St. Dominic plays first football game since 1988

The St. Dominic football team did not allow the gray clouds, the whipping wind or the rain put a damper on their game Sunday. After all, the Bayhawks hadn't played an official game in more than two decades.

The Catholic League program in Oyster Bay restarted last season, playing a handful of scrimmages, but the formal resurgence of the St. Dominic football team came against the Bishop Ford Falcons in Brooklyn, the first official game for the Bayhawks since 1988. None of the 28 players on the St. Dominic roster were even born when the Bayhawks played their last official game.

The Bayhawks didn't fill up the boxscore or light up the scoreboard but they competed well against the bigger and more physical Falcons, losing 29-12.

St. Dominic coach Tore Barbaccia was pleased with the way his team played. "It's a second-year program, my expectations are accordingly," Barbaccia said. "It's great if you win every game; you can't win every game. The kids are trying and they gave 100 percent. It's our first game and I think they played tough, they played hard, but they've got to learn."

The Bayhawks struggled early, throwing an interception on their first possession and going three-and-out on their second, ending the first quarter down 15-0. They opened the second quarter with a six-play, 55-yard scoring drive, capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass from freshman running back Ryan Perkins to freshmen wide receiver Mark Flynn.

"It's a team effort and all the kids contributed today," Barbaccia said. "Every kid on the sideline played and they're all contributing . . . We didn't win but I'm happy with the effort."

Bishop Ford responded with another touchdown and nearly broke the game open before halftime, but the Falcons had a punt return for a touchdown called back on a penalty. They returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown to increase their lead to 29-6. After recovering a fumble at Bishop Ford's 11-yard line, the Bayhawks scored their second touchdown on a 1-yard run by Perkins.

As the Bayhawks left the field with the rain pouring down, their coach couldn't help but think of the importance of the return of football to St. Dominic.

"I think it means everything," Barbaccia said. "I think the school benefits, I think the kids benefit, I think the community at large benefits because you have the kids participate; they're not out on the street somewhere. They're having fun and they're working hard and they are learning great lessons, discipline, hard work, all those things that go into football. Everyone wins today."

The next game for the Bayhawks is Oct. 8 at home against Nazareth.

In the year 2010, not 2032.