Riverhead cruises past North Babylon, 38-6

The game was over as soon as it began. North Babylon (1-6) never had a chance.

After a Raheem Brown kick return brought the ball down to the North Babylon 21-yard line, quarterback Kenny Simco connected with a streaking Ryun Moore for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. Within a minute, Riverhead was on the board again. Pressure by middle linebacker Irving Reyes forced a fumble by North Babylon deep in their own territory and Ethan Greenidge jumped on the ball as it trickled into the end zone.

Two minutes were off the game clock and Riverhead was ahead, 13-0.

It just kept getting worse for the Bulldogs.

Riverhead (5-2) scored again within minutes — this time on a pass to Steven Reid who did a quick spin move and walked into the end zone unscathed.

It all added up to a 38-6 victory for the Blue Waves in their final home game of the season.

“Our kids were very focused today,” head coach Leif Shay said. “They had a great week of practice. That disappointment of homecoming kept running through their minds.”

There was no doubt that Riverhead was supposed to win this game. But getting ahead quick and early deflates any hopes for an upset.

“North Babylon’s the type of team that likes to slow the clock down and be in close games, so if you quickly get a one or two score lead on them that’s to your benefit,” Shay said. “It was important to have a quick start.”

After an abysmal passing performance on homecoming, Simco bounced back to the tune of three touchdown passes.

“Kenny Simco’s a great quarterback and he just needed to get some confidence back and once he completes a couple of passes things begin to click for our offense again,” Shay said.

Ryun Moore ran for 78 yards on nine attempts including a 48-yard touchdown to really break it open in the second quarter.

As the Blue Waves get healthy on the offensive line and expect the returns of Sharron Trent and Roger Foster on defense by next week, things are shaping up nicely for the final game of the season in Bellport.

Bellport’s the only undefeated team left in Division II with a record of 7-0.

“Riverhead vs. Bellport – throw the records out the window, they don’t matter,” Shay said. “This is a rivalry that’s been going on for many years before I got here and will continue long after I leave. Our guys are ready to put their own notch in history.”

Caption (top photo): Mark Andrejack fights off a Bulldog defender. 

Photos by Emil Breitenbach Jr.