Dylan Craig's big game leads Bayport-Blue Point football past Miller Place
Bayport-Blue Point's Dylan Craig rushes for a touchdown on Friday, September 13, 2024. Credit: George A. Faella
Until Friday night, Bayport-Blue Point senior Dylan Craig had not played a football game since he was in ninth grade, when he was on the Phantoms’ JV team.
He did not decide he was returning to the sport until the week before school started.
“I don’t want to have any regrets in the future,” Craig said. “So I’m back out here, and I’m hyped up.”
Bayport coach Mike Zafonte said the Phantoms are fortunate that Craig came back. Who can blame him?
Craig, a running back, defensive back and kicker, was the Phantoms’ do-it-all workhorse in a 35-0 road win over Miller Place in a Suffolk Division IV opener. He rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, drilled all five of Bayport’s PATs and had an interception and a fumble recovery.
“I knew once he decided he was coming out that he was going to be a game-changer for us,” Zafonte said. “I honestly didn’t expect the crazy intensity that he brings . . . His work ethic is unmatched.”
Bayport-Blue Point extended its winning streak to 24 games. The back-to-back reigning Long Island Class IV champs have won 21 straight games by at least 14 points. Bayport has not lost since the fall 2021 Suffolk IV championship game, a 26-23 loss to Shoreham-Wading River on Nov. 19, 2021.
Miller Place started Friday’s game with fireworks as Shane Kiernan found Tristen Rodriguez for a 78-yard catch-and-run to the BBP 2 on the first play from scrimmage. The Phantoms came up with the goal-line stand, though, and rattled off a methodical first drive.
The Phantoms took a 7-0 lead after a 12-play, 97-yard drive that lasted 6:57, capped by quarterback Cooper Fuller’s 10-yard touchdown run with 3:13 left in the first quarter.
After forcing a three-and-out on the ensuing Miller Place possession, Bayport struck again. Craig ran 21 yards for a touchdown to give the Phantoms a 14-0 lead with 11:01 left in the first half.
Craig displayed his full array of skills in the first half alone. He intercepted Kiernan at the BBP 29 with 1:42 left in the second quarter, putting an end to a potential scoring drive by Miller Place right before the half. Craig had 12 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown by halftime.
“I just thought about football and how it’s like a family, all the friends on this team,” Craig said of his decision to return to football. “I don’t want to have any regrets when I’m older. I’m just hyped to be back out here, ready to get back to work.”
The Phantoms were forced to punt to open the second half. Craig showed his value on punt coverage, too, recovering a muffed punt at the Miller Place 18. Two plays later, he punched in a 10-yard run for his second score to give BBP a 21-0 lead with 8:50 left in the third quarter.
Sean Coffey’s 3-yard touchdown run put the Phantoms ahead 28-0 with 3:40 left in the third quarter. Fuller ran in a 20-yard score with 11:51 left to give Bayport a 35-0 edge.
“We never think about winning streaks or championships, we think about winning the week,” Zafonte said. “That’s it. I know that sounds silly, but it’s just win the week. Get 1% better every day, win the week. And we’ve been fortunate, good things have been happening. So very proud of the guys, for sure.”
Ben Dickson joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
