For the first time since undergoing some serious renovations to the Bob Pratt Memorial Field, the Smithtown West Bulls Football Team made their highly anticipated home opener Wednesday night against Long Island Powerhouse Sayville High School.
In years past, the West Siders most likely would’ve lost in humiliating fashion that would remind fans of the Giants home opener against the Dallas Cowboys this year, but that is the Smithtown West team of old. Head Coach Craig Perrino has instilled a new culture of winning and hard work that has led to the Bulls recent success including a playoff berth last season and seeing multiple players of his go on to play high levels of college football.
The game started off hot for the Bulls as they forced a turnover early in the contest as a Sayville wide receiver dropped a screen pass and it landed in the hands of a West defender for an interception that he would return deep into Sayville Territory. After a completion to Ethan Alvarado to set up a goal to go situation, Brayden Stahl would connect with his All-State Wide Receiver Jack Melore for a touchdown to make it 7-0 Bulls.
The momentum was swinging the way the Bulls had hoped as on the ensuing Sayville possession they would cough the ball up once again as the ball would once again find Jack Melore as he would make a play from his safety position, intercepting Sayville’s quarterback and giving the ball right back to the Bulls as they looked to keep their foot on their throats. Unfortunately for Smithtown, they would give the ball right back to Sayville as one of their running backs would fumble the ball inside Sayville territory and it gave the Golden Flashes a chance to come back into this game.
Sayville’s next drive would take up the remainder of the first quarter and spill into the second quarter as Kyle Messina would power his way to the end zone for a Sayville touchdown to tie the game at 7. West responded with a drive that put them into scoring range but were unsuccessful as an Ethan Alvarado reception on a comeback route was just short of the first down sticks on a fourth down passing play, giving Sayville another chance to score before halftime. Sayville continued their rushing attack against the Bulls defense as no one was able to slow down Messina and company on the ground in the first half. They would get into Bulls territory and score a touchdown on a pass by the number 2 quarterback Jake Triptree to give the Golden Flashes a 14-7 lead right before halftime.
Sayville got the ball back to start the half and drove all the way down the field and looked like they would score again but the Bulls defense made a huge stand that included a 38-yard touchdown pass by Triptree being erased due to a holding penalty. The Bulls first possession of the half would not last long as the turnover bug bit Smithtown once again. A costly interception inside their own territory gave Sayville another prime scoring opportunity.
The Bulls defense was up for a challenge once again and with their backs against the wall, Nick Zins made a huge play as he forced Kyle Messina to fumble on a potential touchdown run and the ball rolled out of the end zone for a touchback. This got the crowd and the players back into the game, potentially swinging the momentum back towards the Bulls. Unfortunately for the Bulls, Sayville had a really good defense of their own as they forced the Bulls to punt on their ensuing possession.
On the next Sayville offensive possession, Triptree drove the offense inside Smithtown’s 15-yard-line and gave his team a chance to make it a two-score game. This time around, the Golden Flashes capitalized as Luke Hansen made an incredible one-handed catch while draped by a Bulls defender to make the game a 21-7 affair. After another Bulls turnover on downs, the Goldens flashed Deke and dunked their way down the field as they tried to take as much time off the clock as possible to give themselves a tough road win. On a fourth down and long, Triptree threw a screen pass to a wide open Messina and he would make his way to the endzone to seal the deal for Sayville, spoiling the Bulls home opener.
The West Siders saw solid performances on their defense as Nick Zins had a forced fumble, Brian Hope had 7 tackles at the linebacker position, and Jack Melore continued his twoway dominance as he had an interception early in the game and was solid in coverage all night long.
The Bulls now drop to 1-1 on the season and will head back to the drawing board as they don’t play again until September 29th against the Westhampton Beach Hurricanes.
