Malhas' field goal spurs Babylon's win

Babylon kicker Alex Malhas and Mount Sinai wide receiver Patrick Hogan reflected each other almost perfectly Friday night in Babylon.

For Malhas, it began with a furrowed brow, full of frustration, followed by the unexpected bliss of seeing the football sail through the uprights.

For Hogan, it was momentary glory, then the futile feeling of a subsequent drop.

After he caught a pass from Austin Kay and broke two tackles for a 14-yard touchdown that brought Mount Sinai to within two points with 1:07 to play, Hogan -- under tight coverage from defensive back Michael Jackson -- dropped the potential game-tying two-point conversion pass as Babylon held on to upset the Mustangs, 16-14, in Suffolk IV.

Contrast that with Malhas' night. With 10:28 left in the second quarter and Babylon down 8-6, Malhas shanked his 35-yard field-goal attempt wide. Malhas, a soccer player in his first year on the football team, trudged off dejectedly.

With 7:20 left in the third quarter, Babylon again put the game at Malhas' feet. This time his 34-yard kick was straight but short. Again, Mount Sinai held on to its two-point lead.

On a drive that began in the third quarter and carried over into the fourth, the Panthers faced a fourth-and-13 at the Mount Sinai 19-yard line, and Malhas again lined up for a potential go-ahead field goal. This one was a 36-yard attempt that never wavered, and Babylon took a 9-8 lead.

SEE PHOTOSBabylon 16, Mt. Sinai 14

"I was afraid. But I did it for my team," Malhas said. "They helped me pull through. And it felt great. I knew it was good."

Babylon went ahead 16-8 on its next possession on a 3-yard touchdown run by Frankie Mankiewicz (120 yards, 24 carries). Eric Schweitzer scored Babylon's first TD on a 3-yard run.

Mount Sinai's Mike Donadio finished with 115 yards and a touchdown on nine carries.

Both teams are 5-2. Babylon secured the fourth spot in Suffolk IV and will have home-field advantage for the first round of the playoffs.