in the first half and Hills East in the red zone, White had his number called again. On first and 10, White slipped right through the middle, juked to his left and turned the corner to score his third touchdown.
Soler then strip-sacked North Babylon quarterback Logan Baptist, recovered it and took it 60 yards for a touchdown to take a 26-0 lead into halftime.
On the opening possession of the second half, White turned a fourth down and two into a 49-yard touchdown after barreling through the right side to increase the lead to 33-0.
In the fourth quarter, senior quarterback James Bruno threw a 46-yard touchdown strike to senior tight end Max Drehwing on his first career pass attempt to cap the scoring. Drehwing finished with 75 yards receiving.
On defense, junior linebacker Akio Johnson recorded 10 tackles and a sack.
Head coach Alex Marcelin was happy to see his team’s preparation come to fruition.
“The kids had a tough week of practice, and they found their groove this week,” Marcelin said. “I knew they were prepared for the game. They just came and played disciplined, sound football and were very tough.”
