Without Amityville and Port Jefferson, Suffolk Division IV football teams scramble to fill out schedules

The withdrawal of Port Jefferson and Amityville from varsity football has forced several Suffolk Division IV programs to scramble for replacement games just days before the season begins.

Six teams — Center Moriches, Hampton Bays, Kings Park, Miller Place, Wyandanch and Greenport/Southold/Mattituck — had both Port Jefferson and Amityville on their schedules, leaving each with two openings. Shoreham-Wading River and Harborfields have one new opening.

Division IV started with 15 teams, so each program already had a scheduled bye. With so many byes after the two schools dropped out, Section XI executive director Tom Combs said teams can now schedule replacement games to fill their schedules. Any replacement contests would be non-league games and would not count toward power points for standings.

“It worked out that everybody will be able to get at least eight games this year, except for one team,” Combs said. “I’m not sure who that is.”

The original games against Port Jefferson and Amityville will be recorded as forfeit victories, Combs said.

There will not be a new official league schedule. Instead, schools must mutually agree to play on available dates and could play against teams outside of Section XI.

“I know if I were a coach, I would want to play as many games as possible,” Combs said. “You only get better if you play. More competition, better for the program.”

Kings Park was scheduled to host Port Jefferson and Amityville in consecutive weeks. Both were home games — one under the Friday night lights Sept. 25 and the other Kings Park’s homecoming game Oct. 3.

“As of right now, we’ve lost back-to-back games, both at home,” Kings Park coach Mark O’Brien said. “It’s very, very, frustrating.”

O’Brien said the program has been making calls in hopes of filling both openings.

“You work all year round, doing everything you can to build your program and get your kids better,” O’Brien said. “Every year you prepare to play eight regular-season games. Kids don’t want to play six games. They want to play eight regular-season games, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Center Moriches faced an even more immediate problem. Port Jefferson and Amityville were scheduled to be its first two opponents on  Friday and Sept. 10.

The program initially worked to arrange a Friday night game hosting Dobbs Ferry (Westchester) to replace Port Jefferson, but logistical issues involving travel and the school day prevented the matchup from being finalized, according to Combs and Center Moriches coach Matt Millheiser.

The Red Devils  are exploring other options, including Division IV teams that suddenly have open dates and programs outside Section XI.

“We want to do everything we possibly can to get them opportunities to get on the field and play,” Millheiser said. “They’ve worked hard, and they’ve earned the right to go out there and put on the school’s uniform and play.”

The sudden changes have created a rush of phone calls between coaches trying to fill gaps.

“Coaching is a small brotherhood,” Millheiser said. “The coaches have been really good about talking to each other and working together to try and help other coaches fill in those gaps and fill in those games.”

For O’Brien, replacing the games goes beyond wins, losses or playoff positioning.

“It’s all about the kids,” he said. “If we can find a way to plug those two holes right now with games from wherever, so the kids can have those experiences, that’s what we’re going to do.”