Houpe propels Bellport in Division II football

Over and over from behind the mass that is offensive tackle, Ryan Sloan, Travis Houpe exploded. The senior halfback continually followed the 6-3, 320-pound Sloan around the end and patiently waited for the right moment to make his break for daylight.

"I wait for him to get into his block and then I make my cut," Houpe said. "I hide behind him."

Hide and seek for a touchdown was the name of the game for Houpe again Saturday. The playoff marvel scored three touchdowns for the fourth consecutive game as Bellport downed East Islip, 32-14, to capture the Suffolk Division II football championship before a crowd of 2,400 at LaValle Stadium in Stony Brook University. It was also the 210th win of Joe Cipp Jr.'s 32-year coaching career, a Suffolk record.

Houpe's 92-yard touchdown run down the visitors' sideline with 9:15 left sealed the win. Houpe came off Sloan's right hip, bolted down the sideline and then cut back into the secondary to the end zone.

"I told Trav, 'You're gonna break it,' " said Sloan with a big smile. "We ran it to my side . . . but I had nothing to do with that cut."

It was Houpe's cutting ability that enabled him to rush for a Suffolk County record 332 yards on 30 carries, including touchdown runs of 22, 4 and 92.

"This was the biggest game of my life," Houpe said. "I'm a little guy, so I like running behind a big body. It's hard to see me. I hide behind him and I cut off his block."

Bellport will meet Garden City (10-1) in the Long Island Class II final at noon Saturday at LaValle Stadium.

Bellport-East Islip is one of Long Island's classic rivalries. The Clippers have an 18-15 all-time series lead since 1986, the first time these perennial powers played. But Bellport owns the final, where the Clippers have beaten East Islip in all four meetings.

"This one is extra special," said Joe Cipp III, Bellport's offensive coordinator. "We beat a storied program in a county championship game for my father's 210th win - it doesn't get any better than that."

Bellport, which won for the sixth game in a row, jumped on top early. Quarterback Justin Honce faked the handoff to Houpe going right and took off around the left end led by Sloan, who lined up in the backfield, for the 2-yard touchdown. Rob Sconone blocked the extra-point kick and Bellport led 6-0 with 3:55 left in the first quarter.

The drive went 78 yards in five plays, keyed by Houpe runs of 21 and 30 yards.

After Houpe made an interception, the Clippers extended the lead on the next possession. Honce hit Dante Johnson for 18 yards and Houpe scored on a 22-yard run to cap a six-play, 51-yard drive to make it 12-0 with 11:12 left in the half.

East Islip (9-2) went on an 11-play, 89-yard scoring march before Tyler Rigo scored on a 10-yard run. Kevin Hutchinson added the kick to make it 14-7.

The Clippers opened a 20-7 lead at the half when Honce hit Mike Burton with an 8-yard touchdown pass. He added the two-point conversion pass to Armand Correa.

East Islip's Joe Modica returned the second half kickoff a playoff record 96 yards for a touchdown as the Redmen drew within 20-14.

Houpe, who had 182 yards in the first half, punctuated the afternoon with another 150 in the second half, including two fourth quarter touchdowns.

This run to the county title became an historic one and belonged to Bellport (8-3) and its beloved coach Joe Cipp Jr.

"It's great to see it all come together," said Cipp Jr., doused and freezing from the ice water dumping. "It all feels good."