When the stands are completely filled, the concession area is cramped and the fence around Coach Mike Mckillop Memorial Field is occupied with onlookers it can only mean one thing: time for Riverhead football.
With distractions of homecoming week looming large, one could lose track of the goal at hand: setting the stage for what Coach Leif Shay calls a “trap game.” The Blue Waves however, suffered no ill effects from the week and posted their second consecutive shutout in a 28-0 victory over Walt Whitman.
Though the offense didn’t find the end zone in the first quarter, Riverhead was able to put up 14 points in an unconventional manner. After a stalled first-offensive drive, the big play came on defense when cornerback Ryan Hubbard jumped a route and picked off a pass, taking it to the house for a 47-yard return.
“At first, I thought he was going deep,” Hubbard said of the wide receiver. “But when he stopped, I saw the quarterback take his hand off the ball and I just ran up and got there in time.”
Asked what his thoughts were after catching the ball he answered: “I didn’t really think, I just ran.”
Hubbard, who also intercepted another pass later in the game, has embraced a bigger role on defense, guarding the number one receiver with Dan Czelatka out for the season.
“We have to fill the role he left,” Hubbard said. “He was a key player for us.”
On fourth-and-eight in their third offensive possession, the Blue Waves sent the punt team out with what had seemed to be an opportunity to pin Walt Whitman deep in their zone. But Dylan Pace, the team’s punter, received the snap, took few steps and then pulled the ball back to his ear and launched a lofty pass which was hauled in by Jaron Greenidge who took it the distance down the sidelines for a 41-yard score.
“We’ve been working on [the fake punt play] for awhile,” Shay said. “We felt like we had an advantage on special teams over these guys.”
Pace, who had some problems in the beginning of the season kicking extra points, nailed all four attempts this week.
“Dylan’s been really stepping up as an athletic kid,” Shay said. “We didn’t know he could throw that well but we gave him a shot and he showed us.”
Walt Whitman (1-5 Division II) had severe issues moving the ball on offense. Time after time, they came up empty handed with three-and-outs against a very hostile Riverhead defense.
Inside linebacker Raheem Brown led the Blue Waves with eight tackles, two of which were for a loss. Brown laid some jaw-breaking hits, preventing any offensive outburst for Walt Whitman. He also forced a fumble.
“It was homecoming,” Brown said. “We had to put on a show for the fans. Our motto is hoist the rag so that’s what we were going to do.”
But Brown wasn’t alone out there; the defense as a whole was executing to perfection.
“We play so well togther because of the bonding we do during the season and the offseason,” Brown said. “What you see out there is family.”
Halfback Jeremiah Cheatom had another solid performance running the ball 18 times for 124 yards. He scored the Blue Waves fourth and final touchdown of the day.
“I grew up with half of these people out here,” Cheatom said referring to the crowd. “It feels great to have this support.”
“But next week will be the real test,” he said.
Sophomore Robbie Powers was brought up to varsity and played a significant amount of snaps at the left guard position. He’s expected to fill the void left by the injury of Troy Trent. Quarterback Cody Smith hit Andrew Kinard in the end zone for a 31-yard score in the second quarter.
Riverhead (5-1) faces West Islip (5-1) at home in a game which will be crucial in determining the top seeds in the division.
Photo caption: Andrew Kinard catches pass from Cody Smith in the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter.
RiverheadLOCAL photo by Emil Breitenbach Jr.
Check back for game video.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Emil Breitenbach Jr.
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RiverheadLOCAL photos by Peter Blasl
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