Hutchinson does it all for East Islip in win

The rain, thunder and lightning held off until the game had ended Thursday at East Islip. Even the weather wanted to see what Kevin Hutchinson was going to do next.

Hutchinson was a one man show, passing for a touchdown, rushing 19 times for 117 yards, kicking a field goal and an extra point, and recording an interception as East Islip downed Bellport, 10-7. East Islip beat Bellport 10-7 in 2009, too.

Frank Artura had 56 yards on 12 rushes and Mike Higgins (eight) and Nick Ancona totaled 15 tackles for East Islip (2-0 Suffolk Division II).

"He carried us offensively," East Islip coach Sal Ciampi said. "He was the reason we were able to put any points on the board today."

And yet, if this were a year ago, Hutchinson wouldn't have even been under center. The senior was a wide receiver in 2009. But since even the top high school receivers only get a handful of catches a game, the program believed he could be better utilized. "We decided he was the best athlete in the school, and as a wide receiver we didn't think the ball would be in his hands enough," Ciampi said.

Hutchinson didn't resist.

"Kevin's receptive. He's a tough kid mentally and he would never back down from a challenge," Ciampi said.

Hutchinson kicked a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter for a 3-0 lead, a margin that was the difference in the game.

"Any time our team crosses the 30-yard line, he can kick field goals," Ciampi said.

Hutchinson threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Ancona in the second quarter before yielding to a defense that limited Bellport (1-1) to just 166 yards of total offense.

Bellport scored with 2:30 left in the game, and had the ball at its own 10-yard line with 30 seconds left, needing just three points to tie. But on third down, Hutchinson made one last play, grabbing an interception to seal the game.

Bring on the rain.