Waves Bounce Back in the Dog Pound; Improve to 2-1

Waves Bounce Back in the Dog Pound; Improve to 2-1

Riverhead Blue Waves: 42
North Babylon Bulldogs: 28

 By:Michael Hejmej

The Blue Waves know how to bounce back.  Having lost the last game by the skin of their fingertips, the Blue Waves could have easily packed it in.  

A long 40 minute bus ride to North Babylon could have easily lulled the Blue Waves to sleep shaking their focus.  Starting wide receiver/corner back Jeff Pitman sat out again, as he wasn't quite one hundred percent yet, although he did suit up.  Starting middle linebacker Michael Van Bommel didn't make the trip (wedding).  A (2-0) North Babylon team was ready to let the dogs loose in the dog pound.

Riverhead left as the victor, winning 42-28 in North Babylon. 

The Bulldogs seemed chained until the 2nd half.  Riverhead, sporting a 27-7 lead at halftime, slowly transitioned to it's 2nd team offense in the 3rd quarter.   North Babylon, traditionally, a run-first team, and some seasons a run-only team, needed to pass in order to come back.  

“That’s what we do,” said North Babylon head coach Terry Manning.

In the North Babylon effort to come back in the second half - in which they brought it within six - featured a passing game.  North Babylon quarterback Jake Conner, really known for his legs, made the biggest impact with his arm.  Wide receiver Eric Marcozza, Conner's favorite and sometimes only target, caught just about every pass coming his way.  At 6'4, he had several inches over the tallest of Riverhead's defenders.  Although Conner never exhibited a strong throwing arm, his lofty passes were successful.

After an unexpected successful onside kick, fumble recovery, a pair of rushing touchdowns by running back Jordan Myers, and a touchdown by Marcozza, the Blue Waves were only up by six.  With a lot of the damage done in the 4th quarter, there was still 3 minutes left on the clock.  

A quiet North Babylon fan base, finally erupted.  Screaming "Who let the dogs out" in a chant that also included barking.  

Happy times came and went as Jeremiah Cheatom (146 yards on 23 carries) said enough was enough and made a statement on the ensuing drive - on the first play no less - burning the North Babylon defense for a 51 yard gain bringing the Blue Waves to the Bulldog 5 yard-line.  Cheatom proceeded to punch it into the end zone next play.  

Jeremiah Cheatom finished the game with three touchdowns, one of which he caught as the first play of the game.  The Blue Waves started the game with a play-action pass that fooled the Bulldog defense so badly, that it left Cheatom running up the sidelines uncovered. 

Riverhead was clicking on all cylinders.  Middle linebacker Nick Ross (7 tackles) and outside linebacker Matt Hejmej (7 tackles) led the defense that could have been re-named Animal Control.  QB Ryan Bitzer (16-21 for 283 yards) was also very effective running and throwing for two touchdowns each which included an impressive one-handed 60 yard touchdown reception by Quinn Funn.

After losing to West Islip last week blowing a lead, and with this week’s game almost following the same trend, Riverhead head coach Leif Shea admitted that “My hair has been gray since the beginning of the season.” Nonetheless, the Blue Waves wore out the victory bell ringing it 42 times when they returned to Riverhead.

The Blue Waves (2-1) host Half Hallow Hills (0-3) next Saturday