Newfield plays "Taps" on EI's winning streak
Newfield running back Shervon Barthelmy breaks a tackle during the second half against East Islip at East Islip High School. (Sept. 25, 2010) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
The numbers are striking. An unbeaten streak that spanned 27 games over 50 years. The East Islip football team had never lost a football game to Newfield.
The Redmen owned a 25-0-2 record over Newfield for the past five decades. They outscored the Wolverines, 789-80, including 18 shutouts, and Newfield never managed to score more than 14 points in a game.
The lack of respect hit an all-time low three years ago, when some members of the East Islip band regretfully played "Taps" after Newfield star player Eugene Horan was injured during another rout.
"We respect everyone," said Newfield's rugged middle linebacker Ron Denig. "We know what happened in the past. But we're only looking forward, and we will not look past anyone."
Now you can put all those impressive East Islip records away. Denig and junior linebackers Tom Diubaldo, Julian Santiago and Will Ottenwalder outplayed host East Islip, 23-7, on Homecoming Day at Sal Ciampi Field in Boomer Esiason Stadium Saturday in a Suffolk Division II game.
Newfield (3-0) ended a 23-game losing streak to the Redmen with a swarming, hard-hitting defense that held East Islip to 32 yards and one first down in its first five drives.
"We are all about aggressiveness and hustle," said Ottenwalder, a middle linebacker, who set a school record by recovering three fumbles. "We make the most of our opportunities. Ron made some big hits and knocked the ball loose."
The first turnover led to Newfield's first touchdown. Ottenwalder recovered a fumbled pitch in East Islip territory and four plays later quarterback Mike Silva threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Denig.
"The score was inspiring and you could feel in the atmosphere that we all believed," said Diubaldo, who had eight tackles. "Our defense wasn't giving an inch."
Will Vientimilla's 43-yard punt return set up Tom Keute's 30-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 8:55 left in the half. Silva short-circuited the Redmen's next drive with his third interception in the past two weeks.
"He's great in coverage," Newfield coach Joe Piccininni said. "And our defense has been forcing turnovers and that means wins. The coaching staff has really been able to utilize our strengths and neutralize opponents."
Newfield opened the third quarter with a 61-yard drive. The march stopped when East Islip's Aniel Perez recovered a fumble at the Redmen's 24. On the next play, Ottenwalder pounced on another fumble at East Islip's 29, the Redmen's fourth turnover. Five plays later, halfback Shervon Barthelmy was standing in the end zone after a 2-yard touchdown run. Keute's kick made it 17-0.
"They have a very fast defense and they come to play," East Islip coach Sal J. Ciampi said. "The turnovers just killed us."
East Islip (2-1) avoided a shutout when receiver Pete Hanabergh took a pitch and passed to Tyler Moller in the back of the end zone from 14 yards out to make it 17-7 with 10:19 left.
Newfield gave East Islip a large dose of Barthelmy to make its final statement. His 3-yard scoring run punctuated a 10-play, 83-yard fourth-quarter march that took 6:16 and sealed the win. He rushed seven times for 71 yards during the drive.
"I'm getting yards after contact and [from] big blocks up front and from my fullback [Denig]," said Barthelmy, who totaled 221 yards on 31 carries. "It's a team game. I'm staying lower and moving forward."
So, it seems, is Newfield.
