East Islip's defense refused to give in despite injury to starting QB
East Islip starting quarterback Jack Hannigan #2 stands on the sideline with an icepack on his right knee after getting injured early in the first quarter of the Suffolk III championship game against Sayville at Stony Brook's LaValle Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. Credit: Daniel De Mato
An already difficult assignment for the East Islip defense became even more challenging two plays into the game.
That's when Jack Hannigan, the Redmen's star quarterback and linebacker, suffered a knee injury that forced him out of the game. His departure left a gaping hole against the run and -- with the knowledge that the East Islip offense would struggle to produce without him -- put added pressure on the defense to contain Sayville.
"Two plays in," East Islip coach Sal Ciampi said, "our game plan was out the window."
But their chance of winning wasn't, thanks to the defense. Though the Redmen fell to Sayville, 21-7, in the Suffolk III final on Sunday at Stony Brook University, they contained a dynamic, record-setting offense.
Some key stats for the East Islip defense: It allowed 21 points, which matched Sayville's season low. It gave up only 228 total yards. It didn't surrender a passing touchdown, which was the first game this season in which star quarterback Jack Coan failed to throw one. It held him to 63 rushing yards on 24 carries, in stark contrast with his 309 rushing yards in Sayville's 49-17 win over East Islip in October.
"Our primary concern was the run," inside linebacker Chris Higgins said. "We would sneak a seventh guy into the box to make it look like they could run when they really couldn't. Then we would go man coverage on the corners. And we have outstanding corners like Eric Flynn, Justin Taveras and Kyle Fleitman who made a couple of huge plays."
Kyle Nuñez made a huge play of his own in the third period. With Sayville in the shotgun on fourth-and-1 from its 32, Coan attempted to punt, but Nuñez got a hand on it and East Islip recovered at the Sayville 25. It gave the Redmen their best field position to that point, but they could not capitalize.
Fleitman, who took over under center for Hannigan, connected with John Sihpol for a 25-yard TD in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 21-7.
With Sayville facing third-and-9 from midfield, Kai Brothers sacked Coan, and the defense again kept East Islip's hope alive.
"Things didn't go our way in the first half, but we reacted and we came out with fire and passion," Nuñez said. " . . . We'll come back hard next year."
