Lions Lose a Tough One 28-25

On a rainy Saturday afternoon at Riverhead High School the #7 Seeded Lions went toe to to with back to back Suffok County Div II Champs and current #1 seeded Riverhead Blue Waves. This was a slugfest with neither team willing to give up and was won with a late left hook with 15 seconds left in the game.

Things did not start well for the Lions with a fumble on the opening kick-off and later in the first quarter a tipped pass that landed in a Riverhead receivers hands and the ball inside the five yard line. Riverhead quickly scored but was held in check for most of the rest of the half. The Lions had several chances and could not capitalize until Bryan Woodburn kicked a field goal. Late in the first half an ill-advised pass was picked off and the Blue Waves punched in a another touchdown and a 2 point conversion made it 14-3 at the half.

The second half started with a fired up Lions kick-off team tackling the Riverhead return man in the end zone for a safety. The Lions then got the ball back and scored on a nifty little pass and catch from Joe Rushton to Alex Barbera and suddenly the Lions were down 2 early in the 3rd quarter. Later in the 3rd, Stadler Thompson took a pitch from Rushton and scored for the Lions and with a Woodburn extra point The Lions lead by 5. Early in the fourth quarter Riverhead blocked a punt and scored but failed on the 2 point conversion and it was 20-19. The Lions have no quit in them and they took the kick-off and drove down the field and Joe Rushton pushed it in from the one yard line the 2 point conversion failed and the score was 25-20. Riverhead got the ball and drove done and was able to score with 15 seconds left and a successful 2 point conversion made the score 28-25 and that is how it ended. As said in the beginning this was a toe-toe brawl and the champs won this one. However, the Lions were still on their feet at the end the game and plenty mad.

The Lions play at West Babylon Friday Night 9/19 with a 6:30 start time. The West Babylon field is located at the Middle School on Little East Neck Road not at the high school. Come down and watch this team.