Can Deer Park stop a rolling East Islip?
East Islip RB Joe Modica #31, looks for some open field running room against North Babylon. (Oct. 22, 2011) Credit: GEORGE A. FAELLA
Whew, 0-2 seems like a long time ago in East Islip. The red-hot Redmen, the top seed in the preseason, started slow and continue to pick up steam. They have reeled off five straight wins and look like the team to beat in Suffolk II.
East Islip (5-2) has outscored opponents 129-28 in the past five games and sports the stingiest defense in Suffolk, allowing 82 points all season. The Redmen have lost in the county final two years in a row. A 38-35 loss to Riverhead (6-1) and a 16-10 overtime loss to West Babylon are a distant memory.
East Islip will travel to Deer Park (5-2) on homecoming day in the season finale at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The Falcons are the second-best defense in the division allowing 15 points per game behind the aggressive play of linebacker Vinny Vitale. This promises to be a low-scoring game.
Lynbrook (5-2) at Bethpage (7-0), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.:
Lynbrook, coming off a 36-0 loss, is the only team standing between Bethpage and a perfect Nassau III regular season. Lynbrook will make some changes on offense. Bethpage will run behind an outstanding offensive line to keep churning out victories.
Plainedge (4-3) at Hewlett (4-3), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.:
Plainedge is formidable, especially when Ralph Caccavale is sprung free in Nassau III. Hewlett relies on big plays with QB Zach Richman and Sam Martorella at halfback.
Roosevelt (5-2) at West Hempstead (6-1), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.:
Nassau's leading rusher Erin Parker was held to 10 yards last week in a Nassau IV loss. Can the Rough Riders rebound before the playoffs? West Hempstead ended Seaford's 44-game Nassau win streak. A win here would assure either team the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
Wantagh (6-1) at Elmont (5-2), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.:
Wantagh plays great defense and that unit will be tested by the high-flying Spartans. Elmont needs QB Will Faison to connect with Qusarn Caldwell and Ben Odugbesan for some big plays to pull out a win.
Half Hollow Hills East (3-4) at Hauppauge (2-5), Friday, 6 p.m.:
The spotlight falls on the coaches as father (Joe Patrovich of Hauppauge) vs. son (Mike Patrovich, Hills East) meet for the first time. Mike has turned around his program, which had lost 15 straight entering the season and Joe is rebuilding at Hauppauge.
Newfield (4-3) at Riverhead (6-1), Saturday, 2 p.m.:
Mike Silva comes off a career-high 227-yard rushing game for Newfield, but can the Ron Denig-led defense stop accurate QB Ryan Bitzer (three more TD passes last week) and the Blue Waves' explosive offense.
West Babylon (6-1) at Whitman (4-3), Saturday, 2 p.m.:
The loss of Michael Richardson and Clifton Melhado to injuries took a big bite out of West Babylon's offense, but bruising fullback Reggie Robinson remains. Darrell Felder (111 yards on 11 carries last week) has the Wildcats talking playoffs.
