Burton's INT return helps Bellport rally
Bellport Clippers Mike Burton #38, turns upfiled after making the catch. (Sept. 11, 2010) Credit: George A. Faella
The message to Bellport defensive back Mike Burton was simple: "Lock down number four."
West Babylon wide receiver Michael Richardson, who wears uniform No. 4, had already caught two touchdowns to help his team take a 12-point lead as the clock ticked down to halftime. But with the ball on the Clippers' 37, West Babylon was looking for one more score. The Eagles are still looking.
Burton blanketed Richardson, forcing quarterback Alex Hennessy (119 yards rushing, 120 passing) to look elsewhere. Under duress, Hennessy's pass was tipped - right into the hands of Burton, who took the interception down the sidelines for an 80-yard touchdown with 0:07 left in the half.
"That play killed us," West Babylon coach Al Ritacco said.
It was one of three returns for touchdowns that allowed the host Clippers to win yesterday's Division II opener, 36-19, before an overflow crowd of more than 1,000.
"Coach always wants us to score on defense," Burton said. "I felt relieved that the gap wasn't bigger at halftime."
The gap got a lot bigger in the second half, again thanks to a nice return on an investment. West Babylon still led 19-14 early in the fourth quarter when Bellport coach Joe Cipp played a hunch and inserted Armand Correa to return a punt.
"I just had a feeling," said Cipp, who won his 203rd game to move within six of Tom Cassese's Suffolk career record of 209.
Correa had a feeling, too.
"I was thinking about catching it on a fly," the junior speedster said. Fortunately, he changed his mind as the punt sailed. "I decided to back up and let it bounce," Correa said. "I started up the middle, got some good blocks and cut outside."
The 70-yard touchdown ignited a 22-point fourth quarter for Bellport, which forced six turnovers while committing five.
"Wow! It feels great to turn around a game like that," Correa said. "This is the first punt return in my career. It feels wonderful."
Bellport's Rob Schwicke experienced the same elation. The linebacker, who led a defense that limited West Babylon to one first down in the second half, scored Bellport's first touchdown. Schwicke scooped up a fumbled pitchout and rumbled 68 yards to tie the game at 7.
"That's a lot of running for me," Schwicke said with a smile. "Mike [Burton] had a good block that helped."
Bellport's offense didn't get going until the fourth quarter when Travis Houpe (83 yards) and Correa ran the ball effectively on the Clippers' final two scoring drives.
By then, the Eagles were spent. "You've got to play all four quarters," Ritacco said.
