Homecoming win for Sayville

For homecoming last week, Sayville welcomed Half Hollow Hills West for a Saturday night melee under the lights on Greene Avenue.

It was a matchup of two undefeated offensive juggernauts with much playoff implications on the line. In the first quarter, Kyle Messina ran 37 yards deep into Hills West territory.

A couple of plays later, Patrick Coan took it himself to draw first blood and after the ensuing successful PAT (point after touchdown), it was 7-0 Golden Flashes with 6:28 to go in the opening frame.

The Half Hollow Hills West Colts responded shortly afterwards when Christian Alfaro rushed 12 yards for a score, and it was 7-7. Sayville’s ground game continued to churn like a piston while No. 9 ran for nine yards to add six points on the board and Watson added an extra point and it was 14-7, with 9:23 until halftime.

A few minutes later, Joe Filardi found Anthony Raio for a touchdown pass, and it was knotted at 14 with just over six minutes left in the second quarter. With under a minute to go in the second, Patrick Coan threw a laser to Dylan Kent for a TD and it was 21-14.

That score was upheld at halftime. At halftime, there was a ceremony honoring the varsity girls lacrosse 2024 New York State championship as they received their championship rings.

With doughty defense on both sides, both teams were kept off the scoreboard in the third quarter. Late in the game, with 4:14 to go in the fourth, Filardi dashed for a rushing touchdown to tie the contest at 21.

Sayville got the ball back and Coan fired a strike to Donovan Bartolotta, who briskly zoomed down the field to take it deep into his opponent’s territory for a 70-yard catch and run. Messina rushed nine yards to the end zone; then Watson kicked it through the uprights to give the Golden Flashes a 28-21 lead.

After a relentless drive by the Colts in the waning minute, Sayville kept Half Hollow Hills out of the end zone, culminating in a turnover on downs in the final seconds to preserve the win. Sayville improved to 6-0 and Half Hollow Hills West fell to 5-1.