There was no doubt which was the best team on the field Saturday afternoon at Smithtown East High School.
The score was 22-0 halfway through the first quarter.
Riverhead (4-4 Division II) finished their regular season on a 42-0 thumping of the lowly Smithtown East Bulls who failed to record a victory this season.
It was an all too familiar feeling for the Blue Waves who lost back-to-back blowout games in weeks five and six to Division II top dogs, Newfield and Half Hollow Hills West.
“Those games hurt,” senior defensive captain Tyrese Kerr said, reflecting on the two losses. “But we learned from it and we brought it in practice these last two weeks.”
The second string was in the game before the first half ended.
“It’s always good for a momentum standpoint going into the playoffs with a win,” head coach Leif Shay said.
The coaching staff has been tinkering all year with the personnel they put out on the field and which positions they play. Sharron Trent, who has played quarterback and wide receiver, safety and punter this season, kicked the ball off for the Blue Waves. He put a kick into the end zone for a touchback, displaying his leg strength on one of the kicks.
Ryun Moore lined up at the wide receiver position and it paid off. It was something Shay wanted to play around with and it may be something he will stay with come playoff time. Because for all intents and purposes, Marcus Reid is coming into his own at the running back position. Reid ran for 134 yards on 11 carries against the Bulls all in the first quarter.
“We like Ryun at wide receiver because of his hands and speed,” Shay said. “It’s something we wanted to try today and he showed us what he could do.”
Moore caught two touchdown passes in the victory.
With the win, the Blue Waves will most likely enter the first round of the playoffs with a No. 5 or No. 6 seed which will match them up against North Babylon or West Islip.
“They’re both beatable in my eyes,” Kerr said. “With a strong week of practice anything is possible.”
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Peter Blasl
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Michael Hejmej
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