Bitzer's 5 TDs lead Riverhead past EI
Riverhead quarterback Ryan Bitzer had already thrown for four touchdowns, but his legs were needed to win the game.
Bitzer's 2-yard TD sneak with 1:40 remaining gave the Blue Waves a 38-35 victory against preseason favorite East Islip in Suffolk II Saturday.
Bitzer went 26-for-39 with a school-record 395 yards.
"It's a great boost for our program," Riverhead assistant coach Bill Hedges said. "It demonstrated tremendous character on the part of our kids to take a big lead, lose it and then come back."
After Reggie Moore's 30-yard TD reception made it 32-14 with 7:32 left in the third quarter, East Islip scored three unanswered touchdowns, capped by Joe Modica's 45-yard TD catch midway through the fourth quarter.
After Bitzer scored the go-ahead touchdown, the Blue Waves' defense responded, as Jeff Pittman intercepted East Islip on the 1-yard line with 40 seconds left. Bitzer's QB sneak to the 3-yard line on the ensuing play gave Riverhead enough room to kneel out the clock.
Said Hedges: "We felt that if we were in a close game, we had enough weapons to come out on top."
