East Football Returns Home, Falls to Riverhead

The Smithtown East football team finally came home Saturday, playing its first true home game on the brand-new turf at Nicholas Schroeder Field in its Division II season finale against Riverhead.

The Bulls, however, failed to christen the field with a win. Riverhead opened the game with a 20-0 run and cruised to a 40-13 victory that gave the Bulls a 3-5 record, while the Blue Waves — a team that lost several close games in a tough schedule, while scoring more points than they allowed — improved to 2-6.

Riverhead ran for 226 yards and finished with 365 total yards of offense, scoring four rushing touchdowns. Charles Bartlett gained 127 yards on 12 carries and scored one touchdown. Freshman running back Jeremiah Cheetum, in his first-ever varsity game, scored two touchdowns and ran for 66 yards.

The Riverhead quarterback tandem of Ryan Bitzer and Dave McKillop combined for 143 yards through the air, with senior McKillop completing 4 of 8 passes for 46 yards, and the sophomore Bitzer connecting on 5 of 6 for 97 yards and a touchdown. Rodney Rollings caught four passes for 83 yards and a score, and also had a touchdown on an 88-yard kickoff return.

Mike Buono got his second start at quarterback for the Bulls and completed 2 of 6 passes for 46 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 18 yards. Chris Vlasaty had 29 yards rushing on 10 carries, Alec Federico had 16 yards on 10 carries, and Eric Binder had 16 yards on six carries. P.J. Connelly caught two passes for 46 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown pass.

The Bulls struggled with injuries down the stretch, with quarterback Grant Gaska, linebacker Tim Kopiske and running back Jake Koppelman all out of action for the final two games. Vlasaty and Brendan Canese returned to the field against Riverhead after missing the Newfield game.

While the injuries certainly had their effect, Bulls coach Jim Saladino said Saturday's result was due to a failure in basic blocking and tackling. "We just didn't play very well," he said. "We're also a young team. We've got a lot to learn. Hopefully we can take something away from this season, that if you don't play well, if you don't play with heart, you can't expect to win."

Saladino added that Riverhead was much better than a typical two-win team. "We definitely knew their 1-6 record wasn't a reflection of how their team was playing," he said. "We tried to relay that to the kids, but sometimes kids are kids and they think they're going to be better than they are."

Riverhead opened the scoring midway through the first quarter with a five-yard touchdown run by Bartlett. Early in the second quarter, the Waves took over at midfield after a short punt, and on the first play from scrimmage, Bitzer hit Rollings with a deep pass down the right sideline for a 51-yard touchdown and a 13-0 lead.

Riverhead forced another punt and again took over at midfield. Four plays into the drive, Cheetum took the ball around the right end and sprinted 38 yards for the score and a 20-0 lead.

Smithtown answered quickly, getting a break when Riverhead's Reggie Moore muffed a punt return. Canese recovered and gave the Bulls the ball at the Riverhead 39 yard-line. One play later, Buono found Connelly open down the left sideline and hit him with a perfect pass for a 39-yard touchdown that made it 20-7.

Any momentum was short-lived, as Rollings returned the ensuing kick 88 yards to the house, and the point-after restored Riverhead's 20-point lead.

But the Bulls bounced back. A personal foul on Riverhead on the kick return gave the Bulls the ball at their own 47. On the next play, Canese, in his only carry of the afternoon, took an inside draw, broke through the hole and raced 53 yards for the score. The missed PAT held the Waves' lead at 27-13.

Riverhead kept coming. A six-yard touchdown run by Cheetum gave the Blue Waves a 34-13 lead at the half. Riverhead wasted no time in extending its advantage, forcing a three-and-out on the Bulls' opening possession of the third quarter. Smithtown punted to midfield, and six plays later, Mario Carrera scored on a reverse from nine yards out, putting Riverhead up, 40-13.

The first game on the new field was also the final game for the seniors, who were honored at the game. "We're obviously going to miss those guys, but hopefully the younger guys will show up next year," Saladino said, adding that returning players like Buono, Dennis Lestrange, and Mike Conlon will be relied upon next season.

"Hopefully they'll learn a little something from this," he said. "You've got to work hard to win. It's not going to come for free. That's what we try to teach."