Here Come the Bulls - Smithtown West Overcomes Slow Start and Drops 35 Unanswered Points En Route to Victory Over Harborfields

It’s not always about how you start, but how you finish the battle. That seemed to be how Smithtown West’s Varsity Football team operated in their 42- 14 beatdown on the road against the Harborfields Tornadoes.

The Bulls found themselves playing for some in-season hardware this Saturday as they would travel to Harborfields to play in the second annual Harborfields Army/Navy game where they would play for the Town of Huntington Army/Navy Game Veteran Memorial Trophy. During the game, the Town of Huntington and Harborfields High School honored the veterans who served and protected the people who served overseas and resided within the town.

After a disastrous first two drives for the Bulls that included a redzone turnover and Harborfields jumping out to an immediate 7-0 lead, the Bulls defense came up big with a turnover of their own that would lead to a defensive touchdown to make it a 7-7 affair. A gang of Bulls defenders surrounded the Harborfields Running Back and knocked the ball out of his hands, All-State Wide Receiver Jack Melore – who also plays defensive back – scooped the ball up for his first touchdown of the game. After a quick score by Harborfields to put them up 14- 7, Smithtown West began a long, methodical drive down the field as Quarterback Brayden Stahl was making smart decisions with the ball and linking up with his newest transfer target Ethan Alvarado for multiple first downs, including one play that would set up shop at the 3-yard line.

The drive would conclude with Jason Antunes barreling his way into the end zone for a game tying touchdown run from one yard out. This would be the turning point for the Bulls as they would never trail at any point after tying this game and the defense looked elite, not allowing Harborfields any opportunity to gain yards or even score any points. After forcing a turnover on downs, the Bulls set up shop on their own 46 and it wasn’t t long before Stahl connected with his new friend Ethan Alvarado once again as he would find him in the middle of the end zone for a 13- yard touchdown pass to give the Bulls a 21-14 lead.

The Bulls defense once again forced a turnover on down and Brayden Stahl once again led a long drive down deep into Harborfields territory setting up a first and goal. This is where the Army/Navy Game MVP George Siolos made his presence felt for the first time. The Junior Wide Receiver found himself a soft spot in the zone defense and made a diving catch for his first touchdown of the game to give Smithtown a 28- 14 lead right before halftime. “It kind of just happened,” said Siolos postgame about his touchdown, claiming the team didn’t draw up any of the plays for him on Saturday.

“I was just out there. I ran hard and played my heart out. I just happened to score some touchdowns.” In the third quarter, the Bulls defense would come up with yet another clutch turnover as Joe Fitzsimmons would catch a tipped pass for an interception, setting up another West Side scoring opportunity. That was when Jack Melore would make his presence felt once more as Brayden Stahl connected with him on a streak route for a 37-yard-touchdown to put West up 35-14.

The Bulls would score one more time to put the icing on the cake as the Bulls recovered an onside kick and ran one play from scrimmage as Ciolis was found wide open once more by Stahl for a long touchdown to make it a 42- 14 win.

After the game, the Bulls were awarded the Harborfields Army/ Navy Memorial Trophy and George Siolos was awarded with the game’s MVP. “It’s an honor receiving something like this,” said Siolos after the game and awards presentation. “(especially) from the people who serve our country. It really is an honor.”