Santo's three TDs lead West Islip

Anthony Santo's game was much like the Mohawk haircuts he and his teammates sported for their Division I opener Saturday -- sleek on the outside and rough up the middle.

Santo, West Islip's three-year starting quarterback, deftly hit his receivers on the perimeter and wasn't afraid to put his head down for tough yardage in the run game. The result was three TDs (two passing, one rushing), as the Lions cruised to a 37-6 win at home over Patchogue-Medford. It was the Lions' first game in Division I since 1990 after 20 seasons in Division II.

"We were told we weren't the favorites," Santo said about the Lions, a preseason 10 seed. "We believe we're a playoff contending team."

Santo finished 8-for-13 for 128 yards and ran for 46 yards on eight carries. Early on, it seemed the Lions had to shed their Division I jitters -- Santo provided the calming agent. He floated a pass to Sam Illario down the right seam and the receiver out-sprinted the defense for a 41-yard touchdown that gave West Islip a 16-6 lead with 6:43 left in the second half.

It was the first of the Lions' 27 unanswered points to close the game, which included Chris Belyski's second rushing TD.

"This year, I'm very comfortable," Santo said. "We can throw all day."

They can also ground-and-pound. Mike Cestaro's 40-yard run, with a late hit tacked on, set up Santo's two-yard sneak on third-and-goal to make it 23-6 1:30 before the half. "He can do it all," West Islip coach Steve Mileti said. "He can make all the checks and can adapt to what the defense is in. He's like having an extra coach on the field."

SEE PHOTOSWest Islip 37, Patchogue-Medford 6

The West Islip sideline seemed to breathe a sigh of relief after its first drive. It was a nine-play, 26-yard slog, culminated with Tom Woodburn's 27-yard field goal attempt that ricocheted off the crossbar and fell in to make it a 3-0 game. Said Woodburn: "My heart stopped."

Woodburn was also a weapon on kickoffs, with two touchbacks and another two in which Pat-Med started inside its own 20. The Lions' defense, led by Jack Kelly's two sacks, did the rest, making Joe Altrui's 50-yard, second-quarter rush the Raiders' only scoring play.

A successful day got even sweeter for West Islip with 5:46 left in the fourth. Dylan Illario, whose football career has been marred by three right-knee surgeries, broke a tackle on a curl route and scampered 21 yards for the touchdown. There were hugs all around for the senior, who, after his touchdown, pointed to his mother and cried. "After the third [injury], I thought it might be too much for me. I just wanted to get out on the field again. I told the coaches 'I want to be a West Islip Lion.' "

Illario is again a member of the Lions, and, as such, sports a mohawk.

SEE PHOTOSSuffolk football players to watch 2011

Said Woodburn: "A lot of kids had long hair so we went back to the old-school look."

Old school, like when the Lions were a Division I team back in 1990.