Nick Santorelli has three touchdowns to lead Babylon
Babylon's Nick Santorelli finds some open room. (Nov. 17, 2012) Credit: Richard Slattery
Babylon coach Rick Punzone said he doesn't want his team looking past any opponent, especially in the playoffs.
The top-seeded Panthers didn't have any problems in the motivation department as they struck early and often in a 49-12 win over No. 5 Mercy Saturday in a Suffolk IV semifinal.
Babylon, which improved to 10-0 for the first time since 2002, scored on its first play from scrimmage when Nick Santorelli hit Eric Schweitzer with a 65-yard scoring pass.
Babylon's offensive barrage continued through the first half as Santorelli scored on runs of 21 and 9 yards and hit Jack Carlock with a 31-yard scoring pass to give the Panthers a 35-6 lead.
Schweitzer added a 7-yard score toward the end of the second quarter and gave Babylon a 42-6 lead. "We've been trying to guard against letting a team stay in the game," Punzone said. "You can't let a team that you think you can beat think it can play with you."
Babylon meets No. 2 Mount Sinai in the Suffolk IV final next weekend at Stony Brook.
Aside from his team's offensive efficiency, Punzone was also impressed with his squad's kicking game. Alex Malhas went 5-for-5 on extra point attempts. The senior is 38-for-38 this season and shattered the previous record of 22 set by Brian Klammer in 1996.
"He's been as MVP as anybody," Punzone said. "He has 27 touchbacks this season and forcing a team to go 80 yards and not have a short field is a big help to the defense."
