Colin Clark, Ryan Space power Bayport-Blue Point football to fourth straight Suffolk Division IV title
Bayport-Blue Point celebrates after winning the Suffolk Division IV championship against Babylon on Friday at Stony Brook University. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
Bayport-Blue Point senior Ryan Space looked up after a game-sealing interception and realized the Phantoms had pulled it off. After trailing by 14, they held Babylon scoreless in the second half, and Space made two crucial plays down the stretch to force turnovers.
“Going into the second half, we were talking about not giving up,” he said. “It was hard, we could’ve given up, but we didn’t. I looked up and I was happy. It’s a great feeling, and we are not done yet.”
Bayport–Blue Point defeated Babylon, 23-14, to capture its fourth straight Suffolk Division IV football championship on Friday night at Stony Brook University.
“We talked about how there would be ups and downs in this game,” Bayport-Blue Point coach Mike Zafonte said. “We didn’t want to worry about the outcome, we just wanted to worry about the process, and they did that. The adjustments everyone made were incredible, and we knew we were a second-half team because of how we condition. It’s just amazing.”
Bayport-Blue Point (9-2) will face Seaford in the Long Island Class IV championship game at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 29 at Stony Brook University.
Bayport-Blue Point led 16-14 entering the fourth quarter, but Babylon was driving. Star running back Aidan Winter moved the chains on the ground and completed a 10-yard pass to Jaiden Millner on third-and-10.
Winter then broke a 15-yard run but was met by Space. He stripped the ball free and Collin Reyer recovered it at the Phantoms’ 38-yard line with 9:22 left.
Then Bayport-Blue Point delivered a championship drive.
The Phantoms ran 13 plays for 68 yards in 6:46. Quarterback Colin Clark rushed for 45 yards on nine carries on the drive, including a 5-yard touchdown that pushed the lead to 23-14 with 2:36 left. Clark finished with 25 carries for 125 yards and two touchdowns.
Charles Crisera, Nehemiah Meade, Patrick Ahearn, Blake Romano and the rest of the blockers in front guided Clark and Reyer throughout the drive.
“It was a key situation and we worked all year for this,” Clark said. “Huge credit to my offensive line — they are the ones driving us downfield. We had a bunch of guys who believed in each other, and it showed tonight.”
On Babylon’s next possession, Space came away with the game-sealing interception with just over a minute left. It was his second key turnover in the final 10 minutes, and the celebration began.
In the first half, Babylon’s senior duo of Winter and quarterback Kai Jankow set the tone. Jankow ran for a 2-yard touchdown and connected with Winter for a 74-yard catch-and-run touchdown as Babylon took a 14-0 lead with 9:24 left in the half. Winter finished with 17 carries for 111 yards and 16 passing yards.
“They will be impossible to replace,” Babylon coach Rick Punzone said. “We wouldn’t be anywhere near here without them. I’m not sure if I’ve had a duo like this, and they left a great legacy and showed how to be a Babylon football player.”
In the second quarter, Babylon (10-1) was called for holding in the end zone, resulting in a safety. The Phantoms scored on the ensuing possession, with Reyer punching in a 1-yard touchdown with 54 seconds left as Bayport-Blue Point moved within 14-9.
Clark ran for a 21-yard touchdown on fourth-and-5 for the go-ahead score with 1:01 left in the third quarter.
“I’m extremely proud of my boys,” Reyer said. “We responded to all the disrespect we get around the league, and our offensive line was stellar today. It was a team effort.”
Said Clark, “We’re just so happy to be here. It’s a great moment and we will never forget this.”
