It's all Sayville in Suffolk III football semifinal
Sayville's Jake Triptree (16) runs the ball and gets taken down by Harborfields Vincent Bolognino (1) in the first quarter during the Suffolk High School Division III football semifinal playoff game between Sayville and Harborfields on Friday Nov 11 2022 at Sayville High School Credit: Bob Sorensen
Tropical storm Nicole failed to bring the heavy wind and rain that was forecast Friday afternoon, but the top-seeded Sayville football team brought torrential offense and defense in its 49-0 victory over No. 4 Harborfields in a Suffolk III semifinal in Sayville.
“We have the ability to run or pass, so the weather doesn’t really bother us,” Sayville coach Reade Sand said on what still was a dreary day with light rain throughout. “Plus, we know it could change the game for the other team as well.”
Whether it was on the ground or through the air, the Golden Flashes (10-0) were clicking on all cylinders offensively.
Jake Tripptree ran for 76 yards and two touchdowns on four carries and completed 5 of 6 passes for 66 yards and a score and Kyle Messina had 132 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, all in the first half, as Sayville took a 42-0 lead into the break.
Dan Holahan’s second rushing TD, a 51-yarder on Sayville’s opening drive of the second half, provided the final margin.
Harborfields’ best sequence came when it recovered a fumble by Messina at its 5-yard line late in the first quarter to momentarily slow down the Sayville offense. Unfortunately for the Tornadoes (8-2), Messina also is a standout defender. He was able to tip a third-down pass on the ensuing drive that Benny Sands intercepted and returned for a 7-yard score.
“It felt great to be able to make that play,” Messina said. “Fumbling, especially how close we were to the end zone, was not a good feeling.”
Holahan’s 19-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter following the interception return by Sands gave Sayville a 28-0 lead. Messina’s touchdown then capped an 11-play, 50-yard drive that featured two fourth-down conversions, and Tripptree bookended the first-half scoring with a 30-yard touchdown run with 1:26 left in the half.
“Our line blocks great and our coaches always call the right plays and help get us ready during the week at practice so we know what’s coming,” Tripptree said.
Sayville will play the winner of No. 2 Half Hollow Hills West and No. 3 Westhampton in the Suffolk championship game at 7 p.m. Thursday at Stony Brook.
“We have weapons all over the field,” senior receiver Anthony Morrione said. “If they want to try and stop our run game, we’ll pass it, and if they focus on the pass, we’ll run.”
Morrione had four catches for 46 yards and a touchdown.
“We have one objective and that’s to make the LIC,” he said. “Any team that gets in our way, we are going to beat.”
Gene Morris joined Newsday's sports department in September 2012 and covers high school sports. He earned a journalism degree from Stony Brook University in 2010.
