Smith leads Waves to shutout victory over Bulls

The last undefeated team in Division II football has fallen; you can thank the Riverhead Blue Waves.

Riverhead (4-1) spoiled Smithtown West’s homecoming night, controlling the game from the get-go enroute to a 21-0 victory and a first-place tie with the previously undefeated Bulls.

“All the pressure was on them,” senior halfback Jeremiah Cheatom said. “They were in first; it was their homecoming.”

Both teams featured speed, strength and smarts. Each had an explosive running back with the same running scheme.

“They run zone just like us,” said defensive coordinator Scott Hackal.

So only preparation, Coach Shay said, could win the game under the lights on Saturday night. And he credits the scout team for the win.

“Our scout teams are phenomenal,” Shay said. “Those guys do such a great job giving us a good look that it was actually harder in practice than in the real game.”

After back-to-back punts for both teams, leading to a scoreless first quarter, Riverhead caught a break. On 3rd-and-11, Cody Smith dropped back and flung it over toward Daren Jefferson who leaped as he hugged the sideline. The ball sailed well over his head and as he came down, a Bulls defender took a shot at him.

A flag flopped onto the turf field. The call: 15-yard personal foul with an automatic first down for Riverhead.

After a few Cheatom runs, the Blue Waves brought it to the 23-yard line where Smith connected with an airborne Jaron Greenidge for the first touchdown of the game. The ball seemed to narrowly escape the defenders fingers before reaching its final destination.

“Cody threw some great balls, I just had to go out and make plays,” Greenidge said.

On that particular play, Jaron said the cornerback actually had it in his hands.

“He caught it originally, and I kinda just grabbed it out of his hands,” he said. “I don’t know how but I grabbed it and came down with it.”

Riverhead would score again the following drive with the same tandem, a Smith-to-Greenidge touchdown from three yards out. Smithtown West was so focused on stopping Cheatom that they forgot about the arm of Cody Smith.

The Bulls had all 11 players in the box on numerous occasions, emphasizing the run-blitz, so Smith just made an adjustment at the line.

“I just make a ‘hot’ call,” Smith said. “And it just means I’ll get the ball out quickly.”

Smith completed 11 of 13 passes for 188 yards.

Riverhead refused to give up anything on defense. In recording their first shutout of the season, the Blue Waves intercepted three passes — Andrew Kinard, Ryan Hubbard and Mike Van Bommel — and sacked the quarterback twice. They stopped the Bulls on two 4th-down conversion attempts and never let them inside their own 27-yard line. Ryan Harkin was key on both 4th-down stops creating havoc in the backfield, recording a sack in the process.

“It’s a matter of pride,” Coach Shay said of the tenacity the Blue Waves played with. “Our kids take great pride in representing the community. And it seemed like we had more fans at the game than Smithtown West.”

Cheatom put the final nail in the coffin with a 10-yard scamper in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with 36 touches for 152 yards.

Dan Czelatka suffered a dislocated elbow early in the game, leaving in an ambulance.

“We dedicated this game for Dan today,” Cheatom said. “It’s bad news hearing that he’s done for the season but we’re going to finish the season strong for him and give him another ring.”

The Blue Waves play Walt Whitman (1-4) next week for their own homecoming.

Hopefully their rendition goes a bit more to plan.

Email Michael Hejmej: michael@riverheadlocal.com

RiverheadLOCAL photos by Emil Breitenbach Jr.
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