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Schools

East Falls to Central Islip in Opening Day Battle

The Arrows withstand a tough road loss of 43-10 to the Musketeers.

Enduring a heartbreaking first-quarter 30-point deficit on opening day, the Sachem East football team took it on the chin as it rallied to push through Central Islip's lines, ultimately falling 43-10 on the road Saturday afternoon.

Central Islip's relative speed and size, with Musketeer running back Mike Cruz being especially hard to catch on two touchdown runs within three minutes of each other, proved to be the decisive factors in the loss.

"Central Islip's got a good football team," said East head coach Brian Harvey, adding that he chalked up today's trials to inexperience, though he added he was especially pleased with the tenacity with which the whole bench took to the field. "They're very big up front, very fast in the backfield, their quarterback can really throw."

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Countering in the second quarter, East quickly drove to its first 1st-and-goal in two plays, after Nick Pryor caught Kyle Starke's 20-yard toss. On the second down, Billy Merone scampered in from the 1-yard line for East's sole touchdown, with kicker Eric Link booting in the PAT with nearly five minutes remaining in the half.

The glory was overshadowed as Central Islip struck again - after Cruz received the kick and was stopped by Rob Bruno at their 20, Darrell Flores broke away for an 80-yard touchdown run, finding the hole up their sideline back to paydirt, though this two-point attempt failed. Trying to close the gap as the clock ticked down, a 42-yard attempt with 2.7 seconds left in the half by Link went a hair wide left of the post.

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Central Islip had its final score with 1:15 remaining in the third off a 2nd-and-4 by TJ Johnson, obtaining possession on a three-and-out from East that was punted back to its 21. Link made East's last stand, kicking a seven-yard field goal with seven minutes to go after driving deep but failing to close the deal on the previous three downs due to incomplete passing.

Despite the drubbing, Harvey remained positive and confident that the work ethic would pay dividends, crediting special teams work by Link as a definite plus in the battle.

"I'm happy the boys played the whole game," he said, adding that in time the young squad will acclimate to the level of play expected though he expressed some dismay over a lack of quarterback protection and turnovers resulting from fumbles. "Everybody got on the field today, we came out with no serious injuries. They're a hard working group, we'll get it."

"We just need to come together more as a team," said Merone. "You can't give up, you never give up."

Hosting Patchogue-Medford next Thursday at 6 p.m., Harvey said the work would be done in the interim to keep victory within the Arrows' grasp.

"I expect Pat-Med to be different than today for sure," Harvey said. "We'll rebound and refocus. Sorrow and whatnot, we don't have time for that, just gotta get ready. Today's in the book, just gotta move forward."

Taking place on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attack, the opening day game was preceded by a ceremony in remembrance of Kevin Bracken, an athlete, coach and 1982 graduate of Central Islip. A volunteer firefighter with Central Islip whose eight-year career eventually led him to FDNY Engine 40, Ladder 35, he died responding at the World Trade Center.

Among those in attendance who addressed the crowd were his parents, Islip Town Supervisor Phil Nolan, State Sen. Brian X. Foley (D - Blue Point) and 6th District Assemblyman Philip Ramos (D - Central Islip). Bracken's No. 11 jersey has been long since retired.

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